Nanwalek, Alaska
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Nanwalek is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska. As of the 2000 census, the population of the community is 177.
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Geography
Nanwalek is located at 59°21'13" North, 151°54'45" West (59.353483, -151.912482)Template:GR. It is at the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula, 35 miles southwest of Homer and 10 miles southwest of Seldovia.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the community has a total area of 22.0 km² (8.5 mi²). 22.0 km² (8.5 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
You can travel to Nanwalek by boat or small plane, landing on the beach at low tide. Nanwalek is not accessible by road. Boats are the primary means of transportation locally. The Alaska State Ferry provides service to nearby Seldovia. A State-owned 1,850' long by 50' wide gravel airstrip is available.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 177 people, 45 households, and 32 families residing in the community. The population density is 8.0/km² (20.8/mi²). There are 54 housing units at an average density of 2.5/km² (6.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the community is 6.78% White, 0.00% Black or African American, 89.27% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from other races, and 3.95% from two or more races. 1.13% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 45 households out of which 55.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% are married couples living together, 15.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% are non-families. 22.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 2.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.93 and the average family size is 4.79.
In the community the population is spread out with 42.9% under the age of 18, 14.1% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 10.7% from 45 to 64, and 0.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 22 years. For every 100 females there are 113.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 114.9 males.
The median income for a household in the community is $42,500, and the median income for a family is $45,750. Males have a median income of $33,750 versus $32,813 for females. The per capita income for the community is $10,577. 17.5% of the population and 14.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 12.6% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
History
The village was originally the site of a Russian Trading Post called Alexandrovsk. It was later called "Odinochka," meaning "a person living in solitude." A Russian Orthodox Church was built in the community in 1870. In 1930, a replacement Church was constructed, and it is a designated national historic site.
In 1991, locals changed the community name of English Bay to Nanwalek, meaning "place by lagoon." Many of the current residents are of mixed Russian and Sugpiaq (Alutiiq) lineage. Villagers speak Sugtestun, a dialect of Eskimo similar to Yup'ik.