Upper Kalskag, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Upper Kalskag is a city in Bethel Census Area, Alaska
, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 230.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.1 square miles (10.6 km²), of which, 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (8.47%) is water.
Upper Kalskag, referred to by the locals as just "Upper", is linked to Lower Kalskag (Lower) by a single two mile maintained gravel/dirt road.
Upper Kalskag is accessible only by small plane, boat, and automobile via the river "ice road" (Winter only). The ice road is constructed each winter from Aniak
to Bethel
by drilling and marking holes in the ice every 100 yards and subsequently marking and plowing a route on the river where the ice depth is sufficient.
, 0.43% Black
or African American
, 85.65% Native American
, and 5.22% from two or more races. Referenced as "Native American" by the U.S. census, the majority of the population of Kalskag is not, in fact, Native American, rather Yupik
Eskimo.
There were 62 households out of which 56.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.1% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.71 and the average family size was 4.55.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 43.9% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 12.6% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 103.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,333, and the median income for a family was $32,708. Males had a median income of $16,667 versus $20,938 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $7,859. About 24.5% of families and 24.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.4% of those under the age of eighteen and 5.3% of those sixty five or over.
reported a population of 120 in 1843 for Kaltkhagamute (Khalkagmute). Over the years, residents of Crow Village
, Ohagamiut
, Russian Mission, and Paimute also moved to the village. Russian and American explorers brought both Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox religious influences, however, the village's Russian Orthodox practitioners left to establish Lower Kalskag
2 miles down river in 1940. George Morgan, a German immigrant who founded Georgetown
, established a
general store and Post Office in 1932. Paul N. Kameroff, Sr. also established a general store, a pool hall, and a coffee shop around 1930. The government school was built in that timeframe as well. The community once owned a herd of about 2000 reindeer.
Bethel Census Area, Alaska
Bethel Census Area is a census area located in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of 2000, the population is 16,006. It is part of the unorganized borough and therefore has no borough seat...
, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 230.
Geography
Upper Kalskag is located at 61°32′15"N 160°18′58"W (61.537440, -160.316070).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 4.1 square miles (10.6 km²), of which, 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (8.47%) is water.
Upper Kalskag, referred to by the locals as just "Upper", is linked to Lower Kalskag (Lower) by a single two mile maintained gravel/dirt road.
Upper Kalskag is accessible only by small plane, boat, and automobile via the river "ice road" (Winter only). The ice road is constructed each winter from Aniak
Aniak, Alaska
Aniak is a city in the Bethel Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. At the 2000 census the population was 572.-Geography: ....
to Bethel
Bethel, Alaska
Bethel is a city located near the west coast of the U.S. state of Alaska, west of Anchorage. Accessible only by air and river, Bethel is the main port on the Kuskokwim River and is an administrative and transportation hub for the 56 villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.Bethel is the largest...
by drilling and marking holes in the ice every 100 yards and subsequently marking and plowing a route on the river where the ice depth is sufficient.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 230 people, 62 households, and 44 families residing in the city. The population density was 60.8 people per square mile (23.5/km²). There were 66 housing units at an average density of 17.5 per square mile (6.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 8.70% 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...
, 0.43% 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...
, 85.65% 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...
, and 5.22% from two or more races. Referenced as "Native American" by the U.S. census, the majority of the population of Kalskag is not, in fact, Native American, rather Yupik
Central Alaskan Yup'ik people
The Yup'ik people , are an Eskimo people of western and southwestern Alaska ranging from southern Norton Sound southwards along the coast of the Bering Sea on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and along the northern coast of Bristol Bay as far east as Nushagak Bay and the northern Alaska...
Eskimo.
There were 62 households out of which 56.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.1% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.71 and the average family size was 4.55.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 43.9% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 12.6% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 103.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,333, and the median income for a family was $32,708. Males had a median income of $16,667 versus $20,938 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 $7,859. About 24.5% of families and 24.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.4% of those under the age of eighteen and 5.3% of those sixty five or over.
Culture and History
Upper Kalskag is a traditional Yup'ik village, with a culture centered on subsistence activities. The founding residents were from the native village of Kaltkhagamute, four miles down river. The Russian explorer Lavrenty ZagoskinLavrenty Zagoskin
Lavrenty Alekseyevich Zagoskin was a Russian naval officer and explorer of Alaska.Zagoskin was born in 1808 in the Russian district of Penza in a village named Nikolayevka. Even though Nikolayevka was not near the ocean, Zagoskin would eventually train for the Russian Navy and served as a naval...
reported a population of 120 in 1843 for Kaltkhagamute (Khalkagmute). Over the years, residents of Crow Village
Crow Village, Alaska
Crow Village is an unincorporated village on the Kuskokwim River in the U.S. state of Alaska. There are currently six residents. As of the 2010 census, it will become a Census Designated Place .- Geography :...
, Ohagamiut
Ohagamiut, Alaska
Ohagamiut was a Yup'ik village along the Kuskokwim River in the Bethel Census Area of the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Alaska, located between Crow Village and Kalskag. It was abandoned in the 1940s as residents relocated to Kalskag, Aniak, Bethel and other towns...
, Russian Mission, and Paimute also moved to the village. Russian and American explorers brought both Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox religious influences, however, the village's Russian Orthodox practitioners left to establish Lower Kalskag
Lower Kalskag, Alaska
Lower Kalskag is a city in Bethel Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 267.-Geography:Lower Kalskag is located at ....
2 miles down river in 1940. George Morgan, a German immigrant who founded Georgetown
Georgetown, Alaska
Georgetown is an unincorporated Alaska Native village located in the Bethel Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. The population as of the 2000 census was 3.- Geography :...
, established a
general store and Post Office in 1932. Paul N. Kameroff, Sr. also established a general store, a pool hall, and a coffee shop around 1930. The government school was built in that timeframe as well. The community once owned a herd of about 2000 reindeer.