Quinhagak, Alaska
Quinhagak, or Kuinerraq in Central Alaskan Yup'ik, is a city in Bethel Census Area, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city is 669, up from 555 in 2000; the Yupik name for the village is Kuinerraq, meaning "new river channel." It has been dated to at least 1000 AD. Quinhagak is near the Nunalleq archaeological site, which has "easily the largest collection of pre-contact Yup'ik material anywhere," according to anthropologist Rick Knecht. Thousands of items dating from 1350 to 1670 have been uncovered; these include many organic artifacts preserved in permafrost. The site is located along eroding coastline and up to 75% of the original site is thought to have washed away, As of 2013, including the original excavation site. Quinhagak is located at 59°45′12″N 161°54′10″W, it is situated on the Kanektok River and near the Arolik River a mile from the Kuskokwim Bay of the Bering Sea. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.2 square miles, of which, 4.7 square miles of it is land and 0.6 square miles of it is water.
Quinhagak has appeared under six different names on census records over the course of a century. It first appeared on the 1880 U. S. Census as the unincorporated Inuit village of "Quinchahamute." In 1890, it returned as "Quinhaghamiut." In 1900, it returned as "Kwiniak." In 1910, it returned as "Kwinak", with the alternative spelling of "Quinhagak." In 1920 and 1930, it appeared under its present spelling of Quinhagak. From 1940-70, it was spelled as "Kwinhagak." It was formally incorporated in 1975 with the current spelling of Quinhagak. As of the census of 2000, there were 555 people, 137 households, 113 families residing in the city; the population density was 118.5 people per square mile. There were 153 housing units at an average density of 32.7 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 2.70% White, 96.04% Native American, 1.26% from two or more races. 0.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 137 households out of which 50.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 16.8% were non-families.
12.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.5% had someone living alone, 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.05 and the average family size was 4.52. In the city, the population was spread out with 37.1% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 16.0% from 45 to 64, 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 109.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.4 males. The median income for a household in the city was $25,156, the median income for a family was $25,313. Males had a median income of $23,750 versus $36,250 for females; the per capita income for the city was $8,127. About 27.2% of families and 26.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.0% of those under age 18 and 25.0% of those age 65 or over. The village hosts a commercial fishing fish plant. Although a commercial fishing village, there has been no commercial fishing since the local processor, Coastal Villages Seafood/Coastal Villages Region Fund, stopped buying salmon since 2016.
Most Quinhagak households practice subsistence hunting and gathering in addition to any wage work they are able to find, utilizing the village's excellent location for salmon and trout fishing, bird and moose hunting, berry picking. Much of the work available is government-funded. Lower Kuskokwim School District operates the Kuinerrarmiut Elitnaurviat School, K-12
Akiak, Alaska
Akiak is a city in Bethel Census Area, United States. The population was 346 at the 2010 census, up from 309 in 2000. Akiak is located at 60°54′36″N 161°13′6″W, on the west bank of the Kuskokwim River, 42 miles northeast of Bethel, on the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta. Akiak is located in the Bethel Recording District. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.1 square miles, of which 2.1 square miles is land and 1.0 square mile, or 32.58%, is water. Precipitation averages 16 inches with snowfall of 50 inches. Summer temperatures range from 42 °F to 62 °F. Winter temperatures range from −2 °F to 19 °F. In 1880, the village of "Akairmiut" had a population of 175; the name Akiak means "the other side", since this place was a crossing to the Yukon River basin during the winter for area Yup'ik Eskimos. The Akiak post office was established in 1916. A U. S. Public Health Service hospital was built in the 1920s; the city was incorporated in 1970. A federally recognized Alaska Native tribal entity is located in the community—the Akiak Native Community.
