Bethel, Alaska Mamterillermiut Orutsararmuit
Aerial view of Bethel on the Kuskokwim River
Location of Bethel within the state of Alaska
Coordinates: 60°47′32″N 161°45′21″W / 60.79222, -161.75583
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Borough	Unorganized
Census area	Bethel
ANCSA regional corporation	Calista
Incorporated	1957
Government [1][2]
- Type	2nd Class City
- Mayor	Dan Leinberger
- City Manager	Wally Baird
Area [2]
- City	126.7 km²  (48.9 sq mi)
- Land	113.4 km² (43.8 sq mi)
- Water	13.2 km² (5.1 sq mi)
Population (2006)[2]
- City	5,812
- % Alaska Native	68%
Time zone	AST (UTC-9)
- Summer (DST)	ADT (UTC-8)
ZIP code	99559
Area code(s)	907
Website: City of Bethel

Bethel (Mamterilleq in Central Alaskan Yup'ik) is a city located in Bethel Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska, 340 miles (540 km) west of Anchorage. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 6,262.^[3] Image File history File links Size of this preview: 644 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1500 × 1396 pixel, file size: 798 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Other versions of this file File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Kuskokwim River (Kusquqvak in Central Yupik) is a river, approximately 724 mi (1,165 km) long, in southwest Alaska in the United States. ... Image File history File links Adapted from Wikipedias AK borough maps by Seth Ilys. ... Official language(s) English[1] Spoken language(s) English 85. ... This is an alphabetical list of the sovereign states of the world, including both de jure and de facto independent states. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal      The political units and divisions of the United States include: The 50 states, which are... Official language(s) English[1] Spoken language(s) English 85. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Alaska. ... Map of Alaska boroughs and census areas The U.S. state of Alaska does not have counties in the sense of counties in the rest of the country. ... Map of Alaska boroughs and census areas The Unorganized Borough is that part of Alaska not contained in any of its 16 organized boroughs. ... Map of Alaska boroughs and census areas The U.S. state of Alaska does not have counties in the sense of counties in the rest of the country. ... Bethel Census Area is a census area located in the U.S. state of Alaska. ... The Alaska Native Regional Corporations (Alaska Native Corporations or ANCSA Corporations) were established in 1971 when the United States Congress passed the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) which settled land and financial claims made by the Alaska Natives and provided for the establishment of 13 regional corporations to administer... Calista Corporation (dÊ’É‘lɪstÉ‘) is one of thirteen Alaska Native Regional Corporations created under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA) in settlement of aboriginal land claims. ... Area is a physical quantity expressing the size of a part of a surface. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Alaskan Natives are Aboriginal Americans who live in Alaska. ... A time zone is a region of the Earth that has adopted the same standard time, usually referred to as the local time. ... AKDT is UTC-8 The Alaska Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting nine hours from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-9). ... −12 | −11 | −10 | −9:30 | −9 | −8 | −7 | −6 | −5 | −4 | −3:30 | −3 | −2:30 | −2 | −1 | −0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Though DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... −12 | −11 | −10 | −9:30 | −9 | −8 | −7 | −6 | −5 | −4 | −3:30 | −3 | −2:30 | −2 | −1 | −0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... For the people, see Yupik. ... Bethel Census Area is a census area located in the U.S. state of Alaska. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the... Official language(s) English[1] Spoken language(s) English 85. ...

Bethel is the largest community in western Alaska and the 9th largest municipality in the state, as well as the largest that is not located within an organized borough. It lies inside the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, the largest wildlife refuge in the United States. It is an administrative and transportation hub for the 56 villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. A county-equivalent in the United States is a term used by the federal government to describe one of the two following state subdivisions: A unit of local government in certain states which is comparable to a county as found in most states. ... Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Map The Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge is a United States National Wildlife Refuge covering about 19 million acres (77,000 km²) in southwestern Alaska. ... A Wildlife refuge is a geographic territory within which wildlife is protected. ... The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region is a treeless tundra located in southwestern Alaska. ...

