Akiachak, Alaska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Akiachak
Akiacuaq / Akiacuar
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Aerial photograph of Akiachak
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Location of Akiachak, Alaska
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Census Area | Bethel |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.01 sq mi (18.16 km2) |
| • Land | 7.01 sq mi (18.16 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 13 ft (4 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 677 |
| • Density | 96.58/sq mi (37.28/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-8 (AKDT) |
| ZIP code |
99551
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| Area code(s) | 907 |
| FIPS code | 02-00760 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1398011 |
Akiachak (pronounced ACK-ee-uh-chuck) is a small community in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is known as a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's an area defined by the government for counting people, but it doesn't have its own city government. Akiachak is located in the Bethel Census Area. In 2020, the population was 677 people.
Contents
Exploring Akiachak: Location and Weather
Akiachak is found in Alaska, at coordinates 60.909440 degrees North and -161.43139 degrees West. It is located on the west bank of the Kuskokwim River. This river is part of the large Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta. Akiachak is about 18 miles (29 km) northeast of Bethel.
Land and Water Around Akiachak
The area of Akiachak is about 7.5 square miles (19.5 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a very small part, about 0.11%, is water.
Akiachak's Climate
The weather in Akiachak can be quite different between summer and winter.
- In summer, temperatures usually range from 42 to 62 degrees Fahrenheit (5.5 to 16.6 degrees Celsius).
- In winter, it gets much colder, with temperatures from -2 to 19 degrees Fahrenheit (-18.8 to -7.2 degrees Celsius).
The area gets about 16 inches (40 cm) of rain each year. It also gets about 50 inches (127 cm) of snow.
Akiachak's Past and Culture
The Yup'ik people have lived in this region for a very long time. They used Akiachak as a place to gather food during different seasons. In the 1890 census, the village was called Akiakchagamiut and had 43 people. A post office was opened in 1934.
A Unique Way of Governing
Akiachak became an official city in 1974. However, in 1987, the people decided to change things. They dissolved their city government. Instead, they chose to be governed by their traditional Native village council. This was the first community in Alaska to make such a change.
The Akiachak Native Community
Today, the Akiachak Native Community is a federally recognized Alaska Native tribal entity. This means the U.S. government officially recognizes them as a Native American tribe. Akiachak is a Yup'ik Eskimo village. Its people have a strong connection to their traditions. They often rely on fishing and a subsistence lifestyle. This means they get most of their food by hunting, fishing, and gathering from the land.
People of Akiachak
The population of Akiachak has grown over the years.
- In 1890, there were 43 people.
- By 2000, the population was 585.
- In 2010, it reached 627.
- The most recent count in 2020 showed 677 people living in Akiachak.
Most of the people in Akiachak are Native American, specifically Yup'ik. A small percentage are White or from two or more races.
Households and Families
In 2000, there were 133 households in Akiachak. Many of these households, about 63.9%, had children under 18 living there. The average household had about 4.40 people. Families were often larger, with an average of 4.89 people.
Age Groups in Akiachak
The community of Akiachak has a young population.
- About 44.4% of the people were under 18 years old.
- The median age was 22 years. This means half the population was younger than 22 and half was older.
Jobs and Getting Around in Akiachak
Most of the year-round jobs in Akiachak are in education and public services. The Yupiit School District has its main office in Akiachak. This school district also serves the nearby community of Tuluksak. The schools teach students about Yup'ik traditions, like harvesting food and moose hunting.
Seasonal Work and Food Sources
Many residents also have seasonal jobs. These include commercial fishing, construction, and fighting wildfires for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). About 70 people have permits to fish commercially. Some even work at fish canneries in Bristol Bay. The community is working on building a new facility to process and freeze fish.
For most of their food, people in Akiachak rely on subsistence activities. This means they hunt, fish, and gather food from nature. However, since 1997, there have been fewer fish returning to the rivers. This has made it harder for the community to get food.
Transportation in Akiachak
Getting to and from Akiachak is mainly done by air and river.
- The Akiachak Airport is a gravel airstrip owned by the state. It offers flights all year round. There are also places for seaplanes to land.
- People use boats, snowmachines, and ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) a lot on the Kuskokwim River.
- In winter, there is a special trail that connects Akiachak to Bethel, which is about 19 miles (30 km) away.
- During the summer, large barges bring fuel and other supplies to the community by river.
See also
In Spanish: Akiachak para niños