Akiak is a Yup ` ik Eskimo village with a reliance on fishing activities. The sale or importation of alcohol is banned in the village. Akiak first appeared on the 1880 U. S. Census as the unincorporated Inuit village of "Akiarmiut." All 175 residents were Inuit. In 1890, it returned as "Akiagamiut" with 97 residents, it did not appear on the census again until 1920 as Akiak. It has returned in every successive census, it formally incorporated in 1970. As of the census of 2000, there were 309 people, 69 households, 54 families residing in the city; the population density was 157.2 people per square mile. There were 76 housing units at an average density of 38.7 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 4.85% White, 92.88% Native American, 2.27% from two or more races. 0.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 69 households out of which 53.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were married couples living together, 20.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 21.7% were non-families.
18.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.3% had someone living alone, 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.48 and the average family size was 5.24. In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 43.4% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 14.6% from 45 to 64, 6.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 21 years. For every 100 females, there were 122.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.9 males. The median income for a household in the city was $26,250, the median income for a family was $36,875. Males had a median income of $21,875 versus $11,667 for females; the per capita income for the city was $8,326. About 25.0% of families and 33.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.3% of those under the age of eighteen and 6.7% of those sixty five or over. A new well, water treatment plant and storage tank were completed; the school and clinic are connected directly to the water plant.
Individual wells, septic systems and plumbing were installed in 14 HUD homes during 1997. Sewage disposal is by septic tanks, honey buckets or privies, but major improvements are underway. A piped water and gravity sewer system is with household plumbing. 67 homes need sewer service. Most residents are dependent upon the washeteria for bathing; the city provides septic pumping services. Electricity is provided by the city of Akiak. There is one school located in the community, attended by 99 students; the city is home to the world's third largest museum of taxidermy. Local hospitals or health clinics include Edith Kawagley Memorial Clinic. Edith Kawagley Memorial Clinic is a Primary Health Care facility. Akiak is classified as an isolated village. Emergency services are provided by a health aide; the majority of the year-round employment in Akiak is with the city, schools or other public services. Commercial fishing or BLM fire-fighting provide seasonal income. 27 residents hold commercial fishing permits.
The community is interested in developing tourism. Subsistence activities are important to residents. Poor fish returns since 1997 have affected the community; the airport has a gravel runway in good condition, measuring 3,196 feet long by 75 feet wide, at an elevation of 30 feet. The strip provides private air access year-round. Arctic Circle Air Service, Grant Aviation and Hageland Aviation offer passenger flight service. Snow machines, ATVs and skiffs are used extensively for local transportation to nearby villages. There are no docking facilities. Taxes: Sales: None, Property: None, Special: None Akiak at the Community Database Online from the Alaska Division of Community and Regional Affairs Maps from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development: 2000, 2010
Akiachak, Alaska
Akiachak is a census-designated place in the Bethel Census Area in the U. S. state of Alaska. The population was 627 at the 2010 census, up from 585 in 2000. Akiachak is located at 60°54′34″N 161°25′53″W, Sec. 36, T010N, R069W, Seward Meridian) in the Bethel Recording District. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 7.5 square miles, of which 0.008 square miles, or 0.11%, is water. Akiachak is located on the west bank of the Kuskokwim River in the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta, 18 miles northeast of Bethel; the area averages 16 inches of precipitation, with snowfall of 50 inches. Summer temperatures range from 42 to 62 °F. Winter temperatures range from −2 to 19 °F; the Yup'ik Eskimos used this region as a seasonal subsistence site. Called Akiakchagamiut in the 1890 census, the village had a population of 43 then. A post office was established in 1934, it incorporated as a second-class city on February 7, 1974. The city government was dissolved in favor of traditional village council governance.