Bethel is home to a well regarded mid-distance dogsled race, the Kuskokwim 300. The "K300" is considered by many of the world's elite mushers to be one of the greatest sled-dog race in the world. The K300 is so highly acclaimed because of the warmth and energy of the community volunteers, the dedication of the race's sponsors, and the high prize purse. In the spring, traditional dancers from all over Alaska and the world gather for Cam-ai (pronounced Cha-Mai) Dance Festival.

Though the region is flat and generally treeless, local residents enjoy snowmachineing, skiing, bicycling, kayaking, caribou hunting, salmon fishing, and access to the surrounding 56 villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

Geography

Bethel is located at 60°47′32″N, 161°45′21″W (60.792222, -161.755833)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 126 km² (50 mi²). 113 km² (44 mi²) of it is land and 13 km² (5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 10% water. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ...

Demographics

According to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, as of 2006, there were an estimated 5,960 people living in Bethel. As of the 2000 census there were 5,471 people, 1,790 households, and 1,190 families residing in the city. The population density was 49/km² (125.0/mi²). There were 2,310 housing units at an average density of 18/km² (46/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 27% White, 1% Black or African American, 62% Native American, 3% Asian (mostly South Korean), 0.16% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 7% from two or more races. 2% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 1,790 households out of which 46% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% are married couples living together, 18% have a female householder with no husband present, and 30% are non-families. 25% of all households are made up of individuals and 3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.0 and the average family size is 3.7.

In the city the population is spread out with 33% under the age of 18, 12% from 18 to 24, 31% from 25 to 44, 20% from 45 to 64, and 6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 29 years. For every 100 females there are 110 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 110 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $56,900, and the median income for a family is $62,400. Males have a median income of $44,900 versus $39,000 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,300. 11% of the families and 11% of the population are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 10% of those under the age of 18 and 18% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

History

Bethel, at its original location, was a Yup'ik village called Mamterillermiut, meaning "Smokehouse People," after the nearby fish smokehouse. It was an Alaska Commercial Company trading post during the late 1800s. It had a population of 41 people in the 1880 U.S. Census. The Moravian Church established a mission in the area in 1885, under the leadership of Rev. John Henry Kilbuck, Jr. Kilbuck learned Yup'ik, which greatly enhanced his effectiveness as a missionary. Missionaries moved Bethel from Mamterillermiut to its present location on the west side of the Kuskokwim River. A United States Post Office was opened in 1905. The Yupik or, in the Central Alaskan language, Yupik, are aboriginal people who live along the coast of western Alaska, especially on the Yukon-Kuskokwim delta and along the Kuskokwim River (Central Alaskan Yupik), in southern Alaska (the Alutiiq) and in the Russian Far East and St. ... The Alaska Commercial Company was a company that operated retail stores in United States. ... A Moravian is a Protestant belonging to a religious movement that originated in Moravia, Czech Republic. ... John Henry Kilbuck Jr. ... For the people, see Yupik. ...

Alaska Natives in this area also have a long Christian history, in part from Russian Orthodox, Catholic and Moravian influence. As in many Alaskan villages, Christian tradition has become interwoven with its cultural history. Alaska Natives are indigenous peoples who live in what is now the U.S. state of Alaska. ... The Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (Russian: ), also known as the Orthodox Christian Church of Russia, is a body of Christians who are united under the Patriarch of Moscow, who in turn is in communion with the other patriarchs and primates of the Eastern Orthodox Church. ...

On February 19, 1997, a school massacre attracted widespread media attention to Bethel when then-sixteen-year-old Evan Ramsey, a student at Bethel High School, shot and killed his principal and one student and wounded two others, for which he later received a 198-year prison sentence. is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar). ... Evan Ramsey (b. ...

