Koyukuk (/ˈkaɪjəkək/) (Koyukon: Meneelghaadze’ T’oh [məniːlʁæːt͡səʔ tʼoh]) is a city in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 96, down from 101 in 2000.
Koyukuk
Meneelghaadze’ T’oh | |
|---|---|
 Location of Koyukuk, Alaska | |
| Coordinates: 64°52′54″N 157°42′16″W / 64.88167°N 157.70444°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Census Area | Yukon-Koyukuk |
| Incorporated | September 25, 1973[1] |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Agnes S. Dayton[2] |
| • State senator | Click Bishop (R) |
| • State rep. | Mike Cronk (R) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.85 sq mi (15.15 km2) |
| • Land | 5.75 sq mi (14.88 km2) |
| • Water | 0.10 sq mi (0.27 km2) |
| Elevation | 118 ft (36 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 98 |
| • Density | 17.06/sq mi (6.59/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-8 (AKDT) |
| ZIP code | 99754 |
| Area code | 907 |
| FIPS code | 02-42050 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1404984 |
As of 2009[update], Koyukuk is one of a number of Alaskan communities threatened by erosion.[4]
History
editThe Koyukon Athabascans had seasonal camps and moved when the wild game migrated. There were 12 summer fish camps located on the Yukon River between the Koyukuk River and the Nowitna River. Trading between the Koyukon and Inupiat of the Kobuk River area has occurred before the arrival of Europeans.
After the Alaska Purchase, a United States military telegraph line was constructed along the north side of the Yukon River and Koyukuk became the site of a telegraph station. A trading post opened around 1880, just before the gold rush of 1884–85. Steamboats on the Yukon, which supplied gold prospectors ran before and after 1900 with 46 boats in operation on the river in the peak year of 1900. A measles epidemic and food shortages during 1900 reduced the population of the area by one-third.
The first school in Koyukuk was constructed in 1939. After the school was built, families began to live at Koyukuk year-round.
Koyukuk was used as an Iditarod checkpoint in 2015 when the race was rerouted from Fairbanks.
Geography
editKoyukuk is located at 64°52′54″N 157°42′16″W / 64.881745°N 157.704393°W.[5]
Koyukuk is located on the Yukon River near the mouth of the Koyukuk River. It is 50 km (31 mi) west of Galena. It is adjacent to the Koyukuk National Wildlife Refuge and the Innoko National Wildlife Refuge.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16 km2), of which, 6.2 square miles (16 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of it (0.64%) is water.
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 150 | — | |
| 1890 | 174 | 16.0% | |
| 1910 | 121 | — | |
| 1920 | 124 | 2.5% | |
| 1930 | 143 | 15.3% | |
| 1940 | 106 | −25.9% | |
| 1950 | 79 | −25.5% | |
| 1960 | 128 | 62.0% | |
| 1970 | 124 | −3.1% | |
| 1980 | 98 | −21.0% | |
| 1990 | 126 | 28.6% | |
| 2000 | 101 | −19.8% | |
| 2010 | 96 | −5.0% | |
| 2020 | 98 | 2.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] | |||
Koyukuk first appeared on the 1880 U.S. Census as the "Koyukuk Settlements", a Tinneh village.[7] In 1890, it returned as "Koyukuk River Settlements."[8] It did not appear again until 1910, then as Koyukuk. It formally incorporated in 1973.
As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 101 people, 39 households, and 24 families residing in the city. The population density was 16.2 inhabitants per square mile (6.3/km2). There were 55 housing units at an average density of 8.8 per square mile (3.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 8.91% White and 91.09% Native American.
There were 39 households, out of which 41.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.8% were married couples living together, 20.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.32.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 34.7% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 36.6% from 25 to 44, 12.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 144.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $19,375, and the median income for a family was $31,250. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $0 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,341. There were 20.8% of families and 35.1% of the population living below the poverty line, including 53.8% of under eighteens and 33.3% of those over 64.
Education
editThe Yukon–Koyukuk School District operates the Ella B. Vernetti School in Koyukuk.[10]
Notable people
editGeorge Attla (1933–2015), champion sprint dog musher, was born in Koyukuk
References
edit- ^ "Directory of Borough and City Officials 1974". Alaska Local Government. XIII (2). Juneau: Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs: 51. January 1974.
- ^ 2015 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory. Juneau: Alaska Municipal League. 2015. p. 94.
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
- ^ "Coastal erosion problems receive new funding"[permanent dead link]
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "Statistics of the Population of Alaska" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
- ^ "Report on Population and Resources of Alaska at the Eleventh Census: 1890" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Government Printing Office.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Ella B. Vernetti School, Koyukuk." Yukon–Koyukuk School District. Retrieved on June 16, 2016.