A federally recognized Alaska Native tribal entity, the Akiachak Native Community, is located here. Akiachak is a Yup ` ik Eskimo village with a subsistence lifestyle, it has a strong traditional community, was the first city in Alaska to dissolve its city government in favor of the Native village government. The sale and possession of alcohol are banned in the village. Akiachak first appeared on the 1890 U. S. Census as the unincorporated native village of "Akiakchagmiut." All 43 of its residents were Native. It returned as Akiachak in 1900, it did not appear again on the census until 1940, when it returned as "Akiachok." It returned in every successive census as Akiachak. It formally incorporated in 1974. In 1990, it was assigned the status of census-designated place; as of the census of 2000, there were 585 people, 133 households, 111 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 86.5 people per square mile. There were 150 housing units at an average density of 22.2/sq mi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 3.42% White, 92.31% Native American, 4.27% from two or more races.
1.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 133 households out of which 63.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 15.8% were non-families. 14.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.3% had someone living alone, 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.40 and the average family size was 4.89. In the CDP, the population was spread out with 44.4% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 14.5% from 45 to 64, 5.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females, there were 121.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 118.1 males. The median income for a household in the CDP was $35,833, the median income for a family was $35,288. Males had a median income of $31,667 versus $18,750 for females; the per capita income for the CDP was $8,321. About 16.2% of families and 21.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.7% of those under age 18 and 34.8% of those age 65 or over.
Half of the village is hooked up to a plumbing system. The village is working to write a grant in order to receive federal funding to plumb the rest of the village who still use honey buckets and must get their water from the river, rain, or snow; the village would like to use the waste heat for public buildings. Electricity is provided by Akiachak Native Community Electric Co. There is one school located in the community, attended by over 200 students each year and growing. Local hospitals or health clinics include Akiachak Health Clinic. Akiachak Health Clinic is a Primary Health facility - they do not have authorization to prescribe drugs, give birth control, or handle much more than colds, small cuts, or routine strep throat treatment, pervasive in the community. Most live births, birth control, injury, or serious illness will be referred to the Bethel hospital or patients may be air lifted to Anchorage in serious cases. Akiachak is classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 7A in the Yukon/Kuskokwim Region.
Emergency Services have air access. Emergency service is provided by a health aide; the majority of year-round employment in Akiachak is in education and other public services. The Yupiit School District headquarters are located in the community. Residents rely on seasonal employment such as commercial fishing, construction and BLM fire-fighting. 70 residents hold commercial fishing permits, some work at canneries in Bristol Bay. The community is developing freezer. Subsistence activities provide most food sources. Poor fish returns since 1997 have affected the community. A state-owned 1,649-foot long by 40-foot wide gravel airstrip and public seaplane facilities provide scheduled and chartered services year-round to Akiachak. Relocation of the Akiachak Airport is planned for the future. Arctic Circle Air Service, Grant Aviation and Hageland Aviation offer passenger flight service. Boats, snowmachines and ATVs are used extensively by locals on the Kuskokwim River. A winter trail exists to Bethel. Barges deliver bulk fuel and supplies during the summer.
Akiachak at the Community Database Online from the Alaska Division of Community and Regional Affairs Maps from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development: 2000, 2010 New York
Bethel Census Area, Alaska
Bethel Census Area is a census area in the U. S. state of Alaska. As of the 2010 census, the population is 17,013, it therefore has no borough seat. Its largest community is the city of Bethel, the largest city in the unorganized borough. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the census area has an area of 45,504 square miles, of which 40,570 square miles is land and 4,934 square miles is water, its territory includes the large Nunivak Island in the Bering Sea. Its land area is comparable to that of Kentucky, which has an area of under forty thousand square miles. Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska - northwest Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska - north Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska - east Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska - southeast Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska - south Dillingham Census Area, Alaska - south Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Bering Sea Wilderness Lake Clark National Park and Preserve Lake Clark Wilderness Togiak National Wildlife Refuge Togiak Wilderness Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Nunivak Wilderness As of the census of 2000, there were 16,006 people, 4,226 households, 3,173 families residing in the census area.