Climate

Precipitation averages 16 inches a year in this area, with snowfall of 50 inches. The average low in July is 49 °F and the average high is 63 °F, although temperatures as low as 32 °F or as high as 87 °F have been recorded in July. In January, the average low is 1 and the average high is 12 °F, while extremes of -49 to 49 °F have been recorded[1][2].

Transportation and economy

The state-owned Bethel Airport is the regional transportation center, and is served by six passenger carriers: Alaska Airlines, Arctic Circle Air Service, Grant Aviation, Hageland Aviation Service, Yute Air and Frontier Flying Service. It also receives service from five cargo operators: Everts Air Cargo, Northern Air Cargo, Alaska Central Express, Arctic Transportation Services, and Lynden Air Cargo, and numerous small air taxi services. The airport ranks third in the state for total number of flights. It offers a 6,400' asphalt runway and 1,850' gravel crosswind runway, and is currently undergoing a $7 million renovation and expansion. Three float plane bases are nearby, Hangar Lake and H Marker Lake and the Kuskokwim River. Bethel Airport (IATA: BET, ICAO: PABE) is a public airport located 3 miles (5 km) southwest of Bethel, Alaska. ... Alaska Airlines, (NYSE: ALK), based in Seattle, Washington, USA, has grown from a small regional airline to one carrying more than 12 million customers per year. ... Arctic Circle Air Service (IATA: 5F, ICAO: CIR, and Callsign: Air Arctic) is an airline based in Anchorage in the U.S. state of Alaska. ... Frontier Flying Service is an airline based in Fairbanks, Alaska, USA. It operates an extensive network of year-round scheduled commuter services and postal services to Alaska bush communities, primarily north of Fairbanks, as well as charter services to the lower 48 and Canada. ... Northern Air Cargo is a cargo airline based in Alaska, USA. It flies to destinations all over Alaska, the most important being: Aniak Bethel Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay Dillingham Emmonak Fairbanks Kotzebue McGrath Nome Noorvik St. ... Alaska Central Express (IATA: KO, ICAO: AER, and Callsign: Ace Air) is an airline based in Anchorage, Alaska, USA. It is an Alaskan-owned cargo and small package express service. ... Lynden Air Cargo is a charter and scheduled air service operating C-130 Hercules. ... The Kuskokwim River (Kusquqvak in Central Yupik) is a river, approximately 724 mi (1,165 km) long, in southwest Alaska in the United States. ...

The Port of Bethel is the northernmost medium-draft port in the United States. River travel is the primary means of local transportation in the summer. A Bethel-based barge service provides goods to Kuskokwim villages. Self propelled barge carrying bulk crushed stone A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. ... The Kuskokwim River (Kusquqvak in Central Yupik) is a river, approximately 724 mi (1,165 km) long, in southwest Alaska in the United States. ...

Within Bethel there are approximately 16 miles of roads, which are not connected to any contiguous highway system. Winter ice roads lead to several local villages, but their condition varies depending on temperature and snow fall.

An extensive network of snow machine trails connects Bethel to villages all over the Delta, from the Bering Sea to the Yukon.

Bethel is also the site of a proposed major, relative to Alaska, coal powered generating station, and a unique 8.5 mile prototype single wire ground return electrical intertie to Napakiak, Alaska, constructed in 1981. A fossil fuel power plant is an energy conversion center that combusts fossil fuels to produce electricity, designed on a large scale for continuous operation. ... Oil power plant in Iraq A power station or power plant is a facility for the generation of electric power. ... Single wire earth return (SWER) or single wire ground return is a method of supplying single-phase electrical power to remote areas with low installation costs. ... Transmission lines in Lund, Sweden Electric power transmission is one process in the delivery of electricity to consumers. ... Napakiak is a city located in Bethel Census Area, Alaska. ...

