Ninilchik, Alaska
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Ninilchik is a census-designated place located in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska. As of the 2000 census, the population of the CDP is 772.
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Geography
Ninilchik is located at 59°59'34" North, 151°32'31" West (59.992821, -151.541946)Template:GR.
Ninilchik is on the west side of the Kenai Peninsula on the Sterling Highway, 61 km (38 miles) southwest of the Kenai.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 537.7 km² (207.6 mi²). 537.6 km² (207.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.01% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 772 people, 320 households, and 223 families residing in the CDP. The population density is 1.4/km² (3.7/mi²). There are 762 housing units at an average density of 1.4/km² (3.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP is 82.25% White, 0.00% Black or African American, 13.99% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 3.11% from two or more races. 0.65% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 320 households out of which 29.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% are married couples living together, 6.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% are non-families. 23.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.41 and the average family size is 2.87.
In the CDP the population is spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 42 years. For every 100 females there are 110.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 114.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP is $36,250, and the median income for a family is $41,750. Males have a median income of $29,861 versus $22,750 for females. The per capita income for the CDP is $18,463. 13.9% of the population and 10.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 13.2% of those under the age of 18 and 7.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
History
Before the arrival of Europeans in Alaska, the Kenai Peninsula was used by Dena'ina Athabaskan people for hunting and fishing.
In 1847, Grigorii and Mavra Kvasnikoff moved their large family from Kodiak to Ninilchik. Grigorii was a Russian Orthodox missionary from Moscow, and Mavra was a 1/2 Russian and 1/2 Sugpiaq from Kodiak. They constructed the Transfiguration of Our Lord Church that year.
The 1880, United States Census listed 53 "Creoles" living in Ninilchik in nine extended families. All nine founding families of Ninilchik are descendants of the Kvasnikoffs.
In 1896, a school was built. In 1901, the Russian Orthodox Church was redesigned and constructed at its current site.
In the 1940s, a number of homesteaders came to the area. In 1949, Berman Packing Company began fish canning operations at Ninilchik. In 1950, the Sterling Highway was completed through Ninilchik.