Chignik, Alaska facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chignik, Alaska Cirniq
City
Chignik from above
Chignik, Alaska Location in Alaska
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Borough	Lake and Peninsula
Incorporated	May 16, 1983
Area
• Total	15.85 sq mi (41.06 km2)
• Land	10.95 sq mi (28.35 km2)
• Water	4.91 sq mi (12.70 km2)
Elevation	0 ft (0 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	97
• Density	8.86/sq mi (3.42/km2)
Time zone	UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-8 (AKDT)
ZIP codes	99548, 99564
Area code	907
FIPS code	02-13550
GNIS feature ID	1400269

Chignik (in the Alutiiq language: Cirniq) is a small city in Alaska, United States. It is located in the Lake and Peninsula Borough. Chignik is about 250 miles (400 km) southwest of Kodiak.

In 2020, the city had a population of 97 people. This was a small increase from 91 people in 2010.

History of Chignik

Chignik has a history connected to the sea. On April 17, 1911, a very strong storm hit the area. This storm blew many ships ashore. Some of these ships included the Benjamin F. Packard and the Star of Alaska. Another ship, the Jabez Howes, was also wrecked. This ship was used by a fishing company. It helped with the cannery operations.

Where is Chignik?

Chignik is located at 56.298297 degrees north and -158.404402 degrees west. This is its exact spot on a map.

The city covers a total area of about 16 square miles (41 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 12 square miles (31 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 4 square miles (10 square kilometers), is water.

People of Chignik

Chignik first appeared in the U.S. Census in 1940. Before that, a place called "Chignik Bay" was listed. Chignik Bay might have included Chignik village and nearby fishing canneries. In 1890, Chignik Bay had 193 people. Most of them were from Asia. There were also White residents and Native Alaskans.

In 1910, Chignik Bay had 566 residents. It was the 13th largest community in Alaska at that time. After 1910, it was not listed again until Chignik appeared in 1940.

Population in 2000

In 2000, there were 79 people living in Chignik. These people lived in 29 households. About 20 of these households were families. The population density was about 7 people per square mile. There were 80 housing units in the city.

The people in Chignik came from different backgrounds. About 32% were White. A large group, 61%, were Native American. There were also small numbers of Asian and Pacific Islander people. About 1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Households and Families

Out of the 29 households, 11 had children under 18 years old. Nineteen households were married couples living together. Two households had a female head with no husband. Eight households were not families. Seven households had only one person living there. Ten households had a single person aged 65 or older.

The average household had about 2.7 people. The average family had about 3.3 people.

Age and Income

The ages of people in Chignik varied. About 25% were under 18 years old. About 14% were between 18 and 24. The largest group, 33%, was between 25 and 44. About 23% were between 45 and 64. Only 5% were 65 years or older. The average age in the city was 36 years.

The average income for a household in Chignik was $34,000 per year. For families, the average income was $51,000 per year. The average income for men and women was about $31,250. The income per person in Chignik was $16,000. Only a small part of the population, about 5%, lived below the poverty line. No one under 18 or over 64 was in poverty.

Famous Person from Chignik

• Benny Benson (1913–1972) was born in Chignik. He is famous for designing the Alaskan Flag.

Chignik's Climate

Chignik has a type of weather called a subarctic climate. This is known as Dfc in the Köppen climate system. Even though it's subarctic, Chignik's climate is milder than other Alaskan towns with the same climate type. For example, cities like Fairbanks or Fort Yukon are much colder.

See also

In Spanish: Chignik (Alaska) para niños