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Arctic Village

Vashrąįį K'ǫǫ
Aerial view of Arctic Village in wintertime.
Aerial view of Arctic Village in wintertime.
Location of Arctic Village, Alaska
Location of Arctic Village, Alaska
Country United States
State Alaska
Census Area Yukon-Koyukuk
Area
 • Total 69.97 sq mi (181.23 km2)
 • Land 63.78 sq mi (165.20 km2)
 • Water 6.19 sq mi (16.03 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 151
 • Density 2.37/sq mi (0.91/km2)
Time zone UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-8 (AKDT)
ZIP code
99722
Area code(s) 907
FIPS code 02-03990

Arctic Village (Vashrąįį K'ǫǫ in Gwich'in) is an unincorporated Native American village and a census-designated place (CDP) in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of the CDP was 152. This was unchanged from 2000. The village is located in the large Gwitch'in speaking region of Alaska, and the local dialect is known as Di'haii Gwitch'in or Kutchin. As of 1999, over 95% of the community speaks and understands the language. (Kraus, 1999)

History

Evidence from archaeological investigations indicate that the Arctic Village area may have been settled as early as 4500 BC. Around 500 AD the Athabascan speaking Gwich’in people (often called Neets'aii Gwich'in or “those who dwell to the north”) came into the area with seasonal hunting and fishing camps. About 1900, the village became a permanent settlement.

Geography

Arctic Village is located at 68°7′19″N 145°31′40″W / 68.12194°N 145.52778°W / 68.12194; -145.52778 (68.121828, -145.527686), on the east fork of the Chandalar River, about a hundred miles north of Fort Yukon. The area consists of flat floodlands near the river, but is mostly wooded hills.

Both the CDP and the "village" have the same total area, 69.9 square miles (181 km2), of which, 61.71 square miles (159.8 km2) is land and 8.12 square miles (21.0 km2) (11.63%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1910 40
1930 40
1940 24 −40.0%
1950 53 120.8%
1960 110 107.5%
1970 85 −22.7%
1980 111 30.6%
1990 96 −13.5%
2000 152 58.3%
2010 152 0.0%
2020 151 −0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

Arctic Village first appeared on the 1910 U.S. Census as the unincorporated village of "Arctic." It did not appear on the 1920 census. It returned as "Arctic" from 1930 through 1960. In 1970, it then returned under its present name of Arctic Village. It was made a census-designated place (CDP) in 1980. Curiously, it reported the same population in 1910 and 1930 (40 residents), and in 2000 and 2010 it reported the same population of 152.

As of the census of 2000, there were 152 people, 52 households, and 30 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2.5 inhabitants per square mile (0.97/km2). There were 67 housing units at an average density of 1.1/sq mi (0.42/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 7.89% White, 86.18% Native American, and 5.92% from two or more races. 0.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 52 households, out of which 44.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.0% were married couples living together, 21.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.58.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 41.4% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 2.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females, there were 114.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 128.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $20,250, and the median income for a family was $19,000. Males had a median income of $21,875 versus $10,000 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $10,761. About 30.8% of families and 46.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 53.1% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those 65 or over.

Episcopal Church at Arctic Village
Episcopal church at Arctic Village.

In popular culture

Literature

  • J. C. Hutchins' 7th Son, Book 2, Deceit features Arctic Village as a location containing a clue concerning the antagonist's plans.
  • Erin Hunter's book Seekers: The Last Wilderness features Arctic Village as a setting in the book. This is where Ujurak is healed by a native and is also captured by a senator.


Education

Yukon Flats School District operates the Arctic Village School.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Arctic Village (Alaska) para niños

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