Nunapitchuk, Alaska

Nunapitchuk /nuːnəˈpɪtʃək/ (Central Yupik: Nunapicuar) is a city in Bethel Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 496, up from 466 in 2000.

Nunapitchuk Nunapicuar
City
Nunapitchuk Location in Alaska
Coordinates: 60°53′47″N 162°27′16″W
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Census Area	Bethel
Incorporated	August 26, 1969[1]
Government
• Mayor	Noah Wise[2]
• State senator	Lyman Hoffman (D)
• State rep.	Tiffany Zulkosky (D)
Area [3]
• Total	7.96 sq mi (20.61 km^2)
• Land	6.99 sq mi (18.11 km^2)
• Water	0.97 sq mi (2.50 km^2)
Elevation	10 ft (3 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	496
• Estimate  (2019)[4]	530
• Density	75.82/sq mi (29.27/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-8 (AKDT)
ZIP codes	99641
Area code	907
FIPS code	02-56680
GNIS feature ID	1407339

Geography

Nunapitchuk is located at 60°53′47″N 162°27′16″W (60.896352, -162.454383).[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.6 square miles (22 km²), of which, 7.9 square miles (20 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (8.07%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1940	121		—
1950	125		3.3%
1960	327		161.6%
1990	378		—
2000	466		23.3%
2010	496		6.4%
2019 (est.)	530	[4]	6.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]

Nunapitchuk first appeared on the 1940 U.S. Census as the unincorporated native village of "Nunatpichuk" (apparently erroneously spelled).[7] It was returned as Nunapitchuk in 1950[8] and 1960.[9] In 1969, Nunapitchuk and the neighboring village of Kasigluk were merged to form the city of Akolmiut. (See City of Akolmiut below) In 1982, both communities decided to dissolve Akolmiut and become separate cities again.[10] Nunapitchuk returned again beginning on the 1990 census[11] and in every successive census to date (2010).[12][13]

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 466 people, 105 households, and 91 families residing in the city. The population density was 59.3 people per square mile (22.9/km²). There were 120 housing units at an average density of 15.3 per square mile (5.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 3.43% White, 95.49% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.21% from other races, and 0.43% from two or more races.

There were 105 households, out of which 67.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.6% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.4% were non-families. 10.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 1.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.44 and the average family size was 4.88.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 41.8% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 15.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females, there were 109.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,286, and the median income for a family was $30,313. Males had a median income of $16,250 versus $36,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $8,364. About 14.6% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

City of Akolmiut (1969-1982)

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1970	526		—
1980	641		21.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]

The former city of Akolmiut was the result of the consolidation of neighboring villages of Nunapitchuk and Kasigluk incorporating into a city in 1969. After appearing on the 1970[15] and 1980[16] censuses, the communities decided to separate themselves back into two independent cities again in 1982, resuming their former names.[10]

Life in Nunapitchuk

Nunapitchuk is part of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, and as such sits on swampy tundra. There are no roads to or within Nunapitchuk; buildings are connected by a network of boardwalks. The village is accessible by small aircraft, boats, and hovercraft , as weather permits.

The village's grocery and fuel needs are served by a single general store, owned and operated by the local Alaska Native Corporation, Nunapitchuk, Limited. Many locals also practice subsistence fishing and hunting .

The city regularly experiences flooding. In May 2020, historic flooding caused significant damage.[2]

Education

Lower Kuskokwim School District operates the Anna Tobeluk Memorial School, K-12. As of 2018 the school had 203 students, 15 certified teachers, and 16 classified employees. English is the sole language of instruction at Tobeluk.[17]

References

1. 1996 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory. Juneau: Alaska Municipal League/Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs. January 1996. p. 112.
2. Shallenberger, Krysti (May 12, 2020). "Coffee@KYUK, May 12: Nunapitchuk Flood Worst In Years". KYUK. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
3. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
6. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
7. https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/33973538v1ch11.pdf
8. https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/41601749v2p51-54ch2.pdf
9. https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/37721577v1p3ch2.pdf
10. https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-3.pdf
11. https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph5/cph-5-3.pdf
12. https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/phc-1-3.pdf
13. https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-1-3.pdf
14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
15. https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ak-01.pdf
16. https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_akABCD-01.pdf
17. "Anna Tobeluk Memorial School." Anna Tobeluk Memorial School. Retrieved on July 13, 2018.

External links

• Nunapitchuk Public School (photos and first-hand discussion of the village.)