Knik River, Alaska
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Knik River is a census-designated place located in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. As of the 2000 census, the population of the CDP is 582.
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Geography
Knik River is located at 61°30'28" North, 149°0'13" West (61.507679, -149.003743)Template:GR.
AKMap-doton-Susitna.PNG
Location of Susitna, Alaska
Knik River is at the head of the Knik Arm of the Cook Inlet in southern Alaska, 27 km (17 miles) north of Anchorage.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 241.3 km² (93.2 mi²). 234.2 km² (90.4 mi²) of it is land and 7.1 km² (2.8 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.95% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 582 people, 216 households, and 147 families residing in the CDP. The population density is 2.5/km² (6.4/mi²). There are 263 housing units at an average density of 1.1/km² (2.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP is 85.74% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 6.70% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.86% Pacific Islander, 1.37% from other races, and 5.15% from two or more races. 2.58% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 216 households out of which 38.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% are married couples living together, 5.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% are non-families. 24.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 4.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.69 and the average family size is 3.22.
In the CDP the population is spread out with 31.3% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 35.4% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 108.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 119.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP is $55,000, and the median income for a family is $55,000. Males have a median income of $36,071 versus $27,143 for females. The per capita income for the CDP is $19,104. 15.3% of the population and 19.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 23.8% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
History
Knik is a Tanaina Athabascan work meaning fire. This name was originally applied to several villages at the head of Cook Inlet. Knik River was near the beginning of the Iditarod Trail that led to gold fields in the interior of Alaska and, because of this, it developed as a shipment point for supplies during the gold rushes between 1898 and 1916.
Many residents of Knik River work in Anchorage. Knik River is a check-point for the Iditarod dogsled race when it begins in southern Alaska and many dog mushers live in the area. Subsistence-related activities are also pursued in the area.