The population density was 0 people per square mile. There were 5,188 housing units at an average density of 0/sq mi; the racial makeup of the census area was 12.53% White, 0.38% Black or African American, 81.93% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, 3.85% from two or more races. 0.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 4,226 households out of which 51.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.20% were married couples living together, 15.20% had a female householder with no husband present, 24.90% were non-families. 19.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.80% had someone living alone, 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.73 and the average family size was 4.41. In the census area the population was spread out with 39.80% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 16.40% from 45 to 64, 5.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years.
For every 100 females, there were 113.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.80 males. Bethel Census Area is one of only 38 county-level census divisions of the United States where the most spoken language is not English and one of only 3 where it is neither English nor Spanish. 63.14% of the population speak a Yupik language at home, followed by English at 34.71%. Crow Village Georgetown Napaimute Umkumiute List of Airports in the Bethel Census Area Nunathloogagamiutbingoi Dunes Census Area map, 2000 census: Alaska Department of Labor Census Area map, 2010 census: Alaska Department of Labor
Mekoryuk, Alaska
Mekoryuk is a city located on Nunivak Island in the Bethel Census Area, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 191, down from 210 in 2000. Nunivak Island has been inhabited for 2,000 years by the Nuniwarmiut; the first contact with Europeans was in 1821 by explorers from the Russian-American Company. They recorded 400 people living in 16 villages on the Nunivak Island. While conducting the 1880 United States Census, Ivan Petrof recorded 702 Yup'ik in 9 villages, including 117 people at "Koot", near the site of present-day Mekoryuk. An epidemic in 1900 left only four surviving families in the village. In the 1930s, the Evangelical Covenant Church was built at Mekoryuk, followed by a school in 1939. People moved to the village from other areas of the island to be near the school. Reindeer herding was introduced in 1920 by an Eskimo-Russian trader; the operation was purchased by the United States government in the 1940s and a slaughterhouse was built in 1945. The reindeer were crossed with caribou from Denali Park.
The resulting animals were less tame than other reindeer. 34 musk ox from Greenland were transferred to the Nunivak Island in 1934 in an effort to save the species from extinction. Today, the musk-ox herd numbers around 500, calves from this herd have been relocated and introduced to other areas of Alaska. In the mid-1900s, Mekoryuk became the only permanent population center on the island; until the 1940s, the traditional lifestyle and traditional ceremonies and religious beliefs were practiced. The 1950s and 1960s brought considerable change. Mekoryuk Airport was built in 1957; the Territorial Guard was formed and men were sent to Fort Richardson near Anchorage for training. During this time, many families moved to Bethel during the winter to be near the high school, returning in the spring for fishing and sea mammal hunting. A high school was constructed in Mekoryuk in 1978. Mekoryuk is located at 60°23′21″N 166°12′25″W. Mekoryuk is at the mouth of Shoal Bay on the north shore of Nunivak Island in the Bering Sea.
The Island lies 48 km west of the Alaska coast. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.4 square miles, of which, 7.4 square miles of it is land and 0.14% is water. Mekoryuk first appeared on the 1950 U. S. Census as "Mekoryok." It appeared as the current spelling in 1960. It formally incorporated in 1969; as of the census of 2000, there were 210 people, 73 households, 48 families residing in the city. The population density was 28.5 people per square mile. There were 96 housing units at an average density of 13.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 3.33% White, 90.48% Native American, 6.19% from two or more races. 0.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 73 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.2% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.7% had someone living alone, 65 years of age or older.
