The Houma people are a historic Native American tribe located in Louisiana on the east side of the Red River of the South. Their descendants, the United Houma Nation, have been a state recognized tribe since 1972. According to the tribe, they have about 17,000 enrolled tribal citizens residing within a six-parish (county) service area, which encompasses 4,750 square miles. The six parishes are the following: St. Mary, Terrebonne, Lafourche, Jefferson, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard parishes.