Nulato, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Nulato is a city in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska
, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 336.
Nulato is on the west bank of the Yukon River
, 53 km (32.9 mi) west of Galena
, in the Nulato Hills. It is across the Yukon River from the Innoko National Wildlife Refuge
.The area experiences a cold,continental climate with extreme temperature differences. Temperatures range from zero to the high 70s.Average precipitation is 15.6 inches, with 74 inches of snowfall annually.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 44.8 square miles (116 km²), of which, 42.7 square miles (110.6 km²) of it is land and 2 square miles (5.2 km²) of it (4.56%) is water.
, 92.86% Native American
, 0.60% from other races
, and 1.49% from two or more races. 0.60% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 91 households out of which 51.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.3% were married couples living together, 27.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 14.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.69 and the average family size was 4.13.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 41.7% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 15.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,114, and the median income for a family was $26,944. Males had a median income of $24,375 versus $25,313 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $8,966. About 16.7% of families and 18.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.
The Kokukuk River people massacred a large part of the population of Nulato in 1851, probably due to a trade dispute.
After the Alaska Purchase, a United States military telegraph line was constructed along the north side of the Yukon River. The gold rush along the Yukon River that began in 1884 brought many new diseases to the area and many people died. Our Lady of Snows Roman Catholic mission and school were opened in 1887 and many people moved to Nulato to be near the school. A measles epidemic and food shortages during 1900 reduced the population of the area by one-third. 1900 was also the peak year for steamboat travel on the Yukon River, with 46 boats in operation. That summer, two boats per day stopped at Nulato to purchase firewood.
Gold prospectors left the Yukon River area for Fairbanks
and Nome
in 1906. Lead mining began around neighboring Galena in 1919.
Nulato incorporated as a city in 1963. In 1981, housing was built at a new townsite 3 km (1.9 mi) from present Nulato.
Every other year the people gather in Nulato to celebrate the week long Stick Dance Festival. It is celebrated on the years that it is not held in Kaltag, Alaska. People from all over the Athabascan region gather in the small village to attend the sacred dance that is done to celebrate the lives of lost loved ones and to appreciate the people that helped the family through the mourning process.Nulato residents are predominantly Koyukon Athabascan with trapping and subsistence lifestyle.
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,588. It is part of the unorganized borough and therefore has no borough seat...
, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 336.
Geography
Nulato is located at 64°43′48"N 158°6′51"W (64.730011, -158.114101).Nulato is on the west bank 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...
, 53 km (32.9 mi) west of Galena
Galena, Alaska
Galena is the largest city in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. At the 2000 census the population was 675.-History:...
, in the Nulato Hills. It is across the Yukon River from the Innoko National Wildlife Refuge
Innoko National Wildlife Refuge
The Innoko National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife refuge in western Alaska in the United States. It consists of 3,850,481 acres of which 1,240,000 acres is designated a wilderness area. It is the fifth-largest National Wildlife Refuge in the United States. The refuge is administered from offices...
.The area experiences a cold,continental climate with extreme temperature differences. Temperatures range from zero to the high 70s.Average precipitation is 15.6 inches, with 74 inches of snowfall annually.
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 44.8 square miles (116 km²), of which, 42.7 square miles (110.6 km²) of it is land and 2 square miles (5.2 km²) of it (4.56%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 336 people, 91 households, and 71 families residing in the city. The population density was 7.9 people per square mile (3.0/km²). There were 119 housing units at an average density of 2.8 per square mile (1.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 5.06% 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...
, 92.86% 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...
, 0.60% 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 1.49% from two or more races. 0.60% 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 91 households out of which 51.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.3% were married couples living together, 27.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 14.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.69 and the average family size was 4.13.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 41.7% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 15.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,114, and the median income for a family was $26,944. Males had a median income of $24,375 versus $25,313 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 $8,966. About 16.7% of families and 18.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.
History
In 1838, the Russian explorer Malakov established a trading post in Nulato.The Kokukuk River people massacred a large part of the population of Nulato in 1851, probably due to a trade dispute.
After the Alaska Purchase, a United States military telegraph line was constructed along the north side of the Yukon River. The gold rush along the Yukon River that began in 1884 brought many new diseases to the area and many people died. Our Lady of Snows Roman Catholic mission and school were opened in 1887 and many people moved to Nulato to be near the school. A measles epidemic and food shortages during 1900 reduced the population of the area by one-third. 1900 was also the peak year for steamboat travel on the Yukon River, with 46 boats in operation. That summer, two boats per day stopped at Nulato to purchase firewood.
Gold prospectors left the Yukon River area for 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 Nome
Nome, Alaska
Nome is a city in the Nome Census Area in the Unorganized Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska, located on the southern Seward Peninsula coast on Norton Sound of the Bering Sea. According to the 2010 Census, the city population was 3,598. Nome was incorporated on April 9, 1901, and was once the...
in 1906. Lead mining began around neighboring Galena in 1919.
Nulato incorporated as a city in 1963. In 1981, housing was built at a new townsite 3 km (1.9 mi) from present Nulato.
Every other year the people gather in Nulato to celebrate the week long Stick Dance Festival. It is celebrated on the years that it is not held in Kaltag, Alaska. People from all over the Athabascan region gather in the small village to attend the sacred dance that is done to celebrate the lives of lost loved ones and to appreciate the people that helped the family through the mourning process.Nulato residents are predominantly Koyukon Athabascan with trapping and subsistence lifestyle.