Bethel, Alaska

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Bethel (Mamterilleq in Central Yup'ik) is a city located in Bethel Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska, 340 miles (540 km) west of Anchorage. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 6,262.^[1]

Bethel is the largest community in western Alaska and the 9th largest municipality in the state. It lies inside the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, the largest wildlife refuge in the United States. It is an administrative and transportation hub for the 56 villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

Bethel is home to the premier mid-distance dogsled race, the Kuskokwim 300. The "K300" is considered by many of the world's elite mushers to be the greatest sled-dog race in the world, even though other races receive more media attention. The K300 is so highly acclaimed because of the warmth and energy of the community volunteers, the dedication of the race's sponsors, and the high prize purse. In the spring, traditional dancers from all over Alaska and the world gather for Cam-ai (pronounced Cha-Mai) Dance Festival.

Though the region is flat and generally treeless, local residents enjoy snowmachineing, skiing, bicycling, kayaking, caribou hunting, salmon fishing, and access to the surrounding 56 villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

Contents 1 Geography 2 Demographics 3 History 4 Climate 5 Transportation and economy 6 Media 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Geography

Bethel is located at 60°47′23″N, 161°46′46″W (60.789724, -161.779332)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 126 km² (50 mi²). 113 km² (44 mi²) of it is land and 13 km² (5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 10% water.

[edit] Demographics

According to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, as of 2006, there were an estimated 5,960 people living in Bethel. As of the 2000 census there were 5471 people, 1,790 households, and 1,190 families residing in the city. The population density was 49/km² (125.0/mi²). There were 2,310 housing units at an average density of 18/km² (46/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 27% White, 1% Black or African American, 62% Native American, 3% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 7% from two or more races. 2% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 1,790 households out of which 46% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% are married couples living together, 18% have a female householder with no husband present, and 30% are non-families. 25% of all households are made up of individuals and 3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.0 and the average family size is 3.7.

In the city the population is spread out with 33% under the age of 18, 12% from 18 to 24, 31% from 25 to 44, 20% from 45 to 64, and 6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 29 years. For every 100 females there are 110 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 110 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $56,900, and the median income for a family is $62,400. Males have a median income of $44,900 versus $39,000 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,300. 11% of the population and 11% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 10% of those under the age of 18 and 18% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

[edit] History

Bethel, at its original location, was a Yup'ik village called Mamterillermiut, meaning "Smokehouse People," after the nearby fish smokehouse. It was an Alaska Commercial Company trading post during the late 1800s. It had a population of 41 people in the 1880 U.S. Census. The Moravian Church established a mission in the area in 1885, under the leadership of Rev. John Henry Kilbuck, Jr. Kilbuck learned Yup'ik, which greatly enhanced his effectiveness as a missionary. Missionaries moved Bethel from Mamterillermiut to its present location on the west side of the Kuskokwim River. A United States Post Office was opened in 1905.

Alaska Natives in this area also have a long Christian history, in part from Russian Orthodox, Catholic and Moravian influence. As in many Alaskan villages, Christian tradition has become interwoven with its cultural history.

On February 19, 1997, a school massacre attracted widespread media attention to Bethel when then-sixteen-year-old Evan Ramsey, a student at Bethel High School, shot and killed his principal and one student and wounded two others, for which he later received a 198-year prison sentence.

[edit] Climate

Precipitation averages 16 inches a year in this area, with snowfall of 50 inches. The average low in July is 49 °F and the average high is 63 °F, although temperatures as low as 32 °F or as high as 87 °F have been recorded in July. In January, the average low is 1 and the average high is 12 °F, while extremes of -49 to 49 °F have been recorded[1][2].

[edit] Transportation and economy

The state-owned Bethel Airport is the regional transportation center, and is served by six passenger carriers: Alaska Airlines, Arctic Circle Air Service, Grant Aviation, Hageland Aviation Service, Yute Air and Frontier Flying Service. It also receives service from four cargo operators: Northern Air Cargo, Alaska Central Express, Arctic Transportation Services, and Lynden Air Cargo, and numerous small air taxi services. The airport ranks third in the state for total number of flights. It offers a 6,400' asphalt runway and 1,850' gravel crosswind runway, and is currently undergoing a $7 million renovation and expansion. Three float plane bases are nearby, Hangar Lake and H Marker Lake and the Kuskokwim River.

The Port of Bethel is the northernmost medium-draft port in the United States. River travel is the primary means of local transportation in the summer. A Bethel-based barge service provides goods to Kuskokwim villages.

Within Bethel there are approximately 16 miles of roads, which are not connected to any contiguous highway system. Winter ice roads lead to several local villages, but their condition varies depending on temperature and snow fall.

An extensive network of snow machine trails connects Bethel to villages all over the Delta, from the Bering Sea to the Yukon.

Bethel is also the site of a proposed major, relative to Alaska, coal powered generating station, and a unique 8.5 mile prototype single wire ground return electrical intertie to Napakiak, Alaska, constructed in 1981.

[edit] Media

Bethel's airwaves are filled by KYUK and KYKD and it is also home to the headquarters of the Delta Discovery and Tundra Drums, regional newspapers.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• BethelAK.com
• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 60.789724° -161.779332°
  • Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
  • Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
  • Topographic map from TopoZone
  • Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA

	State of Alaska Juneau (capital)
Regions	Aleutian Islands | Arctic Alaska | Bush Alaska | Interior | Kenai Peninsula | Mat‑Su Valley | North Slope | Panhandle | Seward Peninsula | Southcentral | Southwest | Tanana Valley | Yukon‑Kuskokwim Delta
Largest cities	Anchorage | Barrow | Bethel | Fairbanks | Homer | Juneau | Kenai | Ketchikan | Kodiak | Kotzebue | Nome | Palmer | Petersburg | Seward | Sitka | Unalaska | Valdez | Wasilla
Boroughs	Aleutians East | Anchorage | Bristol Bay | Denali | Fairbanks North Star | Haines | Juneau | Kenai Peninsula | Ketchikan Gateway | Kodiak Island | Lake and Peninsula | Matanuska‑Susitna | North Slope | Northwest Arctic | Sitka | Yakutat
Census areas	Aleutians West | Bethel | Dillingham | Nome | Prince of Wales‑Outer Ketchikan | Skagway‑Hoonah‑Angoon | Southeast Fairbanks | Valdez‑Cordova | Wade Hampton | Wrangell‑Petersburg | Yukon‑Koyukuk | (see also) Unorganized Borough