Wiseman, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Wiseman is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska
, United States. The population was 21 at the 2000 census.
Wiseman is a small mining community in the Brooks Range
. It was founded by gold miners who abandoned the Slate Creek (later Coldfoot
) settlement around 1919. Robert Marshall
wrote the book, Arctic Village
, about his stay in this town around the year 1930. Marshall called Wiseman and the Koyukuk River
area surrounding it, "the happiest civilization of which I have knowledge." The community is only three miles from the Dalton Highway
, but the community was not connected to the road until the early 1990s.
, the CDP has a total area of 78.1 square miles (202.3 km²), of which, 78.1 square miles (202.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.05%) is water.
, and 19% Native American
.
There were 7 households out of which 4 (60%) had children under the age of 18 living with them, 4 (60%) were married couples living together, and 3 (40%) were non-families. 3 (40%) of all households were made up of individuals and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.0 and the average family size was 4.5.
In the CDP the age distribution of the population shows 8 (40%) under the age of 18, 2 (10%) from 18 to 24, 9 (40%) from 25 to 44, and 2 (10%) from 45 to 64. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 130 males. [9 females, 12 males]. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 160 males. [5 females, 8 males].
The median income for a household in the CDP was $23,750, and the median income for a family was $24,583. Full-time, year-round male workers had a median income of $0 versus $11,250 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $8,211. There were no families and 10% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.
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 Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska
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. The population was 21 at the 2000 census.
Wiseman is a small mining community in the Brooks Range
Brooks Range
The Brooks Range is a mountain range in far northern North America. It stretches from west to east across northern Alaska and into Canada's Yukon Territory, a total distance of about 1100 km . The mountains top out at over 2,700 m . The range is believed to be approximately 126 million years old...
. It was founded by gold miners who abandoned the Slate Creek (later Coldfoot
Coldfoot, Alaska
Coldfoot is a census-designated place in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. The population was 13 at the 2000 census....
) settlement around 1919. Robert Marshall
Bob Marshall (wilderness activist)
Robert "Bob" Marshall was an American forester, writer and wilderness activist. The son of wealthy constitutional lawyer and conservationist Louis Marshall, Bob Marshall developed a love for the outdoors as a young child...
wrote the book, Arctic Village
Arctic Village (book)
Arctic Village is a book written by Robert Marshall about the Koyukuk River area and the town of Wiseman, Alaska around the year 1930. He referred to the people of this area as "...the happiest civilization of which I have knowledge." The book was republished by the University of Alaska Press as...
, about his stay in this town around the year 1930. Marshall called Wiseman and the Koyukuk River
Koyukuk River
The Koyukuk River is a principal tributary of the Yukon River, approximately 500 mi long, in northern Alaska in the United States.It drains an area north of the Yukon on the southern side of the Brooks Range...
area surrounding it, "the happiest civilization of which I have knowledge." The community is only three miles from the Dalton Highway
Dalton Highway
The James W. Dalton Highway, usually Dalton Highway is a 414-mile road in Alaska. It begins at the Elliott Highway, north of Fairbanks, and ends at Deadhorse near the Arctic Ocean and the Prudhoe Bay oil fields...
, but the community was not connected to the road until the early 1990s.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 78.1 square miles (202.3 km²), of which, 78.1 square miles (202.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.05%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 21 people, 7 households, and 3 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 0.3 people per square mile (0.1/km²). There were 30 housing units at an average density of 0.4/sq mi (0.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 81% 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...
, and 19% 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...
.
There were 7 households out of which 4 (60%) had children under the age of 18 living with them, 4 (60%) were married couples living together, and 3 (40%) were non-families. 3 (40%) of all households were made up of individuals and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.0 and the average family size was 4.5.
In the CDP the age distribution of the population shows 8 (40%) under the age of 18, 2 (10%) from 18 to 24, 9 (40%) from 25 to 44, and 2 (10%) from 45 to 64. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 130 males. [9 females, 12 males]. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 160 males. [5 females, 8 males].
The median income for a household in the CDP was $23,750, and the median income for a family was $24,583. Full-time, year-round male workers had a median income of $0 versus $11,250 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 $8,211. There were no families and 10% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.
Films
- Zoltan SzalkaiZoltan SzalkaiZoltán Szalkai, a Hungarian film director, was born in 1961. He studied agriculture and geology before turning to a career in directing documentary films....
made a film entitled Wise men of Alaska in Wiseman village in 2000. - Gates of the Arctic: Alaska's Brooks Range (2007)