Aleknagik is a city located in Dillingham Census Area, Alaska. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 221.

Aleknagik is named after Aleknagik Lake. Aleknagik means "wrong way home" in Yupik. Yupiks returning to their homes along the Nushagak River would sometimes become lost in the fog and find themselves swept up the Wood River to Aleknagik Lake by the tide.

Geography

Aleknagik is located at 59°16'42" North, 158°37'23" West (59.278362, _158.622928)¹.

Aleknagik is located on the southeast shore of Alegnagik Lake, 26 km (16 miles) northwest of Dillingham.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 48.6 km² (18.8 mi²). 29.9 km² (11.6 mi²) of it is land and 18.7 km² (7.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 38.47% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 221 people, 70 households, and 52 families residing in the city. The population density is 7.4/km² (19.1/mi²). There are 107 housing units at an average density of 3.6/km² (9.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 13.57% White, 0.00% Black or African American, 81.90% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 1.36% from other races, and 3.17% from two or more races. 1.36% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 70 households out of which 41.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% are married couples living together, 11.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 24.3% are non-families. 17.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 2.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.16 and the average family size is 3.62.

In the city the population is spread out with 37.1% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 16.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 28 years. For every 100 females there are 121.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 131.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $22,750, and the median income for a family is $30,625. Males have a median income of $29,583 versus $75,487 for females. The per capita income for the city is $10,973. 40.8% of the population and 21.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 49.0% of those under the age of 18 and 21.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

History

In the late 1800s there were about 200 people in Aleknagik and the other Wood River villages. The 1918-1919 influenza epidemic killed most of the residents of the villages. The few survivors were moved out of the area. In the 1920s former residents of the area started drifting back to Aleknagik, and the village grew to about 40 people by 1931. A United States Post Office was opened in 1937 by Mable Smith. By 1940, Aleknagik had over 30 buildings, including a community school, church, and small sawmill. The decline of a Seventh-day Adventist colony across the lake from Aleknagik brought several new families to Aleknagik.

In 1946, a territorial school was constructed near Aleknagik. During this period, a Moravian Church, a Russian Orthodox Church and a Seventh-day Adventist mission school were established in the community. In the 1960s, the State of Alaska constructed a 41 km (25 mile) road connecting Aleknagik to Dillingham.

External links

• Maps and aerial photos
  • Street map from Mapquest (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=59.278362&longitude=-158.622928&zoom=6)
  • Topographic map from Topozone (http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=59.278362&lon=-158.622928&s=200&size=m&layer=DRG100)
  • Aerial photograph from Microsoft Terraserver (http://terraserver.microsoft.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=14&lon=-158.622928&lat=59.278362&w=750&h=500)