Nulato, Alaska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nulato
Noolaaghe Doh
|
|
|---|---|
Nulato in the 1940s
|
|
 Nulato, Alaska
Location in Alaska
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Census Area | Yukon-Koyukuk |
| Incorporated | April 22, 1963 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 43.79 sq mi (113.40 km2) |
| • Land | 41.09 sq mi (106.43 km2) |
| • Water | 2.69 sq mi (6.98 km2) |
| Elevation | 115 ft (35 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 239 |
| • Density | 5.82/sq mi (2.25/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-8 (AKDT) |
| ZIP code |
99765
|
| Area code | 907 |
| FIPS code | 02-56350 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1407321 |
Nulato (/nuːˈlætoʊ/) is a small city in Alaska, United States. It is located in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska. In 2020, about 239 people lived there. The native name for Nulato is Noolaaghe Doh (Noolaaghe Doh /nuːlaːɣə tɔːχ/), which means "chum salmon fish camp" in the Koyukon language.
Contents
History of Nulato
For a long time, Nulato was an important place for trade. The Koyukon people and the Inupiat people from the Kobuk River area would meet here to trade goods. This happened even before Europeans arrived in Alaska.
In 1838, a Russian explorer named Malakov set up a trading post in Nulato. This was one of the first European settlements in the area.
On February 16, 1851, there was a big conflict during the Athapaskan uprising. Many people in Nulato were harmed during an attack by people from the Kokukuk River area.
Changes After Alaska Became Part of the U.S.
After the Alaska Purchase in 1867, Alaska became part of the United States. A military telegraph line was built along the Yukon River.
In 1884, a gold rush started along the Yukon River. Many new people came to the area. Sadly, this also brought new diseases, and many local people became sick.
In 1887, a Roman Catholic mission and school called Our Lady of Snows opened in Nulato. Many people moved closer to the city to be near the school.
Around 1900, a measles outbreak and food shortages caused the population to drop by one-third. This was also when steamboat travel on the Yukon River was busiest. Up to 46 boats were working, and two boats stopped daily in Nulato to buy firewood.
By 1906, many gold prospectors left the Yukon River. They moved to places like Fairbanks and Nome. Lead mining started near the nearby town of Galena in 1919.
Nulato officially became a city in 1963. In 1981, new homes were built about 3 km (1.9 mi) from the main part of Nulato.
Geography and Climate
Nulato is located at 64°43′48″N 158°6′51″W / 64.73000°N 158.11417°W. It sits on the west bank of the Yukon River. This is about 53 km (33 mi) west of Galena, in the Nulato Hills. Across the Yukon River is the Innoko National Wildlife Refuge.
Weather in Nulato
Nulato has a very cold climate. The temperatures can change a lot. They can range from very cold −70 °F (−57 °C) in winter to warm 80 °F (27 °C) in summer.
The area gets about 15.6 inches (400 mm) of rain each year. It also gets a lot of snow, around 74 inches (1,900 mm) annually.
The city covers about 44.8 square miles (116 km2) of land and water. Most of this area, about 42.7 square miles (111 km2), is land. The rest, about 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2), is water.
Getting Around Nulato
The town has its own airport, Nulato Airport. This airport has regular flights to nearby towns. You can fly to Galena, Kaltag, and Koyukuk.
Education in Nulato
Students in Nulato attend the Andrew K. Demoski School. This school is part of the Yukon–Koyukuk School District.
Culture and Traditions
Most people living in Nulato are Koyukon Athabascans. They often live a traditional lifestyle, which includes trapping and hunting for food.
The Stick Dance Ceremony
Every two years, people gather in Nulato for a special week-long event called the Stick Dance. This ceremony is also held in Kaltag, Alaska on the alternate years.
People from all over the Athabascan region come to Nulato for this important dance. It is a sacred ceremony that celebrates the lives of loved ones who have passed away. It also honors the people who supported families during their time of sadness.
The Stick Dance ceremony began centuries ago. It was started by a couple who lost their family in a terrible accident.
Friday night is the most important part of the week. On this night, attendees sing 14 sacred songs and perform a special dance. This dance is called Meyegha Doh Sealyihe in the Athabascan language, which means "the dance before the stick dance." After this dance, a decorated stick is placed in the center of the gathering place. People then chant while moving around the stick. The chants are "Heeyo Heeyo Heeyo Hey Heeyo Heeyo Heeyo Hey."
Population Changes
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 118 | — | |
| 1900 | 281 | 138.1% | |
| 1910 | 230 | −18.1% | |
| 1920 | 258 | 12.2% | |
| 1930 | 204 | −20.9% | |
| 1940 | 113 | −44.6% | |
| 1950 | 176 | 55.8% | |
| 1960 | 283 | 60.8% | |
| 1970 | 308 | 8.8% | |
| 1980 | 350 | 13.6% | |
| 1990 | 359 | 2.6% | |
| 2000 | 336 | −6.4% | |
| 2010 | 264 | −21.4% | |
| 2020 | 239 | −9.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Nulato's population has changed over the years. In 1890, there were 118 people. The population grew to 336 in 2000, but by 2020, it was 239 people.
Most residents are Koyukon, who are Alaska Native people. They are part of the larger Athabaskan group.
In 2000, there were 91 households in Nulato. About half of these households had children under 18 living there. The average household had about 3.69 people. The median age in the city was 23 years old.
Notable People from Nulato
- Poldine Carlo (1920–2018), a Koyukon Athabascan author, was born in Nulato.
- Michael J. Stickman was the First Chief of the Nulato Tribal Council.
See also
In Spanish: Nulato para niños
