Naknek, Alaska
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Naknek is a census-designated place located in Bristol Bay Borough, Alaska. As of the 2000 census, the population of the CDP is 678.
It is located on the north bank of the Naknek River, close to where the river runs into the Kvichak Bay arm of the northeastern end of Bristol Bay. South Naknek is on the other side of the river. The local economy is almost entirely based on salmon fishing.
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Geography
Naknek is located at 58°44'23" North, 156°58'18" West (58.739857, -156.971704)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 219.7 km² (84.8 mi²). 218.0 km² (84.2 mi²) of it is land and 1.8 km² (0.7 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.80% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 678 people, 247 households, and 162 families residing in the CDP. The population density is 3.1/km² (8.1/mi²). There are 455 housing units at an average density of 2.1/km² (5.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP is 51.47% White, 0.00% Black or African American, 45.28% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.74% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from other races, and 2.36% from two or more races. 0.29% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 247 households out of which 44.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% are married couples living together, 6.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% are non-families. 25.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 4.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.74 and the average family size is 3.44.
In the CDP the population is spread out with 35.0% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 34.8% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 3.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 116.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 121.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP is $53,393, and the median income for a family is $65,000. Males have a median income of $44,375 versus $35,341 for females. The per capita income for the CDP is $21,182. 3.7% of the population and 3.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 2.9% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
History
The region around Bristol Bay was first settled at least 6,000 years ago by Yupiks and Athabaskans.
In 1821, a Yupik village called Naugeik was noted by Capt. Lt. Vasiliev of the Russian Navy. It was later spelled Naknek by the Russians. The Russians built a fort, Fort Suvarov, near the village and Russian fur trappers inhabited the area in the 1800s, before the Alaska Purchase. A Russian Orthodox church was also built near the fort.
The first salmon cannery opened on the Naknek River in 1890. and by 1900, there were 12 canneries around Bristol Bay.
The land owned by the Russian Orthodox Church on the north bank of the Naknek River was the first land recorded in Naknek. Squatters built shelters on the church property and were eventually sold lots in what became the center of Naknek.
Naknek has developed as a major salmon fishing center for both commercial fishing and sport fishing. Fish from the canneries is transported over a 25 km (15 mile) long road to King Salmon, where it is shipped to markets outside Alaska.
Naknek has also been called Naugvik, Kinghiak, Libbyville, Pawik and Suvarov, Suwarof or Suworof at various times in its history.