Eklutna, Anchorage facts for kids
Eklutna is a small native village in Alaska. It is part of the Municipality of Anchorage. The village is home to about 70 people. Many other tribal members live in nearby communities. Eklutna is known for its rich history and unique culture.
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About Eklutna Village
Eklutna is located about 24 miles (39 km) northeast of Anchorage. It sits near the Alaska Railroad and the Glenn Highway. The village is also close to where the Eklutna River flows into the Knik Arm of Cook Inlet.
History of Eklutna
The Dena'ina Athabascan people have lived in Eklutna for over 800 years. This makes it the oldest place in the Anchorage area where people still live. Eklutna was once one of eight Dena'ina villages. However, when the Alaska Railroad was built around 1915, many American settlers arrived. Eklutna is now the last of those original villages.
Meaning of the Name
The Dena'ina name for the village is Idlughet. This name means "by the objects," referring to two hills nearby. The name "Eklutna" comes from Idluytnu. This is the Dena'ina name for the Eklutna River, meaning "objects river."
Culture and Traditions
Russian Orthodox missionaries came to Eklutna in the 1840s. Their Christian beliefs mixed with the native Dena'ina traditions. This blend created the brightly colored spirit houses. You can see these unique houses at the Eklutna Cemetery. This cemetery has been used since 1650 and is now a historical park. It is one of the most photographed graveyards in Alaska.
Eklutna's Development
In 1918, a train siding and station house were built near Eklutna for the Alaska Railroad. Before World War II, the government ran a boarding school for native children near the village. Later, the U.S. Army had a facility nearby, but it is no longer there.
In 2014, a large piece of land (160 acres) was given to the Native Village of Eklutna. This land had been a homestead since 1924. It is now kept as a safe place for wildlife and is protected from building. This helps preserve the land where Alaska Native people have lived for thousands of years.
Most people living in Eklutna Village are Alaska Native or part Native. Many are members of the Native Village of Eklutna. For work, most tribal members travel to Anchorage, nearby Eagle River, or the Matanuska-Susitna Valley.
Eklutna Population Changes
| Population of Eklutna before absorption |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 158 | — | |
| 1940 | 159 | 0.6% | |
| 1950 | 53 | −66.7% | |
| 1960 | 50 | −5.7% | |
| 1970 | 25 | −50.0% | |
| source: | |||
Eklutna first appeared in the U.S. Census in 1930. At that time, it was an unincorporated village. This means it was not officially part of a city or town. In 1930, 158 people lived there. Most residents were Native or of mixed Russian and Native heritage. Eklutna continued to be counted in the census until 1970. In 1975, it officially became part of Anchorage.
Education in Eklutna
The Anchorage School District runs the public schools in the Eklutna area.
