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Newhalen, Alaska

Nuuriileng, Nughilen
Newhalen, Alaska is located in Alaska
Newhalen, Alaska
Newhalen, Alaska
Location in Alaska
Country United States
State Alaska
Borough Lake and Peninsula
Incorporated October 26, 1971
Area
 • Total 8.50 sq mi (22.01 km2)
 • Land 6.03 sq mi (15.62 km2)
 • Water 2.47 sq mi (6.39 km2)
Elevation
62 ft (19 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 168
 • Density 27.85/sq mi (10.75/km2)
Time zone UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-8 (AKDT)
ZIP code
99606
Area code 907
FIPS code 02-53270
GNIS feature ID 1406978

Newhalen is a small city in Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska, United States. It is known by other names in local languages. In Yup'ik, it is called Central Yupik: Nuuriileng. In Dena'ina, it is known as Tanaina: Nughilen. According to the 2020 census, 168 people lived there.

Exploring Newhalen's Location

Newhalen is found in southern Alaska. It sits on the northern shore of Iliamna Lake. This lake is very large and beautiful. The city is also located at the mouth of the Newhalen River. This river flows into the lake.

The city covers a total area of about 22.01 square kilometers (8.50 square miles). Most of this area is land, about 15.62 square kilometers (6.03 square miles). The rest is water, which is about 6.39 square kilometers (2.47 square miles).

A place called the Pebble Mine site is located close to Newhalen. The closest mountain to the city is named Roadhouse Mountain.

Who Lives in Newhalen?

Historical population
Census Pop.
1940 55
1950 48 −12.7%
1960 63 31.3%
1970 88 39.7%
1980 87 −1.1%
1990 160 83.9%
2000 160 0.0%
2010 190 18.8%
2020 168 −11.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2000, there were 160 people living in Newhalen. These people made up 39 households and 37 families. The city had about 10.75 people per square kilometer (27.85 per square mile) of land.

Most of the people in Newhalen are Native American, making up 85% of the population. About 8.75% were White. The remaining 6.25% were from two or more racial backgrounds.

Many households, about 59%, had children under 18 living with them. Most families, 56.4%, were married couples. About 12.8% of households had a female head without a husband.

The average household in Newhalen had about 4.10 people. The average family size was slightly larger, at 4.22 people.

The population of Newhalen is quite young. About 45% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age in the city was 20 years. For every 100 females, there were 100 males.

In 2000, the average income for a household was $36,250 per year. For families, the average income was $35,000. About 26.7% of families and 16.3% of all people lived below the poverty line. This included 17.9% of those under 18.

Newhalen's Rich History

Newhalen was originally a village of the Yup'ik people. They called it Noghelin. This name came from the Newhalen River. The name "Newhalen" is an English version of the original Yup'ik name.

The village was started in the late 1800s. People chose this spot because there was a lot of fish and game. This meant they could easily find food and resources.

Today, the people of Newhalen include not only Yup'ik people but also Alutiiqs and Athabascans. Many residents still continue to hunt and fish for their food. This way of life is called subsistence hunting and fishing.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Newhalen para niños

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