Knik River, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Knik River is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Matanuska-Susitna Borough
in the U.S. state of Alaska
. It is part of the Anchorage, Alaska
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The population was 582 at the 2000 census
.
The region is mostly famous for being the home of Robert Hansen
, a serial killer who murdered at least 17 prostitutes in the early 1980s.
The community is at the head of the Knik Arm of Cook Inlet
in Southcentral Alaska, 27 km (16.8 mi) northeast of Anchorage
. The community has developed along the south bank of the Knik River, which flows into Knik Arm, at the southern border of the Mat-Su Borough. It lies along the Old Glenn Highway
and Knik River Road.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 93.2 square miles (241.4 km²), of which, 90.4 square miles (234.1 km²) of it is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²) of it (2.95%) is water.
up the Knik River
to the Copper River
. The Palmer Road, now the Old Glenn Highway, was built through the area to Palmer in 1942. A lodge on Goat Creek was popular with travelers. The Eklutna Power Project was also built in the 1940s, including tract housing for employees. Knik River Road started as a logging road in the early 1950s; a gravel road was built in the late 1960s. The road is now paved up to Hunter Creek.
, 0.17% Black
or African American
, 6.70% Native American
, 0.86% Pacific Islander
, 1.37% from other races
, and 5.15% from two or more races. 2.58% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 216 households out of which 38.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 31.3% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 35.4% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 108.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 119.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $55,000, and the median income for a family was $55,000. Males had a median income of $36,071 versus $27,143 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $19,104. About 19.7% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.8% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Knik River lies off the Glenn Highway. Many forms of transportation are available in nearby Palmer and Anchorage.
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 Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska
-National protected areas:* Chugach National Forest * Denali National Park and Preserve ** Denali Wilderness * Lake Clark National Park and Preserve ** Lake Clark Wilderness -Demographics:...
in 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...
. It is part of the Anchorage, Alaska
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...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Anchorage metropolitan area
The Anchorage Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of the Municipality of Anchorage and Matanuska-Susitna Borough in south central Alaska....
. The population was 582 at 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 region is mostly famous for being the home of Robert Hansen
Robert Hansen
Robert Christian Hansen is an American serial killer. Between 1980 and 1983, Hansen murdered between 17 and 21 women near Anchorage, Alaska.- Early life :Hansen was born in Estherville, Iowa to Christian and Edna Hansen...
, a serial killer who murdered at least 17 prostitutes in the early 1980s.
Geography and climate
Knik River is located at 61°28′15"N 148°51′38"W (61.470970, -148.86064) (Sec. 24, T016N, R003W, Seward Meridian), in the Palmer Recording District.The community is at the head of the Knik Arm of Cook Inlet
Cook Inlet
Cook Inlet stretches from the Gulf of Alaska to Anchorage in south-central Alaska. Cook Inlet branches into the Knik Arm and Turnagain Arm at its northern end, almost surrounding Anchorage....
in Southcentral Alaska, 27 km (16.8 mi) northeast of 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...
. The community has developed along the south bank of the Knik River, which flows into Knik Arm, at the southern border of the Mat-Su Borough. It lies along the Old 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:**...
and Knik River Road.
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 93.2 square miles (241.4 km²), of which, 90.4 square miles (234.1 km²) of it is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²) of it (2.95%) is water.
Climate
The temperatures in January range from -35°F (-37°C) to 33°F (1°C); in July, 72°F (6°C) to 85°F (29°C). Annual precipitation is 16.5 inches (42 cm), including 43 inches (109 cm) of snowfall.History
The Dena'ina Athabascans were the earliest inhabitants of the region. They traveled through the area on a winter trail from EklutnaEklutna, Alaska
Eklutna is a native village within the Municipality of Anchorage in the U.S. state of Alaska. The Tribal Council estimates the population at 70; many tribal members live in the surrounding communities....
up the Knik River
Knik River
The Knik River is a 25-mile-long river in the U.S. state of Alaska. Its source is at Knik Glacier, from which it flows northwest and west and empties into the head of Cook Inlet's Knik Arm, near the mouth of the Matanuska River....
to the Copper River
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...
. The Palmer Road, now the Old Glenn Highway, was built through the area to Palmer in 1942. A lodge on Goat Creek was popular with travelers. The Eklutna Power Project was also built in the 1940s, including tract housing for employees. Knik River Road started as a logging road in the early 1950s; a gravel road was built in the late 1960s. The road is now paved up to Hunter Creek.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 582 people, 216 households, and 147 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 6.4 people per square mile (2.5/km²). There were 263 housing units at an average density of 2.9/sq mi (1.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 85.74% 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...
, 0.17% Black
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 African 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...
, 6.70% 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...
, 0.86% Pacific Islander
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...
, 1.37% 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 5.15% from two or more races. 2.58% 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 216 households out of which 38.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 31.3% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 35.4% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 108.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 119.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $55,000, and the median income for a family was $55,000. Males had a median income of $36,071 versus $27,143 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 $19,104. About 19.7% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.8% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Public services
Most homes use individual wells and septic systems. There are a few private piped systems; some residents haul water and use outhouses. The Eklutna Power Project is located in the community. The Borough provides a refuse transfer site in Butte. Electricity is provided by Matanuska Electric Association. There are no state operated schools located in the community. Local hospitals or health clinics include Valley Hospital in Palmer (746-8600) or Anchorage hospitals. Auxiliary health care is provided by Butte Ambulance Service (373-8800/745-4811), Anchorage or Palmer hospitals.Economy and transportation
Many residents are employed in Anchorage or the Palmer/Wasilla area in a variety of positions in the private and public sectors. Retail trade, transportation, and education are the primary employers.Knik River lies off the Glenn Highway. Many forms of transportation are available in nearby Palmer and Anchorage.
Taxes
Sales: None, Property: 11.483 mills (Borough), Special: 5% Accommodations Tax (Borough)In popular culture
- Jessie Arnold, fictional IditarodIditarodIditarod may refer to:*Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, an annual sled dog race in the Alaskan Interior and western coast*Iditarod Trail, a historical trail across the Alaskan Interior*Iditarod, Alaska, a town for which the trail and races are named...
musher and protagonist of a series of murder mysteries by author Sue Henry, lives outside of the city of Palmer in the Knik River valley.