Alakanuk, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Alakanuk (Alarneq in Central Yup'ik
) is a 2nd-class city in the Wade Hampton Census Area
of the Unorganized Borough in the western part of the U.S. state of Alaska
. As of the 2000 census
, the population of the city was 652.
Alakanuk is located at the east entrance of Alakanuk Pass, the major southern channel of the Yukon River
, 15 miles (24.1 km) from the Bering Sea. It is part of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. It lies 8 miles (12.9 km) southwest of Emmonak, approximately 162 miles (260.7 km) northwest of Bethel. It is the longest village on the lower Yukon - the development stretches over a 3 miles (4.8 km) area along the Pass. Approximately 25 homes along the bank are being threatened by erosion.
The climate of Alakanuk is subarctic, averaging 60 inches (1,524 mm) of snowfall and 19 inches (482.6 mm) of total precipitation per year. Temperatures range from between -25 °F. Heavy winds are frequent during the fall and winter. The Yukon River is used as an ice road during freeze-up, from November through May.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 41 square miles (106.2 km²), of which, 32.4 square miles (83.9 km²) of it is land and 8.7 square miles (22.5 km²) of it (21.14%) is water.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community—the Village of Alakanuk.
, 95.40% Native American
, 0.15% Asian
, and 2.45% from two or more races.
There were 139 households out of which 59.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.1% were non-families. 10.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.69 and the average family size was 5.19.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 44.6% under the age of 18, 12.9% from 18 to 24, 21.9% from 25 to 44, 13.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 20 years. For every 100 females there were 111.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,346, and the median income for a family was $26,500. Males had a median income of $19,792 versus $32,500 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $6,884. About 32.5% of families and 33.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.1% of those under age 18 and 25.8% of those age 65 or over.
s. The City Council is the policy-making body for the utility. Water is derived from the Alakanuk Slough, is treated, stored in a tank, and piped to most of the community. In 1998, 83 homes, the school and teachers' housing were connected to a new piped system. New facilities include a water treatment plant, heated 300,000-gal. water storage tank, vacuum sewage plant, sewage lagoon, Arctic piping, and household plumbing. A new subdivision is currently underway, and nine homes will be connected to the piped utilities. The city has funding from DEC for service connections to 20 homes. Ten homes have been moved from the erosion zone on the river bank and are ready for service. The city is planning to move an additional 10 homes. AVCP is building a 9-home subdivision, including water and sewer mains and service connections, for occupancy in 2002. The city completed a feasibility study for service area 7, which is the area across the river, and would like to obtain funding to make this expansion. The landfill is reported as inactive. Electricity is provided by AVEC. There is one school located in the community, attended by 211 students. Local hospitals or health clinics include Alakanuk Health Clinic and Pearl E. Johnson Sub-Regional Clinic in Emmonak. Alakanuk Health Clinic is a Primary Health Care facility. Alakanuk is classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 7A in the Yukon/Kuskokwim Region. Emergency Services have coastal and air access. Emergency service is provided by a health aide
Alakanuk Airport
, a State-owned 2,200' long by 55' wide gravel airstrip, is available. An airport relocation project is underway, due to erosion. Grant Aviation, Hageland Aviation and Tanana Air Service offer passenger flight service. Alakanuk is easily accessible from the Yukon River and Bering Sea by barge and riverboat. Most passengers and mail arrive by air. There are no roads connecting Alakanuk with other population centers in the region, but ice roads are used in winter. Snowmachines and boats are used for local travel.
Taxes: Sales: 4%, Property: None, Special: None
Yupik language
The Yupik languages are the several distinct languages of the several Yupik peoples of western and southcentral Alaska and northeastern Siberia. The Yupik languages differ enough from one another that speakers of different ones cannot understand each other, although they may understand the general...
) is a 2nd-class city in the Wade Hampton Census Area
Wade Hampton Census Area, Alaska
Wade Hampton Census Area is a census area located in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2000 census, the population was 7,028. It is part of the unorganized borough and therefore has no borough seat...
of the Unorganized Borough in the western part of the U.S. state of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. As of the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, the population of the city was 652.
Location and Climate
Alakanuk is located at 62.688890° North, 164.61528° West (Sec. 14, T030N, R082W, Seward Meridian). Alakanuk is located in the Bethel Recording District.Alakanuk is located at the east entrance of Alakanuk Pass, the major southern channel of the Yukon River
Yukon River
The Yukon River is a major watercourse of northwestern North America. The source of the river is located in British Columbia, Canada. The next portion lies in, and gives its name to Yukon Territory. The lower half of the river lies in the U.S. state of Alaska. The river is long and empties into...
, 15 miles (24.1 km) from the Bering Sea. It is part of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. It lies 8 miles (12.9 km) southwest of Emmonak, approximately 162 miles (260.7 km) northwest of Bethel. It is the longest village on the lower Yukon - the development stretches over a 3 miles (4.8 km) area along the Pass. Approximately 25 homes along the bank are being threatened by erosion.