The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.77. In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 32.4% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 116.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 136.7 males. The median income for a household in the city was $30,833, the median income for a family was $33,750. Males had a median income of $25,417 versus $11,667 for females; the per capita income for the city was $11,958. About 13.7% of families and 21.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.7% of those under the age of eighteen and 15.8% of those sixty five or over. Lower Kuskokwim School District operates the Nuniwarmiut School, K-12. In 1984 the building was constructed. Historic photos of Mekoryuk
Chefornak, Alaska
Chefornak is a city in Bethel Census Area, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 418, up from 394 in 2000. Chefornak is located at 60°9′33″N 164°16′10″W on the south bank of the Kinia River 16 miles upriver from its mouth in Etolin Strait, an arm of the Bering Sea, it is within the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.4 square miles, of which 5.7 square miles is land and 0.66 square miles, or 10.56%, is water. Located in a region where the arctic tundra meets and interacts with the Bering Sea, as well as being in a region impacted by past volcanism, Chefornak has many interesting local landmarks. An extinct volcano, Tern Mountain, is visible in the distance to the south. Large, igneous rocks are a common sight in the village and the surrounding tundra; the Kinia River and its many tributaries are important to the people of the village, because of water travel to hunting and fishing areas, as well as because of difficulties presented by flooding and erosion.
Chefornak first appeared on the 1950 U. S. Census as an unincorporated village, it formally incorporated in 1974. As of the census of 2000, there were 394 people, 75 households, 63 families residing in the city; the population density was 68.8 people per square mile. There were 82 housing units at an average density of 14.3 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 93.40% Alaska Native, 2.03% White, 4.57% from two or more races. There were 75 households out of which 60.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 16.0% were non-families. 14.7% of all households were made up of individuals and none had someone living alone, 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 5.25 and the average family size was 5.98. In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 45.2% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 16.5% from 45 to 64, 4.6% who were 65 years of age or older.
The median age was 21 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.9 males. The median income for a household in the city was $35,556, the median income for a family was $36,042. Males had a median income of $15,000 versus $20,833 for females; the per capita income for the city was $8,474. About 21.3% of families and 25.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.0% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over. Yup'ik dancing is popular in the village; the high school has an Yup'ik Dance Team which visits other villages for feasts and festivals. The village hosts a dance festival in the Spring, the large Camai-i festival in Bethel attracts many from Chefornak and the surrounding villages to display their dances and to see the dances of other regions. Many of the villagers live a subsistence lifestyle, which means that they continue to carry out the traditional hunter-gatherer activities of their ancestors.
One of the foods that they rely on is fish such as halibut and herring, which are dried and eaten like jerky. Berries such as salmonberries, black berries, blueberries are gathered and used to prepare akutaq. Other native foods that are gathered include mousefood, Labrador tea, greens such as sourdock. Beside houses, there are only a handful of buildings in the village: Chefarnrmute, Inc. the village corporation Avugiak's Store The post office The town hall/bingo hall The school The Old School St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church The power plant The Chaputnguak School & Amaqigciq School is operated by the Lower Kuskokwim School District. "Chaputnguak," an old name for Chefornak, is a Yup'ik word referring to an object or thing obstructing a pathway. "Chaputnguak," an old name for Chefornak, is a Yup'ik word referring to an object or thing obstructing a pathway, while the latter is named after the first inhabitant of Chefornak, Alexie Amaqigciq. He was the Yup ` ik elder. Chaputnguak School is the primary school and Amaqigciq School is the secondary school.
Transportation into the village of Chefornak occurs by small aircraft, although in the winter the village can be reached by snow machine as well. Goods and mail are brought into the village by plane, during the summer months are brought up the Kinia River by barge. Chefornak's airport has been moved further from the village due to concerns with its proximity to the school; the new airstrip is now in operation. Within the village, transportation options include four-wheel, snow machine, on foot. Chaputnguak School Alaska Community Database
Bethel, Alaska
Bethel is the largest community on the Kuskokwim River, located 50 mi upriver from where the river flows into Kuskokwim Bay. Bethel is the largest community in western Alaska and in the Unorganized Borough, as well as the 9th largest in the state, with a population of 6,080 as of the 2010 Census. Bethel is home to the lone detention center in southwestern Alaska, the Yukon Kuskokwim Correction Center. Annual events in Bethel include a noted dogsled race, the Kuskokwim 300, Camai, a traditional Yup'ik dance festival held each spring, the Bethel Fair held in August. Southwestern Alaska was the traditional place of Yup'ik people and their ancestors for thousands of years, they called their village Mamterillermiut, meaning "Smokehouse People", after their nearby fish smokehouse. It was an Alaska Commercial Company trading post during the late 19th century, had a population of 41 people in the 1880 U. S. Census. In 1885, the Moravian Church established a mission in the area under the leadership of Rev. William Weinland and Caroline and John Henry Kilbuck, Jr. a Lenape, his wife Edith, a daughter and granddaughter of Moravian missionaries in Kansas.
