Napaimute, Alaska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Napaimute
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 Napaimute
Location in Alaska
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Census area | Bethel |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 2 |
| Time zone | UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-8 (AKDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 2418727 |
Napaimute (Central Yupik: Napamiut) is a small, special village in Alaska. It is not officially part of a city or town. Instead, it is an unincorporated community. This means it doesn't have its own city government.
Napaimute is located in the Bethel Census Area of Alaska. It is considered an Alaskan Native Village Statistical Area. This helps track information about Alaska Native communities. In 2010, only two people lived there. This was an increase from zero residents in 2000. The name Napaimute means "forest people" in the Yup'ik language.
Contents
History of Napaimute Village
Early Trading Post and Name Change
In 1906, an Englishman named George Hoffman started a trading post in this area. A trading post was a place where people could buy and sell goods. A small village grew around this post and was first called Hoffman's.
At that time, many people were looking for gold in the middle Kuskokwim Valley. Hoffman's became an important place for supplies and trade. Later, George Hoffman moved to Georgetown. The village's name then changed to Napaimute.
Growth and Decline of Population
The first school for the area along the Kuskokwim River was built in Napaimute in 1920. By 1930, the United States census reported 111 people living in Napaimute. The census is a count of the population.
However, after 1930, the number of people living in the village began to go down. By 1969, the last person who lived there all the time had left. The village was empty for a while.
Revitalization Efforts for the Community
In 1971, a law called the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act was passed. This law helped Alaska Native people get back land and money. Because of this act, a group called Napaimute Limited was formed. This group was like a company for the village.
In 1975, one of the members of Napaimute Limited moved back to the village. This was the start of people living there permanently again. In 1994, the village council was officially recognized by the government as an Alaska Native Tribe. This recognition allowed the village to get money from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This money helps support tribal operations.
Today, people are working to make the community strong again. In 2001, a sawmill was set up. A sawmill cuts wood into lumber. In 2002, the tribe started more operations. In 2004, a study was done to see if an airport could be built there. These efforts show the community's hope for the future.
Geography and Location
Napaimute is located at 61°32′N 158°40′W / 61.533°N 158.667°W. It sits on the north bank of the upper Kuskokwim River. This river is a major waterway in Alaska. The village is about 28 miles east of Aniak. It is found in the Kilbuck-Kuskokwim mountains.
Getting to Napaimute can be done in a few ways. You can travel by boat, especially in the warmer months. In the winter, when the ground is covered in snow, you can reach it by snowmobile.
Population History and Demographics
Demographics is the study of populations. It looks at things like how many people live in a place and what groups they belong to. Napaimute's population has changed a lot over the years.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 60 | — | |
| 1890 | 23 | −61.7% | |
| 1930 | 111 | — | |
| 1940 | 75 | −32.4% | |
| 1950 | 44 | −41.3% | |
| 1980 | 4 | — | |
| 1990 | 3 | −25.0% | |
| 2000 | 0 | −100.0% | |
| 2010 | 2 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Napaimute first appeared in the U.S. Census in 1880. At that time, it was listed as an unincorporated village with 60 residents. All of these residents were from the Tinneh Native group. In 1890, it was called "Napaimiut" and had 23 Native residents.
The village did not appear in the census again until 1930. Then it was called "Napaimut." In 1940, it was listed as "Napamiute." In 1950, it went back to its 1890 name, "Napaimiut."
Napaimute did not appear in the census again until 1980. It returned with its original 1880 name and spelling, Napaimute. Since then, it has been classified as an Alaskan Native Village Statistical Area (ANVSA) in every census.