Media

Bethel's two radio stations are KYUK and KYKD. It is also home to the weekly regional newspapers Delta Discovery and Tundra Drums. AlaskaOne (or Alaska One) operates several PBS television stations in Alaska: KTOO-TV channel 3 (Juneau), KUAC-TV channel 9 (Fairbanks), KYUK-TV channel 4 (Bethel), KMXT-LP channel 9 (Kodiak), and translator stations throughout Alaska. ... KYKD is a commercial radio station airing religious programming in Bethel, Alaska, broadcasting on 100. ... The Delta Discovery is a weekly newspaper serving Bethel, Alaska and the villages of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and Bristol Bay regions of southwestern Alaska. ... Alaska Newspapers, Inc. ...

References

The comma-separated values (or CSV; also known as a comma-separated list or Comma-Separated Variable) file format is a file type that stores tabular data. ... is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• BethelAK.com

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Regions	Aleutian Islands | Arctic Alaska | Bush Alaska | Interior | Kenai Peninsula | Mat‑Su Valley | North Slope | Panhandle | Seward Peninsula | Southcentral | Southwest | Tanana Valley | Yukon‑Kuskokwim Delta This list of regions of the United States includes official (governmental) and non-official areas within the borders of the United States, not including U.S. states, the federal district of Washington, D.C. or standard subentities such as cities or counties. ... Aleutians seen from space The Aleutian Islands (possibly from Chukchi aliat, island) are a chain of more than 300 small volcanic islands forming an island arc in the Northern Pacific Ocean, occupying an area of 6,821 sq mi (17,666 km²) and extending about 1,200 mi (1,900... Arctic Alaska is a region of the U.S. state of Alaska generally referring to the northern areas on or close to the Arctic Ocean. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... Fall in Interior Alaska The interior of Alaska makes up most of the state. ... The Kenai Peninsula in Alaska The Kenai Peninsula is a large peninsula jutting from the southern coast of Alaska in the United States. ... Matanuska-Susitna Valley shown shaded in red north of Anchorage Matanuska-Susitna Valley (known locally as the Mat-Su Valley) is an area in south central Alaska south of the Alaska Range north and northeast of Anchorage. ... ... The Alaska Panhandle is the coast of the American state of Alaska, just west of the northern half of the Canadian province of British Columbia. ... The Seward Peninsula is a large peninsula in western Alaska. ... South Central Alaska consists of the portion of the U.S. state of Alaska from the shorelines and uplands of the Gulf of Alaska. ... This article or section is incomplete and may require expansion and/or cleanup. ... The Tanana Valley is the lowland region in central Alaska in the United States, on the north side of the Alaska Range where the Tanana River emerges from the mountains. ... The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region is a treeless tundra located in southwestern Alaska. ...
Largest cities	Anchorage | Barrow | Bethel | Dillingham | Fairbanks | Homer | Juneau | Kenai | Ketchikan | Kodiak | Kotzebue | Nome | Palmer | Petersburg | Seward | Sitka | Unalaska | Valdez | Wasilla Nickname: Motto: Big Wild Life Location in the state of Alaska Coordinates: , Borough Municipality of Anchorage Government  - Mayor Mark Begich (D) Area  - Municipality  1,961. ... Barrow is a city in North Slope Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. ... Dillingham is a city located in Dillingham Census Area, Alaska. ... Fairbanks (IPA: ) is a Home Rule City in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, United States. ... Homer is a town located in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. ... Location in Juneau City and Borough, Alaska Coordinates: Country United States State Alaska Borough Juneau City and Borough Founded 1881 Incorporated 1890 Government  - Mayor Bruce Botelho Area  - City  3,255. ... Kenai is a city in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. ... Ketchikan (IPA: ) is the fifth most populous city in the U.S. state of Alaska and the southeasternnmost sizable city in that state. ... View of Kodiak from Pillar Mountain Kodiak is a city on Kodiak Island in Kodiak Island Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. ... Kotzebue is a city located in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska. ... Aerial