Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =


imagesize =
image_caption =


image_



mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = Borough
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Alaska
subdivision_name2 = North Slope
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
established_title = founded
established_title2 = incorporated
established_date = 1949
established_date2 = 1959
area_magnitude =
area_total_sq_mi = 4.8
area_total_km2 = 4.9
area_land_sq_mi = 4.8
area_land_km2 = 4.9
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_urban_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 =
population_as_of = 2007
population_note =
population_total = 249
population_footnotes = cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2007-04-02.csv|title=Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places in Alaska|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=2008-07-10|accessdate=2008-07-14]
population_metro =
population_urban =
population_density_km2 = 58.2
population_density_sq_mi = 58.2
timezone = Alaskan (AKST)
utc_offset = -9
timezone_DST = AKDT
utc_offset_DST = -8
latd = 68 |latm = 8 |lats = 58 |latNS = N
longd = 151 |longm = 43 |longs = 34 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 663
elevation_ft = 2239
website =
postal_code_type =
postal_code =
area_code = 907
GNIS_id = 1398235
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 02-02080
blank1_name =
blank1_info =
footnotes =

Anaktuvuk Pass is a city and mountain pass in North Slope Borough, Alaska, United States. The population was 249 at the 2007 Census Bureau estimate.

Geography

Anaktuvuk Pass is in the Brooks Range on the divide between the Anaktuvuk River and the John River, located at an elevation of convert|2200|ft|m. Anaktuvuk Pass is the last remaining settlement of the Nunamiut(People of the Land) Inupiat Eskimo in Alaska.

The community lies at approximately 68.143330° North Latitude and -151.735830° (West) Longitude. (Sec. 18, T015S, R002E, Umiat Meridian.) and located within the Barrow Recording District. The area encompasses 4.8 sq. miles of land and 0.1 sq. miles of water. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.9 square miles (12.7 km²), of which, 4.8 square miles (12.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (1.63%) is water.

Climate

The climate of Anaktuvuk Pass is strongly continental, due to its high elevation, summers are cool. The average temperature in January is convert|-14|°F|°C|abbr=on while temperatures in the summer only reach convert|50|°F|°C|abbr=on. Extremes have been recorded in Anaktuvuk Pass, with the maximum low being convert|-56|°F|°C|abbr=on and the maximum high being convert|91|°F|°C|abbr=on. Anaktuvuk Pass see about 11 inches of rain a year, with snowfall averaging about 63 inches per year.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 282 people, 84 households, and 57 families residing in the city. The population density was 58.2 people per square mile (22.5/km²). There were 101 housing units at an average density of 20.8/sq mi (8.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 9.57% White, 1.42% Black or African American, 87.59% Native American, 0.71% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 0.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 84 households out of which 44.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.36 and the average family size was 4.26.

In the city the population was spread out with 38.7% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 5.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 107.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 121.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $52,500, and the median income for a family was $56,250. Males had a median income of $42,500 versus $32,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,283. About 3.2% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.8% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five or over.

History

Anaktuvuk Pass was named after the Anaktuvik River. "Anaktuvuk" means "place of caribou droppings" in Inupiaq, the language of the Inupiat.

There was a nomadic group of Inupiat called "Nunamiut" that lived inland in northern Alaska and lived by hunting caribou instead of the marine mammals and fish hunted by the rest of the Inupiat, who live on the coast. The Nunamiut traded with the coastal people for other items they needed. A decline in caribou populations in about 1900 and in the 1920s caused many Numamiut to move to the coastal villages. In 1938, several families of Nunamiut moved back to the Brooks Range, around Tulugak and the Killik River. In 1949 the Tulugak group moved to Anaktuvuk Pass and later the Killik River group moved there also. Anaktuvuk Pass is the only Nunamiut settlement.

This settlement attracted Nunamiut from many other locations, and villagers today lead a somewhat more sedentary lifestyle than in earlier nomadic times. The City was incorporated in 1959. A Presbyterian Church was constructed in 1966.

