Arctic Village, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Arctic Village is an unincorporated Native American
village and a census-designated place
(CDP) in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area
, Alaska
, United States
. As of the 2000 census
, the population of the CDP was 152. The village is located in the large Gwitch'in
speaking region of Alaska, and the local dialect is known as Di'haii Gwitch'in or Kutchin. As of 1999, over 95% of the community speaks and understands the language. (Kraus, 1999)
east fork of the Chandalar River
, about a hundred miles north of Fort Yukon. The area consists of flat floodlands near the river, but is mostly wooded hills.
Both the CDP and the "village" have the same total area, 69.9 square miles (181 km²), of which, 61.71 square miles (159.8 km²) is land and 8.12 square miles (21 km²) (11.63%) is water.
speaking Gwich’in people (often called Neets'aii Gwich'in or “those who dwell to the north”) came into the area with seasonal hunting and fishing camps. About 1900, the village became a permanent settlement.
of 2000, there were 152 people, 52 households, and 30 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 2.5 people per square mile (1.0/km²). There were 67 housing units at an average density of 1.1/sq mi (0.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 7.89% White
, 86.18% Native American
, and 5.92% from two or more races. 0.66% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 52 households out of which 44.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.0% were married couples
living together, 21.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.58.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 41.4% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 2.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 114.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 128.2 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $20,250, and the median income for a family was $19,000. Males had a median income of $21,875 versus $10,000 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $10,761. About 30.8% of families and 46.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 53.1% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five or over.
Erin hunter's book Seekers, The Last Wilderness. Features Arctic Village as a main setting in the book. This is where Ujurak is Healed and is also Captured by a senator.
Alaska Natives
Alaska Natives are the indigenous peoples of Alaska. They include: Aleut, Inuit, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Eyak, and a number of Northern Athabaskan cultures.-History:In 1912 the Alaska Native Brotherhood was founded...
village and a census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,588. It is part of the unorganized borough and therefore has no borough seat...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, the population of the CDP was 152. The village is located in the large Gwitch'in
Gwich’in language
The Gwich’in language is the Athabaskan language of the Gwich’in indigenous people. It is also known in older or dialect-specific publications as Kutchin, Takudh, Tukudh, or Loucheux. In the Northwest Territories and Yukon of Canada, it is used principally in the towns of Inuvik, Aklavik, Fort...
speaking region of Alaska, and the local dialect is known as Di'haii Gwitch'in or Kutchin. As of 1999, over 95% of the community speaks and understands the language. (Kraus, 1999)
Geography
Arctic Village is located at 68°7′19"N 145°31′40"W (68.121828, -145.527686), on theeast fork of the Chandalar River
Chandalar River
The Chandalar River is a river in Alaska. Its peak flow recorded by the USGS was 62,800 cubic feet per second , on June 9, 1968....
, about a hundred miles north of Fort Yukon. The area consists of flat floodlands near the river, but is mostly wooded hills.
Both the CDP and the "village" have the same total area, 69.9 square miles (181 km²), of which, 61.71 square miles (159.8 km²) is land and 8.12 square miles (21 km²) (11.63%) is water.
History
Evidence from archaeological investigations indicate that the Arctic Village area may have been settled as early as 4500 BC. Around 500 AD the AthabascanAthabaskan languages
Athabaskan or Athabascan is a large group of indigenous peoples of North America, located in two main Southern and Northern groups in western North America, and of their language family...
speaking Gwich’in people (often called Neets'aii Gwich'in or “those who dwell to the north”) came into the area with seasonal hunting and fishing camps. About 1900, the village became a permanent settlement.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 152 people, 52 households, and 30 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2.5 people per square mile (1.0/km²). There were 67 housing units at an average density of 1.1/sq mi (0.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 7.89% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 86.18% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 5.92% from two or more races. 0.66% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 52 households out of which 44.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 21.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.58.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 41.4% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 2.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 114.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 128.2 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $20,250, and the median income for a family was $19,000. Males had a median income of $21,875 versus $10,000 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $10,761. About 30.8% of families and 46.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 53.1% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five or over.
Literature
- J. C. HutchinsJ. C. HutchinsJ.C. Hutchins is a writer, most often known for the podcast novel trilogy 7th Son, which has, according to his site, "over 40,000 listeners worldwide and over 2,000,000 downloads." It was intended to launch as a podcast novel and then go on to be published. Book One: Descent was published on...
' 7th Son, Book 2, Deceit features Arctic Village as a location containing a clue concerning the antagonist's plans.
Erin hunter's book Seekers, The Last Wilderness. Features Arctic Village as a main setting in the book. This is where Ujurak is Healed and is also Captured by a senator.