They both learned Yup'ik, which enhanced their effectiveness as missionaries. He made Yup'ik the language of the Moravian Church in the community and region, helped translate scripture into the people's language; the missionaries moved Bethel from Mamterillermiut to its present location on the west side of the Kuskokwim River. A United States post office was opened in 1905. Alaska Natives in this area have had a long Christian history, in part from Russian Orthodox and Moravian influence; as in many Alaska Native villages, Christian tradition has become interwoven with the people's original culture. Development came to the area during and after World War II, causing a great social disruption among the Alaska Natives. In 1971, Bethel established a community radio, a strong influence in the redevelopment and revival of Yup'ik culture and self-definition, it was the first Native-owned and operated radio station in the US. Similar stations were soon started in Kotzebue, by 1990, there were 10 stations in communities of fewer than 3,500 people.
On February 19, 1997, a school shooting attracted widespread media attention to Bethel when 16-year-old Evan Ramsey, a student at Bethel Regional High School and killed his principal and one student and wounded two others, for which he received a 210-year prison sentence. In 2009, Bethel opted out of status as a "Local Option" community, theoretically opening the door to allowing alcohol sales in the city. In October 2015, though, a vote for allowing alcohol sales in Bethel passed and two liquor licenses were approved for existing stores in the city. On November 3, 2015, the Kilbuck building housing both the Ayaprun Elitnaurviat Yup’ik immersion school and the Kuskokwim Learning Academy caught fire, destroying the immersion school and damaging the boarding school. Fire fighters demolished part of the building in an effort to save a media center containing Yup'ik artifacts and elder interviews. Bethel is located at 60°47′32″N 161°45′21″W. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 48.7 square miles, of which 43.2 square miles is land and 5.5 square miles, or 11.34%, is water.
Though the region is flat and treeless, Bethel lies inside the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, the second largest wildlife refuge in the United States. Bethel has a subarctic climate, with long, somewhat snowy, moderately cold winters, short, mild summers. Monthly daily average temperatures range from 6.6 °F in January to 56.0 °F in July, with an annual mean of 29.9 °F. Warm days of above 70 °F can be expected on 13 days per summer. Precipitation is both most frequent and greatest during the summer months, averaging 16.2 inches per year. Snowfall falls in light bouts, is greater in November and December than in January and February, averaging 45 inches a season. Extreme temperatures have ranged from −48 °F to 90 °F; the first settlement at the location of Bethel reported on the 1880 U. S. Census as "Mumtrekhlagamute Station." It had 29 Inuit. 1/2 mile away was the adjacent Mumtrekhlagamute Village (1880 population: 41. Bethel was established at Mumtrekhlagamute Station in 1885 and supplanted it by the 1890 U.
S. Census, it reported 20 residents. Mumtrekhlagamiut would be absorbed into Bethel. Bethel did not appear on the 1900 Census, but has on every census since 1910, it would formally incorporate as a city in 1957. As of the census of 2000, there were 5,471 people, 1,741 households, 1,190 families residing in the city; the population density was 125.0 people per square mile. There were 1,990 housing units at an average density of 45.5 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 26.83% White, 0.93% Black or African American, 61.78% Native American, 2.87% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, 6.91% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.70% of the population. There were 1,741 households out of which 44.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.7% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.2% had someone living alone, 65
.jpg)
