kids encyclopedia robot

Kake, Alaska facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Kake, Alaska

Ḵéex̱ʼ
Flag of Kake, Alaska
Flag
Location in Alaska
Location in Alaska
Country United States
State Alaska
Census Area Prince of Wales-Hyder
Incorporated November 3, 1951
Area
 • Total 13.51 sq mi (34.98 km2)
 • Land 7.67 sq mi (19.87 km2)
 • Water 5.83 sq mi (15.11 km2)
Elevation
56 ft (17 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 543
 • Density 70.77/sq mi (27.32/km2)
Time zone UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-8 (AKDT)
ZIP code
99830
Area code 907
FIPS code 02-36770
GNIS feature ID 1422926, 2419403

Kake ( like 'cake') is a first-class city in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, United States. The population was 557 at the 2010 census. The name comes from the Tlingit word Ḵéix̱ʼ (Northern Tlingit) or Ḵéex̱ʼ (Southern Tlingit), which is derived from ḵée 'dawn, daylight' and x̱ʼé 'mouth', i.e. 'mouth of dawn' or 'opening of daylight'.

Geography

Kake is located at 56°58′15″N 133°56′2″W / 56.97083°N 133.93389°W / 56.97083; -133.93389 (56.970841, -133.933751). Kake is on the northwest coast of Kupreanof Island in the Alexander Archipelago in southeastern Alaska.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 14.2 square miles (37 km2), of which, 8.2 square miles (21 km2) of it is land and 6.0 square miles (16 km2) of it is water. The total area is 42.37% water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 261
1910 232
1920 387 66.8%
1930 386 −0.3%
1940 419 8.5%
1950 376 −10.3%
1960 455 21.0%
1970 448 −1.5%
1980 555 23.9%
1990 700 26.1%
2000 710 1.4%
2010 557 −21.5%
2020 543 −2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

Kake first reported on the 1880 U.S. Census as the Tlingit village of Keex Kwaan (not to be confused with the present Klukwan). It formally reported as Kake beginning in 1910. It incorporated in 1951.

As of the census of 2000, there were 710 people, 246 households, and 171 families residing in the city. The population density was 87.0 people per square mile (33.6/km2). There were 288 housing units at an average density of 35.3 per square mile (13.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 24.08% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 66.76% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.56% from other races, and 8.03% from two or more races. 1.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 246 households, out of which 41.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.49.

In the city the population was spread out, with 33.8% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 113.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,643, and the median income for a family was $42,857. Males had a median income of $44,167 versus $20,625 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,411. About 13.2% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under the age of 18 and 4.0% of those 65 and older.

History

The region of Kake has been inhabited by the Tlingit indigenous people for thousands of years.

The Tlingit of the Kake region gained a reputation among early European and American explorers of being strong and powerful. Some conflicts with early European and American explorers have been documented by historians. Some scholars believe the first European explorer to enter Tlingit lands was Sir Frances Drake, British explorer, who traveled to the area near present-day Kake in 1579.

In February 1869 a conflict erupted between the U.S. Army and the Tlingit in the Kake region, which is referred to as the Kake War of 1869. The conflict began when innocent Tlingit from Kake, who was visiting Sitka, was killed by a U.S. Army soldier. The U.S. Army failed to acknowledge any wrongdoing or offer compensation to the Tlingit from the Kake region, and as result, the Tlingit from Kake followed traditional Tlingit law and killed two non-Native trappers south of Sitka. In reprisal, the U.S. Army deployed the gunboat USS Saginaw from Sitka which attacked, shelled, and burned three Tlingit villages near present-day Kake. Although all three Tlingit villages had been evacuated by the Tlingit in order to avoid loss of life from the U.S. Army's approach and intent, some Tlingit were killed as result (total number killed is unknown). The Tlingit of the Kake area did not rebuild these three destroyed villages, but many relocated and settled around 1890 at the present site of Kake.

Kake is the site of a 128-foot totem pole, one of the world's largest, carved in 1967 for the Alaska Purchase centennial.

Education

The Kake City School District operates the city's school.

Notable people

See also

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

kids search engine
Kake, Alaska Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.