view of the harbor in Nome Nome is a city located on the southern Seward Peninsula coast of Norton Sound in the Nome Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. ... Palmer depot with a narrow gauge locomotive. ... Petersburg is a city in Wrangell-Petersburg Census Area, Alaska, in the United States. ... The Seward boat harbor Seward is a city in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. ... Coordinates: , Borough City and Borough of Sitka Founded 1799 Incorporated December 2, 1971 Government  - Mayor Marko Dapcevich Area  - City 12,461. ... Aerial view of Unalaska The Russian Orthodox Church in Unalaska Unalaska is a small city on Unalaska Island and neighboring Amaknak Island in the Aleutian Islands, off the coast of the U.S. state of Alaska. ... Valdez (IPA: ) is a city in Valdez-Cordova Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. ... For the Sarmatian god of the same name, see Wasilla (god) Wasilla is a town in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. ...
Boroughs	Aleutians East | Anchorage | Bristol Bay | Denali | Fairbanks North Star | Haines | Juneau | Kenai Peninsula | Ketchikan Gateway | Kodiak Island | Lake and Peninsula | Matanuska‑Susitna | North Slope | Northwest Arctic | Sitka | Yakutat Map of Alaska boroughs and census areas The U.S. state of Alaska does not have counties in the sense of counties in the rest of the country. ... Aleutians East Borough (IPA pronunciation: ) is a 2nd class borough located in the U.S. state of Alaska. ... Nickname: Motto: Big Wild Life Location in the state of Alaska Coordinates: , Borough Municipality of Anchorage Government  - Mayor Mark Begich (D) Area  - Municipality  1,961. ... Bristol Bay Borough is a borough of the U.S. state of Alaska located on Bristol Bay or Iilgayaq Bay. ... Denali Borough is a borough located in the U.S. state of Alaska and was formed in 1990. ... Fairbanks North Star Borough is a borough located in the state of Alaska, United States. ... Haines Borough is a borough located in the state of Alaska, United States. ... Location in Juneau City and Borough, Alaska Coordinates: Country United States State Alaska Borough Juneau City and Borough Founded 1881 Incorporated 1890 Government  - Mayor Bruce Botelho Area  - City  3,255. ... Kenai Peninsula Borough is a borough of the U.S. state of Alaska with a population of 49,700 at the 2000 census. ... Ketchikan Gateway Borough is a borough located in the U.S. state of Alaska. ... Kodiak Island Borough is a borough located in the state of Alaska, United States. ... Lake and Peninsula Borough is a borough located in the state of Alaska, United States. ... Matanuska-Susitna Borough is a borough located in the state of Alaska, United States. ... North Slope Borough is a borough located largely in the North Slope region of the state of Alaska, USA. As of the 2000 census, the population is 7,385. ... Northwest Arctic Borough is a borough located in the state of Alaska, United States, formed on June 2, 1986. ... Coordinates: , Borough City and Borough of Sitka Founded 1799 Incorporated December 2, 1971 Government  - Mayor Marko Dapcevich Area  - City 12,461. ... Yakutat City and Borough (IPA: ) is a unified city-borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. ...
Census Areas	Aleutians West | Bethel | Dillingham | Nome | Prince of Wales‑Outer Ketchikan | Skagway‑Hoonah‑Angoon | Southeast Fairbanks | Valdez‑Cordova | Wade Hampton | Wrangell‑Petersburg | Yukon‑Koyukuk Map of Alaska boroughs and census areas The Unorganized Borough is that part of Alaska not contained in any of its 16 organized boroughs. ... Aleutians West Census Area is a census area located in the U.S. state of Alaska. ... Bethel Census Area is a census area located in the U.S. state of Alaska. ... Dillingham Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska, United States. ... Nome Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska. ... Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska. ... Skagway-Hoonah-Angoon Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska. ... Southeast Fairbanks Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska. ... Valdez-Cordova Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska. ... Wade Hampton Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska. ... Wrangell-Petersburg Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska. ... Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska. ...