Gakona, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Gakona (Ggax Kuna’ in Ahtna
) is a census-designated place
(CDP) in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area
in the U.S. state
of Alaska
. As of the 2000 census
, the population of the CDP was 215.
Gakona is located in the center of Copper Valley, surrounded by mountains and the famous Copper River.
Gakona is at the confluence of the Copper
and Gakona Rivers, 15 miles northeast of Glennallen
. It lies at mile 2 on the Tok Cut-Off
to the Glenn Highway
, just east of the Richardson Highway
. Gakona is located in the continental climate zone, with long, cold winters and relatively warm summers. Temperature extremes have been recorded from -62 to 91. Snowfall averages 61 inches, with total precipitation of 13 inches per year.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 61.3 square miles (158.8 km²), all of it land.
Athabascans have lived in the Copper River basin for 5,000 to 7,000 years. Gakona served as a wood and fish camp, and later became a permanent village. A federally recognised tribe, the Native Village of Gakona, is located in the community.
In 1904 Doyle's Roadhouse was constructed at the junction of the Valdez-Eagle and Valdez-Fairbanks Trails, and became an essential stopping point for travelers. There was also a post office, stagecoach station and blacksmith shop here. Some buildings are still standing. Gakona Lodge was built in 1929 by Arne N Sundt and was operated by Henra Sundt until 1976 when she sold it to the Strang family. Originally from Norway, Sundt purchased the old roadhouse and property from the Slate Creek Mining Company in about 1926. Sundt was a director of the Nabesna Mining Company. The lodge is on the National Register of Historical Places. It contains 10 rooms in the lodge, 4 cabins, and restaurant and tavern. It is presently a popular destination for sports fishing particularly King and Sockeye Salmon. http://www.gakonalodge.com
of 2000, there were 215 people, 84 households, and 60 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 3.5 people per square mile (1.4/km²). There were 90 housing units at an average density of 1.5/sq mi (0.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 75.35% White
, 12.09% Native American
, 1.86% from other races
, and 10.70% from two or more races. 1.40% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 84 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples
living together, 3.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 31.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 133.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 131.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $33,750, and the median income for a family was $44,375. Males had a median income of $41,250 versus $46,875 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $18,143. About 9.4% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under the age of eighteen and 10.5% of those sixty five or over.
All residences have individual wells and septic systems and complete plumbing. The school uses its own well water system . Funds have been requested to construct a new water well and storage tank for a HUD housing complex. Refuse collection services are available from Copper Basin Sanitation, which hauls waste to the Glennallen landfill. Electricity is provided by Copper Valley Electric Assoc.
There is one school located in the community, attended by 17 students (as of 2008 Gakona school was shut down due to lack of students). Local hospitals or health clinics include Gakona Health Clinic and the Cross Road Medical Center in Glennallen (about 30 miles away). Gakona is classified as an isolated village; it is found in EMS Region 2E in the Copper River Region. Emergency Services have highway and air access, and are within 30 minutes of a higher-level satellite health care facility. Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service and volunteers, while auxiliary health care is provided by Copper River EMS, Gulkana Clinic, and the Cross Road Medical Center in Glennallen.
River Wrangellers was the first of these companies to obtain a commercial fishing permit and was a pioneer in the Gakona Rafting Industry. It provided the necessary publicity for the burgeoning rafting industry and brought many tourists to the area. River Wrangellers was founded by Kevin and Suzanne McCarthy and named after the Wrangell–St. Elias National Park (the largest National Park in North America). Suzanne McCarthy is the local geologist guru of the Copper River Basin and currently runs Prince William Sound Community College
. Suzanne's geological expertise allowed River Wrangellers to provide not only a world class rafting experience but also a unique insight into the local geology, ecosystems and history. River Wrangellers was sold in 2006 but still operates in the Gakona region.
Gakona is located adjacent the Copper, Gakona and Gulkana Rivers allowing access to world class King Salmon, Sockeye Salmon and Rainbow Trout fishing. Some residents rely on subsistence activities and trapping. Recording equipment for the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP)
is located near Gakona.
The Glenn Highway/Tok Cut-Off and Richardson Highway provide access to the Anchorage
, Fairbanks
and the Lower 48. A 5,000' paved runway is available at nearby Gulkana
.
Ahtna language
Ahtna or Ahtena is the Na-Dené language of the Ahtna ethnic group of the Copper River area of Alaska. The language is also known as Copper River or Mednovskiy...
) is a census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area
Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska
Valdez-Cordova Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 10,195. It is part of the unorganized borough and therefore has no borough seat...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
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 CDP was 215.
Geography and climate
Gakona is located at 62°18′17"N 145°16′24"W (62.301940, -145.30194) (Sec. 18, T006N, R001E, Copper River Meridian). Gakona is located in the Chitina Recording District.Gakona is located in the center of Copper Valley, surrounded by mountains and the famous Copper River.
Gakona is at the confluence of the Copper
Copper River (Alaska)
The Copper River or Ahtna River is a 300-mile river in south-central Alaska in the United States. It drains a large region of the Wrangell Mountains and Chugach Mountains into the Gulf of Alaska...
and Gakona Rivers, 15 miles northeast of Glennallen
Glennallen, Alaska
Glennallen is a census-designated place in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area in the Unorganized Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2000 census, the population of the CDP was 554.- Location :...
. It lies at mile 2 on the Tok Cut-Off
Tok Cut-Off
The Tok Cut-Off is a highway in the U.S. state of Alaska, running 125 miles from Gakona Junction on the Richardson Highway, 14 miles north of Glennallen, to Tok on the Alaska Highway....
to the Glenn Highway
Glenn Highway
-References:* Pasch, A. D., K. C. May. 2001. Taphonomy and paleoenvironment of hadrosaur from the Matanuska Formation in South-Central Alaska. In: Mesozioc Vertebrate Life. Ed.s Tanke, D. H., Carpenter, K., Skrepnick, M. W. Indiana University Press. Pages 219-236.-External links:**...
