Much of the organized polygamy that takes place in Central and North America is rooted in the history of the Mormon Church. Church founder Joseph Smith preached organized, church-sanctioned polygamy, as did church leaders who succeeded Smith.

Church followers continued the practice of polygamy until 1890, when leader Wilford Woodruff issued a declaration suspending the practice of polygamy, which had been outlawed by the federal government.

But the practice of polygamy continued among some Mormons as some splinter groups broke off the main church and formed their own church. Splinter groups splintered even further.

There are widely different estimates as to how many polygamists there are in the U.S., but because of the secrecy of its followers an accurate estimate is difficult. Estimates have ranged from 20,000 to 50,000.

The Associated Press estimates there are 30,000 organized polygamists in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the majority residing in Utah.

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), the largest organized church in the U.S. with practicing polygamists, numbers over 10,000, with its main membership residing in the twin cities of Colorado City, Ariz., and Hilldale, Utah, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. The church also has about 1,000 followers that live in Bountiful, British Columbia.

According the Salt Lake Tribune, there are about 7,500 polygamist members of the Apostolic United Brethren, which has followers in Utah and Mexico. There are about 2,000 polygamists living in Centennial Park, Ariz., and the Kingston family has around 1,200 members.

In 1953, federal and state authorities raided the FLDS communities in Arizona and Colorado, which was known at the time as Short Creek. According the Salt Lake Tribune, a total of 388 people -- 39 men, 86 women and 263 children -- where taken into state custody.

But news footage of children being torn away from their parents created a public backlash in Arizona and forced Gov. Howard Pyle out of office. The backlash led to authorities in the West to adopt a “hands off” policy to polygamy for the rest of the century.

But around 2000, state and local authorities started turning up the heat on polygamists, which has led to several raids and arrests, including the conviction of FLDS leader Warren Jeffs. In 2007, Jeffs was convicted of being an accomplice to rape for using his religious influence over his followers to coerce a 14-year-old girl into marriage to her 19-year-old cousin.

As recently as early April, 401 children were taken into custody after authorities raided a polygamist compound in Eldorado, Texas.