A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Village of Anaktuvuk Pass (a.k.a. Naqsragmiut Tribal Council). The population of the community consists of 88.3% Alaska Native or part Native. Anaktuvuk Pass is a Nunamiut Eskimo community dependent upon subsistence activities. Sale, importation and possession of alcohol are banned in the village.

Facilities, Utilities, Schools, Health Care, and Museum

The North Slope Borough provides all utilities to Anaktuvuk Pass. Two central wells and a treated watering point at Nunamiut School serve the town for water. Most households have water delivered by truck to holding tanks. A few residents haul their own water. Still, almost 80% of homes have running water in the kitchen. A $17 million project, to provide piped water and sewer and household plumbing, began construction in 1996 which will provide flush toilets and showers for all residences. A new landfill is also near completion. Electricity is provided by North Slope Borough.

There is one school located in the community, attended by 94 students.

The only local health clinic is the Anaktuvuk Pass Health Clinic. Anaktuvuk Pass Health Clinic is a Primary Health Care facility. Anaktuvuk Pass is classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 6A in the North Slope Region. Emergency Services have access to the town via river and air. Emergency service is provided by volunteers and a health aide, there are no doctors on site. Auxiliary health care is provided by Anaktuvuk Pass Volunteer Fire Dept.

The Nanamiuts' culture is described and preserved through photos and artifacts at the Simon Paneak Memorial Museum in Anaktuvuk Pass.cite web
url = http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:X3C0uSxhW2sJ:www.north-slope.org/NSB/museum/join%2520us/Environmentalists.doc+nunamiut+national+wildlands&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=us
title = Environmentalists Lend Their Support
accessdate = 2007-09-23
last = Many Authors
first =
publisher = North Slope Borough]

Economy and Transportation

Economic and employment opportunities are limited in Anaktuvuk Pass, due to its isolation. Hunting and trapping for the sale of skins, guiding hunters, or making traditional Caribou skin masks or clothing provides income, though some residents have sought seasonal employment outside of the town.

Caribou is the primary source of meat with other subsistence foods include trout, grayling, moose, sheep, brown bear, ptarmigan and water fowl.

The Anaktuvuk Pass airport, consisting of a 4,800' gravel airstrip, is owned and operated by the North Slope Borough, and provides Anaktuvuk Pass with year-round access. A $3.4 million airport improvement project was completed by Fall 1999, allowing many air companies to provide passenger flight service to Anaktuvuk Pass. There is no road to Anaktuvuk Pass, but "Cat-trains" transport cargo from the Trans-Alaska pipeline haul road during winter months. Snow machines and ATVs are used for local transportation, though some standard vehicles are used.

Media

Anaktuvuk Pass is home to two low-power FM translators. K268AB (FM 101.5) is a rebroadcaster of KBRW-FM, a public radio station in Barrow and K232DU, a rebroadcast of KYKD, a religious station from Bethel. Anaktuvuk Pass also has two low-power translators of the state-wide Alaska Rural Communications Service on K04IX ^{[http://www.recnet.com/cdbs/fmq.php?facid=62644&jaws=0]} and K09RS ^{[http://www.recnet.com/cdbs/fmq.php?facid=62577&jaws=0]} .

References

Further reading

* Cline, Michael S. "Tannik School: The Impact of Education on the Eskimos of Anaktuvuk Pass". Anchorage: Alaska Methodist University Press, 1975.

External links

* [http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/photos/comm_photos.cfm?comm=Anaktuvuk%20Pass Community Photos from the Alaska Division of Community Advocacy Community Photo Library]
* [http://akweathercams.faa.gov/imageloop.php?cameraID=10035 Weather Cam from the Alaska FAA website]
* [http://www.alaska.faa.gov/fai/images/NSLPBR/AKP-c.jpgPhoto of the Anaktuvuk Pass airport and the town of Anaktuvuk Pass from the air]