, just east of the Richardson Highway
Richardson Highway
The Richardson Highway is a highway in the U.S. state of Alaska, running 368 miles from Valdez to Fairbanks. It is marked as Alaska Route 4 from Valdez to Delta Junction and as Alaska Route 2 from there to Fairbanks. It is also connects segments of Alaska Route 1 between the Glenn Highway and the...
. Gakona is located in the continental climate zone, with long, cold winters and relatively warm summers. Temperature extremes have been recorded from -62 to 91. Snowfall averages 61 inches, with total precipitation of 13 inches per year.
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 CDP has a total area of 61.3 square miles (158.8 km²), all of it land.
History and culture
AhtnaAhtna
The Ahtna are one of the tribes of Athabaskan people in Alaska. The tribe's homeland is located in the Copper River area of southern Alaska, and the name Ahtna derives from the local name for the Copper River...
Athabascans have lived in the Copper River basin for 5,000 to 7,000 years. Gakona served as a wood and fish camp, and later became a permanent village. A federally recognised tribe, the Native Village of Gakona, is located in the community.
In 1904 Doyle's Roadhouse was constructed at the junction of the Valdez-Eagle and Valdez-Fairbanks Trails, and became an essential stopping point for travelers. There was also a post office, stagecoach station and blacksmith shop here. Some buildings are still standing. Gakona Lodge was built in 1929 by Arne N Sundt and was operated by Henra Sundt until 1976 when she sold it to the Strang family. Originally from Norway, Sundt purchased the old roadhouse and property from the Slate Creek Mining Company in about 1926. Sundt was a director of the Nabesna Mining Company. The lodge is on the National Register of Historical Places. It contains 10 rooms in the lodge, 4 cabins, and restaurant and tavern. It is presently a popular destination for sports fishing particularly King and Sockeye Salmon. http://www.gakonalodge.com
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 215 people, 84 households, and 60 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3.5 people per square mile (1.4/km²). There were 90 housing units at an average density of 1.5/sq mi (0.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 75.35% White
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...
, 12.09% 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...
, 1.86% from other races
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 10.70% from two or more races. 1.40% of the population were Hispanic
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...
or Latino
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...
of any race.
There were 84 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 3.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 31.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 133.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 131.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $33,750, and the median income for a family was $44,375. Males had a median income of $41,250 versus $46,875 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 CDP was $18,143. About 9.4% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under the age of eighteen and 10.5% of those sixty five or over.
Public services
Groceries, limited hardware, local clothing, limited sporting goods, and ice are available at the trading post. Salmon fishing and river rafting are popular recreational activities.All residences have individual wells and septic systems and complete plumbing. The school uses its own well water system . Funds have been requested to construct a new water well and storage tank for a HUD housing complex. Refuse collection services are available from Copper Basin Sanitation, which hauls waste to the Glennallen landfill. Electricity is provided by Copper Valley Electric Assoc.
There is one school located in the community, attended by 17 students (as of 2008 Gakona school was shut down due to lack of students). Local hospitals or health clinics include Gakona Health Clinic and the Cross Road Medical Center in Glennallen (about 30 miles away). Gakona is classified as an isolated village; it is found in EMS Region 2E in the Copper River Region. Emergency Services have highway and air access, and are within 30 minutes of a higher-level satellite health care facility. Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service and volunteers, while auxiliary health care is provided by Copper River EMS, Gulkana Clinic, and the Cross Road Medical Center in Glennallen.
Economy and transportation
Gakona depends upon local businesses and seasonal tourist travel. There is a Historic Lodge (National Register of Historic Places) called Gakona Lodge and Trading Post that has rooms, a restaurant, cabins and tavern. Gakona sawmill and dog sled maker. Summers provide income for local fishing and hunting guides, rafting operations and outfitters. Three residents currently hold commercial fishing permits.River Wrangellers was the first of these companies to obtain a commercial fishing permit and was a pioneer in the Gakona Rafting Industry. It provided the necessary publicity for the burgeoning rafting industry and brought many tourists to the area. River Wrangellers was founded by Kevin and Suzanne McCarthy and named after the Wrangell–St. Elias National Park (the largest National Park in North America). Suzanne McCarthy is the local geologist guru of the Copper River Basin and currently runs Prince William Sound Community College
Prince William Sound Community College
Founded in 1978, Prince William Sound Community College is a community college located in Valdez, a town in south central Alaska....
. Suzanne's geological expertise allowed River Wrangellers to provide not only a world class rafting experience but also a unique insight into the local geology, ecosystems and history. River Wrangellers was sold in 2006 but still operates in the Gakona region.
Gakona is located adjacent the Copper, Gakona and Gulkana Rivers allowing access to world class King Salmon, Sockeye Salmon and Rainbow Trout fishing. Some residents rely on subsistence activities and trapping. Recording equipment for the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP)
High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program
The High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program is an ionospheric research program jointly funded by the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, the University of Alaska, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ....
is located near Gakona.
The Glenn Highway/Tok Cut-Off and Richardson Highway provide access to the Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
, Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks is a home rule city in and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska.Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska, and second largest in the state behind Anchorage...
and the Lower 48. A 5,000' paved runway is available at nearby Gulkana
Gulkana, Alaska
Gulkana is a census-designated place in Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska, U.S. At the 2000 census the population was 88.-Geography:Gulkana is located at ....
.