Halibut Cove, Alaska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Halibut Cove, Alaska
|
|
|---|---|
The harbor at Halibut Cove
|
|
Location of Halibut Cove, Alaska
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Kenai Peninsula |
| Area | |
| • Total | 11.49 sq mi (29.76 km2) |
| • Land | 8.32 sq mi (21.55 km2) |
| • Water | 3.17 sq mi (8.21 km2) |
| Elevation | 20 ft (6 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 60 |
| • Density | 7.21/sq mi (2.78/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-8 (AKDT) |
| ZIP code |
99603
|
| Area code(s) | 907 |
| FIPS code | 02-31270 |
Halibut Cove is a small community in Alaska, United States. It's called a census-designated place (CDP) because it's a special area the government uses to count people. Halibut Cove is located in the Kenai Peninsula Borough. In 2020, about 60 people lived there.
This unique place started as a fishing village. Today, it's known for its artists and small businesses. Halibut Cove is also home to one of the only floating post offices in the U.S.! Many tourists visit the cove, staying in lodges and cabins. The only way to get around Halibut Cove is by boat.
Contents
Exploring Halibut Cove's Location
Halibut Cove is found in the southern part of the Kenai Peninsula. It sits on the south side of Kachemak Bay, about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Homer. The community is surrounded by water, with Halibut Cove itself to the east and China Poot Bay to the west. Both are parts of Kachemak Bay.
Ismailof Island: The Heart of the Cove
The main part of Halibut Cove is on Ismailof Island. This island is just 500 feet (150 m) from the main peninsula. A narrow waterway separates it from the mainland. West of Ismailof Island, you'll find Peterson Bay, another inlet of Kachemak Bay.
How Big is Halibut Cove?
The total area of Halibut Cove is about 11.5 square miles (29.8 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 8.3 square miles (21.5 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 3.2 square miles (8.2 square kilometers), is water.
Getting Around Halibut Cove
Since there are no roads, visitors arrive by private boat from Homer. You can also take a local ferry like the Danny J. or Stormbird. Another option is to fly in by float plane. Once you're there, people get around by walking, using small boats called skiffs, or ATVs. Many homes and businesses are built on stilts over the water. Boardwalks connect the areas open to the public around the lagoon.
Halibut Cove's Weather
Halibut Cove has a type of climate called a continental subarctic climate. This means it has cold, snowy winters and mild summers.
| Climate data for Halibut Cove, Alaska (1975-1998 normals and extremes) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 50 (10) |
52 (11) |
51 (11) |
58 (14) |
73 (23) |
74 (23) |
78 (26) |
74 (23) |
69 (21) |
61 (16) |
52 (11) |
46 (8) |
78 (26) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 30.6 (−0.8) |
31.5 (−0.3) |
36.2 (2.3) |
44.7 (7.1) |
52.6 (11.4) |
59.8 (15.4) |
63.0 (17.2) |
62.2 (16.8) |
54.3 (12.4) |
43.9 (6.6) |
34.2 (1.2) |
31.1 (−0.5) |
45.4 (7.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 21.0 (−6.1) |
20.1 (−6.6) |
23.0 (−5.0) |
30.7 (−0.7) |
37.0 (2.8) |
42.9 (6.1) |
47.1 (8.4) |
46.9 (8.3) |
40.4 (4.7) |
31.3 (−0.4) |
24.4 (−4.2) |
21.2 (−6.0) |
32.2 (0.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −20 (−29) |
−4 (−20) |
−1 (−18) |
14 (−10) |
22 (−6) |
27 (−3) |
35 (2) |
37 (3) |
25 (−4) |
4 (−16) |
−1 (−18) |
−10 (−23) |
−20 (−29) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.22 (107) |
3.29 (84) |
3.46 (88) |
3.08 (78) |
1.98 (50) |
1.15 (29) |
1.24 (31) |
2.55 (65) |
5.02 (128) |
4.12 (105) |
4.15 (105) |
5.90 (150) |
40.17 (1,020) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 16.8 (43) |
14.4 (37) |
14.7 (37) |
3.8 (9.7) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
3.3 (8.4) |
12.7 (32) |
22.6 (57) |
88.3 (224) |
| Source: WRCC | |||||||||||||
Who Lives in Halibut Cove?
The number of people living in Halibut Cove has changed over the years. It first appeared on the U.S. Census in 1940.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1940 | 23 | — | |
| 1960 | 25 | — | |
| 1970 | 44 | 76.0% | |
| 1980 | 47 | 6.8% | |
| 1990 | 78 | 66.0% | |
| 2000 | 35 | −55.1% | |
| 2010 | 76 | 117.1% | |
| 2020 | 60 | −21.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population Details
In 2010, there were 76 people living in Halibut Cove. These people lived in 34 different homes. Many of the homes, 127 out of 161, were empty for most of the year. This is because 99 of them were used only for vacations or during certain seasons.
Most of the people living there, about 86.8%, were white. Some were Alaska Native American (6.6%), and others were from two or more different backgrounds (6.6%).
Households and Families
About 17.6% of the homes had children under 18 living in them. More than half, 55.9%, were homes where married couples lived together. About 32.4% of all homes had just one person living there. Some of these were people aged 65 or older. On average, about 2.24 people lived in each home.
Age Groups
Looking at the ages of people in Halibut Cove in 2010:
- 10.5% were under 18 years old.
- 13.1% were between 18 and 24.
- 23.6% were between 25 and 44.
- 38.1% were between 45 and 64.
- 14.5% were 65 years old or older.
The average age of people in Halibut Cove was 47.5 years. For every 100 females, there were about 117 males.
Images for kids
-
The cove seen from atop the Arch Trail
See also
In Spanish: Halibut Cove (Alaska) para niños
