McCarthy, Alaska
Encyclopedia
McCarthy is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska
, United States. The population was 42 at the 2000 census.
at the foot of the Wrangell Mountains
. According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP of McCarthy has a total area of 148.3 square miles (384.1 km²). None of the area is covered with water. It is connected to the outside world via the McCarthy Road spur of the Edgerton Highway
to Chitina
, and must be passed through to reach Kennecott, a destination of tourists seeking access to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
.
.
There were 26 households out of which 15.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 15.4% were married couples living together, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 73.1% were non-families. 53.8% of all households were made up of individuals and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.62 and the average family size was 2.14.
In the CDP the age distribution of the population shows 9.5% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 47.6% from 45 to 64, and 4.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 147.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 153.3 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $17,188, and the median income for a family was $20,000. The per capita income
for the CDP was $16,045. There were no families and 15.2% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.
Copper was discovered in Kennecott Mountain near neighboring Kennicott
in 1900. The mines and the company town of Kennicott were built by the Kennecott Mining Company quickly after the discovery. Partly because alcoholic beverages and prostitution were forbidden in Kennicott, McCarthy grew as an area to provide illicit services not available in the company town. It grew quickly into a major town with a gymnasium, a hospital, a school, a bar and a brothel. The Copper River and Northwestern Railway
reached McCarthy in 1911.
In 1938 the copper deposits in Kennicott Mountain were mostly gone and the town was mostly abandoned. The railroad discontinued service that year. Over its 30-year operation, U.S. $200 million in ore was extracted from the mine, making it the richest concentration of copper ore in the world.
The population of McCarthy and Kennicott fell to almost zero until the 1970s, when the area began to draw young people from the many who came to Alaska in the 70's for adventure and the big money of the Trans Alaska Pipeline project. In the 80's, after the area was designated Wrangell-St. Elias National Park (1980), it began to draw some adventurous tourists to the new national park. The few people that lived there began to provide a variety of tourist services. There was always at least one family living in the McCarthy area from 1953 to the present day.
The old mine buildings, artifacts, and colorful history attract visitors during the summer months. The Kennicott and McCarthy area ranks as one of the United States's most endangered landmarks by the National Trust for Historic Places. Emergency stabilization of the old buildings has been done and more will be required.
On March 1, 1983 Louis Hastings murdered 6 of the dozen or so citizens of McCarthy. The victims were Maxine Edwards, Harely King, Les and Flo Hegland,and Tim and Amy Nash. Hastings was sentenced to 634 years in prison.
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 Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska
Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska
Valdez-Cordova Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 10,195. It is part of the unorganized borough and therefore has no borough seat...
, United States. The population was 42 at the 2000 census.
Geography and location
McCarthy is 193 km (119.9 mi) northeast of CordovaCordova, Alaska
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,454 people, 958 households, and 597 families residing in the city. The population density was 40.0 per square mile . There are 1,099 housing units at an average density of 17.9 per square mile...
at the foot of the Wrangell Mountains
Wrangell Mountains
The Wrangell Mountains are a high mountain range of eastern Alaska in the United States. Much of the range is included in Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and Preserve. The Wrangell Mountains are almost entirely volcanic in origin, and they include the second and third highest volcanoes in the...
. According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP of McCarthy has a total area of 148.3 square miles (384.1 km²). None of the area is covered with water. It is connected to the outside world via the McCarthy Road spur of the Edgerton Highway
Edgerton Highway
The Edgerton Highway is a minor highway in the U.S. state of Alaska that extends 33 miles from the Richardson Highway near Copper Center to the town of Chitina. The McCarthy Road, within the Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and Preserve, is a 58-mile extension from Chitina to McCarthy.The...
to Chitina
Chitina, Alaska
Chitina is a census-designated place in Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 123.-Geography:Chitina is located at ....
, and must be passed through to reach Kennecott, a destination of tourists seeking access to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve is a United States National Park in southeastern Alaska. It was established in 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. The park area is included in an International Biosphere Reserve and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site...
.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 42 people, 26 households, and 6 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 0.3 people per square mile (0.1/km²). There were 47 housing units at an average density of 0.3/sq mi (0.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 100.00% WhiteRace (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...
.
There were 26 households out of which 15.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 15.4% were married couples living together, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 73.1% were non-families. 53.8% of all households were made up of individuals and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.62 and the average family size was 2.14.
In the CDP the age distribution of the population shows 9.5% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 47.6% from 45 to 64, and 4.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 147.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 153.3 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $17,188, and the median income for a family was $20,000. 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 $16,045. There were no families and 15.2% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.
History
For centuries, Athabascans hunted in the area of McCarthy. Chief Nikolai and his band of Athabaskan Natives had a summer camp at Dan Creek, 15 miles east of McCarthy, where they collected copper nuggets from Dan Creek. Their permanent camp was on the Copper River at the village of Taral near Chitina where they fished for salmon.Copper was discovered in Kennecott Mountain near neighboring Kennicott
Kennicott, Alaska
Kennecott, also known as Kennecott Mines or AHRS Site No. XMC-001, is an abandoned mining camp in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska that was the center of activity for several copper mines. It is located beside the Kennicott Glacier, northeast of Valdez, inside Wrangell-St....
in 1900. The mines and the company town of Kennicott were built by the Kennecott Mining Company quickly after the discovery. Partly because alcoholic beverages and prostitution were forbidden in Kennicott, McCarthy grew as an area to provide illicit services not available in the company town. It grew quickly into a major town with a gymnasium, a hospital, a school, a bar and a brothel. The Copper River and Northwestern Railway
Copper River and Northwestern Railway
The Copper River and Northwestern Railway was a railroad built by the Kennecott Corporation between 1907 and 1911 to take copper ore from Kennicott, Alaska to Cordova, Alaska, a distance of . The railroad was built by thousands of workers, who laid tracks around glaciers, across canyons and...
reached McCarthy in 1911.
In 1938 the copper deposits in Kennicott Mountain were mostly gone and the town was mostly abandoned. The railroad discontinued service that year. Over its 30-year operation, U.S. $200 million in ore was extracted from the mine, making it the richest concentration of copper ore in the world.
The population of McCarthy and Kennicott fell to almost zero until the 1970s, when the area began to draw young people from the many who came to Alaska in the 70's for adventure and the big money of the Trans Alaska Pipeline project. In the 80's, after the area was designated Wrangell-St. Elias National Park (1980), it began to draw some adventurous tourists to the new national park. The few people that lived there began to provide a variety of tourist services. There was always at least one family living in the McCarthy area from 1953 to the present day.
The old mine buildings, artifacts, and colorful history attract visitors during the summer months. The Kennicott and McCarthy area ranks as one of the United States's most endangered landmarks by the National Trust for Historic Places. Emergency stabilization of the old buildings has been done and more will be required.
On March 1, 1983 Louis Hastings murdered 6 of the dozen or so citizens of McCarthy. The victims were Maxine Edwards, Harely King, Les and Flo Hegland,and Tim and Amy Nash. Hastings was sentenced to 634 years in prison.
External links
- McCarthy/Kennecott History: http://www.largestnationalpark.com/history.html
- Weather conditions from a remote weather station in McCarthy