Tetlin, Alaska facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tetlin, Alaska Teełąy
CDP
Location of Tetlin, Alaska
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Census Area	Southeast Fairbanks
Area
• Total	69.13 sq mi (179.04 km2)
• Land	67.83 sq mi (175.68 km2)
• Water	1.30 sq mi (3.36 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	126
• Density	1.86/sq mi (0.72/km2)
Time zone	UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-8 (AKDT)
ZIP code	99780
Area code(s)	907
FIPS code	02-76590

Tetlin in 1942

Tetlin is a small community in Alaska, United States. Its native name is Teełąy in the Upper Tanana Athabascan language. It is known as a census-designated place (CDP). In 2020, about 126 people lived there.

Exploring Tetlin's Location

Tetlin is found in Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska. It is located along the Tetlin River. This river flows between Tetlin Lake and the larger Tanana River. The village is about 32 kilometers (20 miles) southeast of Tok.

How to Reach Tetlin

A dirt road connects Tetlin to the Alaska Highway. This makes it possible to drive to the village. Tetlin is also part of the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge.

Land and Water Around Tetlin

The area of Tetlin is mostly land. It covers about 179 square kilometers (69 square miles). A small part, about 3.36 square kilometers (1.3 square miles), is water.

Discovering Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge

The Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge was created in 1980. Its main goal is to protect the homes of wild animals. This includes both animals that live there all year and those that migrate.

Nature's Beauty in the Refuge

The refuge is huge, covering about 2,954 square kilometers (730,000 acres). It has many different types of land. You can find snow-capped mountains and rivers fed by glaciers. There are also forests, treeless tundra, and lots of wetlands.

Birds of the Tetlin Passage

This refuge is a very important place for birds. It produces up to 1,000,000 ducklings each year. More than 186 different kinds of birds live here. The area is called the "Tetlin Passage" because many birds fly through it. They travel to and from Canada, the lower 48 states, and even Central and South America. Many of these birds build nests and raise their young in the refuge. Migrating birds, like ducks, geese, swans, and cranes, start arriving in April. They continue to come until early June.

Mammals of the Refuge

Tetlin also has many large mammals. You might see Dall Sheep on the higher mountain slopes. Moose eat the new plants that grow after lightning causes fires. Wolves, grizzly bears, and black bears also roam the refuge. Several groups of caribou also live here.

Fish in the Waters

The refuge's waters are home to important fish. Two special areas where humpback whitefish lay their eggs are in the refuge. These fish, along with caribou and moose, are important food sources for local people. Other fish like Arctic Grayling, Northern Pike, and burbot also live in the streams and lakes.

Tetlin's Past: A Brief History

The Athabascan people have lived in this area for a long time. They were semi-nomadic, meaning they moved with the seasons. They had different camps for hunting and fishing.

Early Records and Trading

In 1885, a person named Lt. H.T. Allen found small groups of people living in Tetlin. They also lived in a place called Last Tetlin, to the south. These residents often traded goods at posts on the Yukon River. By 1912, Tetlin villagers traded at the Tanana Crossing Trading Post.

Growth of the Village

During a gold rush in 1913, a trading post opened across the river from Tetlin. In the 1920s, two more trading posts opened in the village. Because of these new posts, people from Last Tetlin moved to Tetlin. A school was built in 1929, and a post office opened in 1932.

Land Changes Over Time

In 1930, a large area of land, about 3,181 square kilometers (786,000 acres), was set aside as the Tetlin Indian Reserve. An airstrip was built in 1946. Later, in 1971, a law called the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) was passed. This law changed how land was owned in Alaska. The Tetlin Reserve was ended. Instead, the people of Tetlin chose to own about 3,007 square kilometers (743,000 acres) of land directly.

People of Tetlin

Tetlin first appeared in the U.S. Census in 1940. In 1980, it became a census-designated place (CDP).

Population Overview

As of the 2000 census, there were 117 people living in Tetlin. Most of the people, about 95%, were Native American. The rest were White or from two or more races.

Age Groups

The population in 2000 included people of all ages. About 27% were under 18 years old. About 15% were between 18 and 24. The largest group, about 29%, was between 25 and 44 years old.

Learning in Tetlin

Tetlin is part of the Alaska Gateway School District. Students in the community attend Tetlin School. This school teaches students from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade.

See also

In Spanish: Tetlin (Alaska) para niños