Y, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Y is a census-designated place
(CDP) in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough
in the U.S. state of Alaska
. It is part of the Anchorage, Alaska
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The population was 956 at the 2000 census.
-speaking Athabascans lived in the Talkeetna Mountains
and had a village opposite the mouth of Sunshine Creek called "Tsuk Qayeh", meaning "Old Village." Dena'ina-speaking Athabascans lived along the Deshka River
and the middle Susitna River
in the winter, below present-day Talkeetna. A Dena'ina village was located on the North Fork of the Kashwitna River, with a trail to Chickaloon, Alaska
. Montana Creek became a small Dena'ina village in about 1915 during construction of the Alaska Railroad
. Through 1927, the railroad brought employment and settlement to the area. Montana, at Mile 209.3, was one of the first construction camps. In 1918, a spur was constructed to a coal mine in the area. Sunshine Depot at Mile 215.3 was established in 1918, but was moved to higher ground in 1936. Construction of the Parks Highway and state land disposals led to settlement of the area.
Y is the developed area between Willow
and Talkeetna
along the George Parks Highway
. The Parks Highway and Talkeetna Spur Road form what is locally known as the "Talkeetna Y" at mile 98.7 (km 158.8) of the Parks Highway. Y includes Montana Creek and Sunshine. January temperatures range from -40 F; July can range from 26 to 90 °F (-3.3 to 32.2 C). Precipitation ranges from 14 to 29 in (35.6 to 73.7 cm), with 48 – of snowfall.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 336.5 square miles (871.5 km²), of which, 333.4 square miles (863.5 km²) of it is land and 3.1 square miles (8 km²) of it (0.92%) is water.
, 0.63% Black
or African American
, 6.59% Native American
, 0.63% Asian
, 0.84% from other races
, and 5.44% from two or more races. 2.30% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 412 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 32.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 117.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 118.5 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $31,848, and the median income for a family was $38,304. Males had a median income of $54,500 versus $35,625 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $15,437. About 9.5% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.4% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.
/Wasilla
area. The community is accessible from the George Parks Highway. The Talkeetna airstrip is located nearby. A variety of transportation means are available in Wasilla, 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 the 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 956 at the 2000 census.
History
AhtnaAhtna 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...
-speaking Athabascans lived in the Talkeetna Mountains
Talkeetna Mountains
The Talkeetna Mountains are a mountain range in Alaska. The Matanuska and Susitna River valleys, with towns such as Trapper Creek, Talkeetna, Wasilla, Palmer, Sutton, and Chickaloon, roughly bound the Talkeetnas in the westerly parts of the range. Sovereign Mountain rises to 8849 feet in the...
and had a village opposite the mouth of Sunshine Creek called "Tsuk Qayeh", meaning "Old Village." Dena'ina-speaking Athabascans lived along the Deshka River
Deshka River
The Deshka River is a river in southern-central Alaska.The Deshka River is one of Southcentral Alaska's premier sport fishing streams, with significant runs of Chinook and coho salmon, along with resident grayling, burbot, northern pike, and rainbow trout...
and the middle Susitna River
Susitna River
The Susitna River is a long river in the Southcentral Alaska. It is the 15th largest river in the United States of America, ranked by average discharge volume at its mouth. The river stretches from the Susitna Glacier to Cook Inlet....
in the winter, below present-day Talkeetna. A Dena'ina village was located on the North Fork of the Kashwitna River, with a trail to Chickaloon, Alaska
Chickaloon, Alaska
Chickaloon is a census-designated place in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, United States. It is part of the Anchorage, Alaska Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. Montana Creek became a small Dena'ina village in about 1915 during construction of the Alaska Railroad
Alaska Railroad
The Alaska Railroad is a Class II railroad which extends from Seward and Whittier, in the south of the state of Alaska, in the United States, to Fairbanks , and beyond to Eielson Air Force Base and Fort Wainwright in the interior of that state...
. Through 1927, the railroad brought employment and settlement to the area. Montana, at Mile 209.3, was one of the first construction camps. In 1918, a spur was constructed to a coal mine in the area. Sunshine Depot at Mile 215.3 was established in 1918, but was moved to higher ground in 1936. Construction of the Parks Highway and state land disposals led to settlement of the area.
Geography
Y is located at 62°2′12"N 149°59′14"W (62.154270, -149.79892) (Sec. 22, T024N, R003W, Seward Meridian) in the Palmer Recording District.Y is the developed area between Willow
Willow, Alaska
Willow is a census-designated place in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is part of the Anchorage, Alaska Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 1,658.-History:...
and Talkeetna
Talkeetna, Alaska
Talkeetna is a census-designated place in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, United States. It is part of the Anchorage, Alaska Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 772.-Geography:...
along the George Parks Highway
George Parks Highway
The George Parks Highway , usually called simply the Parks Highway, runs 323 miles from the Glenn Highway 35 miles north of Anchorage to Fairbanks in the Alaska Interior...
. The Parks Highway and Talkeetna Spur Road form what is locally known as the "Talkeetna Y" at mile 98.7 (km 158.8) of the Parks Highway. Y includes Montana Creek and Sunshine. January temperatures range from -40 F; July can range from 26 to 90 °F (-3.3 to 32.2 C). Precipitation ranges from 14 to 29 in (35.6 to 73.7 cm), with 48 – of snowfall.
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 336.5 square miles (871.5 km²), of which, 333.4 square miles (863.5 km²) of it is land and 3.1 square miles (8 km²) of it (0.92%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 956 people, 412 households, and 252 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2.9 people per square mile (1.1/km2). There were 818 housing units at an average density of 2.5/sq mi (0.9/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 85.88% 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...
, 0.63% 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...
, 6.59% 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...
, 0.63% Asian
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...
, 0.84% 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 5.44% from two or more races. 2.30% 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 412 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 32.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 117.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 118.5 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $31,848, and the median income for a family was $38,304. Males had a median income of $54,500 versus $35,625 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 $15,437. About 9.5% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.4% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.
Economy and transportation
Many residents are self-employed in a variety of small businesses, including lodging, guiding and charter services. Some residents are employed in the PalmerPalmer, Alaska
Palmer is the borough seat of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough in the state of Alaska, USA. It is part of the Anchorage Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city is 5,937....
/Wasilla
Wasilla, Alaska
Wasilla is a city in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, United States and the sixth-largest city in Alaska. It is located on the northern point of Cook Inlet in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley of the southcentral part of the state. The city's population was 7,831 at the 2010 census...
area. The community is accessible from the George Parks Highway. The Talkeetna airstrip is located nearby. A variety of transportation means are available in Wasilla, Palmer and 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...
.