The climate of Alakanuk is subarctic, averaging 60 inches (1,524 mm) of snowfall and 19 inches (482.6 mm) of total precipitation per year. Temperatures range from between -25 °F. Heavy winds are frequent during the fall and winter. The Yukon River is used as an ice road during freeze-up, from November through May.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 41 square miles (106.2 km²), of which, 32.4 square miles (83.9 km²) of it is land and 8.7 square miles (22.5 km²) of it (21.14%) is water.
History and culture
Alakanuk is a Yup'ik word meaning "wrong way" or "mistake village", aptly applied to a village on this maze of watercourses. The village was first reported by G.R. Putnam of the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey in 1899. It was originally settled by a Yup'ik shaman named Anguksuar and his family. A Catholic mission school was built near the village. A post office was established in 1946. In 1948, the school was relocated to St. Mary's, and many families moved from the old school site to Alakanuk. It incorporated as a second-class city in 1969.A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community—the Village of Alakanuk.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 652 people, 139 households, and 118 families residing in the city. The population density was 20.2 people per square mile (7.8/km²). There were 160 housing units at an average density of 4.9 per square mile (1.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 1.99% WhiteRace (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 95.40% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.15% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.45% from two or more races.
There were 139 households out of which 59.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.1% were non-families. 10.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.69 and the average family size was 5.19.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 44.6% under the age of 18, 12.9% from 18 to 24, 21.9% from 25 to 44, 13.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 20 years. For every 100 females there were 111.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,346, and the median income for a family was $26,500. Males had a median income of $19,792 versus $32,500 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $6,884. About 32.5% of families and 33.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.1% of those under age 18 and 25.8% of those age 65 or over.
Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care
The City operates the water and piped sewer system and the central watering point. Approximately 90% of homes are connected. There is a sewage lagoon available for individuals to dump their honey bucketHoney bucket
A honey bucket is a bucket that is used as a toilet in communities that lack a water-borne sewage system. The honey bucket sits under a wooden frame affixed with a toilet seat lid and may be lined with a plastic bag...
s. The City Council is the policy-making body for the utility. Water is derived from the Alakanuk Slough, is treated, stored in a tank, and piped to most of the community. In 1998, 83 homes, the school and teachers' housing were connected to a new piped system. New facilities include a water treatment plant, heated 300,000-gal. water storage tank, vacuum sewage plant, sewage lagoon, Arctic piping, and household plumbing. A new subdivision is currently underway, and nine homes will be connected to the piped utilities. The city has funding from DEC for service connections to 20 homes. Ten homes have been moved from the erosion zone on the river bank and are ready for service. The city is planning to move an additional 10 homes. AVCP is building a 9-home subdivision, including water and sewer mains and service connections, for occupancy in 2002. The city completed a feasibility study for service area 7, which is the area across the river, and would like to obtain funding to make this expansion. The landfill is reported as inactive. Electricity is provided by AVEC. There is one school located in the community, attended by 211 students. Local hospitals or health clinics include Alakanuk Health Clinic and Pearl E. Johnson Sub-Regional Clinic in Emmonak. Alakanuk Health Clinic is a Primary Health Care facility. Alakanuk is classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 7A in the Yukon/Kuskokwim Region. Emergency Services have coastal and air access. Emergency service is provided by a health aide
Economy and Transportation
Alakanuk experiences a seasonal economy. 76 residents hold commercial fishing permits. Many have gill net permits, and set net fishermen sell their salmon to Seattle fish buyers. Poor fish returns since 1998 have significantly affected the community. Government employment and retail businesses provide limited year-round employment. Salmon, beluga whale, seal, moose and rabbit provide food sources. Some residents trap. Many residents travel to Emmonak to shop and attend social events and basketball tournaments.Alakanuk Airport
Alakanuk Airport
Alakanuk Airport is a state-owned public-use airport located one nautical mile southwest of the central business district of Alakanuk, a city in the Wade Hampton Census Area of the U.S...
, a State-owned 2,200' long by 55' wide gravel airstrip, is available. An airport relocation project is underway, due to erosion. Grant Aviation, Hageland Aviation and Tanana Air Service offer passenger flight service. Alakanuk is easily accessible from the Yukon River and Bering Sea by barge and riverboat. Most passengers and mail arrive by air. There are no roads connecting Alakanuk with other population centers in the region, but ice roads are used in winter. Snowmachines and boats are used for local travel.
Taxes: Sales: 4%, Property: None, Special: None
Notable residents
- Father Segundo LlorenteSegundo LlorenteSegundo Llorente Villa, S.J. was a Spanish Jesuit, philosopher and author who spent 40 years as a missionary among the Central Alaskan Yup'ik people in the most remote parts of Alaska...
(1906–1989), a Jesuit priestSociety of JesusThe Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
born in SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, was elected to the Alaska House of RepresentativesAlaska House of RepresentativesThe Alaska House of Representatives is the lower house in the Alaska Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. The House is composed of 40 members, each of whom represents a district of about 15,673 people . Members serve two-year terms without term limits...
in 1960 as a write-in candidateWrite-in candidateA write-in candidate is a candidate in an election whose name does not appear on the ballot, but for whom voters may vote nonetheless by writing in the person's name. Some states and local jurisdictions allow a voter to affix a sticker with a write-in candidate's name on it to the ballot in lieu...
while residing in Alakanuk.