McCarthy, Alaska
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McCarthy is a census-designated place located in Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 42.
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Geography
AKMap-doton-McCarthy.PNG
Location of McCarthy, Alaska
McCarthy is located at 61°25'58" North, 142°54'39" West (61.432696, -142.910917)Template:GR.
McCarthy is 193 km (120 miles) northeast of Cordova at the foot of Wrangell Mountains. McCarthy is sometimes called Shushanna Junction.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 384.0 km² (148.3 mi²). None of the area is covered with water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 42 people, 26 households, and 6 families residing in the CDP. The population density is 0.1/km² (0.3/mi²). There are 47 housing units at an average density of 0.1/km² (0.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP is 100.00% White, 0.00% Black or African American, 0.00% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from other races, and 0.00% from two or more races. 0.00% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 26 households out of which 15.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 15.4% are married couples living together, 3.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 73.1% are non-families. 53.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 0.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 1.62 and the average family size is 2.14.
In the CDP the population is spread out with 9.5% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 47.6% from 45 to 64, and 4.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 46 years. For every 100 females there are 147.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 153.3 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP is $17,188, and the median income for a family is $20,000. Males have a median income of $0 versus $0 for females. The per capita income for the CDP is $16,045. 15.2% of the population and 0.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 0.0% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
History
For centuries, Athabascans fished in the area of McCarthy, but they had no permanent settlement there.
Copper was discovered in Kennecott Mountain near neighboring Kennicott in 1900. The mines and the company town of Kennicott were built by the Kennecott Mining Company quickly after the discovery. Partly because alcoholic beverages and prostitution were forbidden in Kennicott, McCarthy grew as an area to provide services not available in the company town. It grew quickly into a major town with a gymnasium, a hospital, a school, a bar and a brothel. The Copper River and Northwestern Railway reached McCarthy in 1911.
In 1938 the copper deposits in Kennicott Mountain were mostly gone and the town was mostly abandoned. The railroad discontinued service that year. Over its 30-year operation, U.S. $200 million in ore was extracted from the mine, making it the richest concentration of copper ore in the world.
The population of McCarthy and Kennicott fell to zero until the 1970s, when the area began to be developed as a tourist destination and a few people moved to McCarthy to provide tourist services.
The old mine buildings, artifacts, and colorful history attract visitors during the summer months. The Kennicott and McCarthy area ranks as one of the United States's most endangered landmarks by the National Trust for Historic Places. Emergency stabilization of the old buildings has been done and more will be required.