Cold Bay, Alaska

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Cold Bay is a city in Aleutians East Borough, Alaska, U.S. At the 2000 census the population was 88. The population today could be more accurately estimated at 60.

Aerial view of Cold Bay circa 1995.

Cold Bay is one of the main commercial centers of the Alaska Peninsula, and is home to Cold Bay Airport.

1 History
2 Community Life
3 Izembek National wildlife refuge
4 Geography
5 Demographics
6 External links

[edit] History

There is evidence of prehistoric occupation by Aleuts and later Russian encampments, but Cold Bay's American history began with the Japanese invasion of the Aleutians in World War II. General William Brucker ordered the creation of Fort Randall, an airbase on the shores of Cold Bay, in 1942 as a part of a general expansion of American assets in the Aleutians.[1] It (along with Otter Point) served as a base for the 11th airforce to provide protection to the only deep water port in the Aleutians at the time (Dutch Harbor). This protection was proved necessary when during Yamamoto's Midway Campaign a diversionary attack was launched against dutch harbor. The initial attack was repulse by the surprise presence of P-40's stationed here, a second larger attack with its own fighter escort the next day succeeded in causing minor damage. ^[1] Later, with the victory in the Pacific, the forces grew to 20,000 troops. The quonset huts used to house this massive encampment still stand around the community today.

In later decades, control of the airfield passed to civil authority who maintaned it as a particularly useful location for fuelling and emergency landing needs on great circle flights from the west coast of the US to Eastern Asia. A DEW line station was established nearby and eventually was decommissioned.

With the Reagan era, privatization of the airline industry caused many of the compelling interests supporting the need for the community to evaporate. Today, Cold Bay functions as a hub for traffic from Anchorage and Seattle to the small communities around it, and continues to serve as an emergency runway for aircraft flying through the North Pacific.

[edit] Community Life

Cold Bay is a highly transient community, lacking the generational attachment characteristic of the surrounding native villages. Residents, drawn to the area largely by the Wildlife Refuge, Weather Service, or air traffic jobs, rarely stay more than a year in Cold Bay.

The Cold Bay School employs two teachers and serves the community's ten students. Despite its remote location, the school has been involved in state and national activities, hosting the military's "Operation Arctic Care" outreach health program in 2002, and briefly becoming involved with reporting for CNN Student Bureau that same year.

The Cold Bay Store (The Bearfoot Inn)

Cold Bay has one store, which stocks a few, often outdated supplies. Most residents ship their grocery and household supplies in from Anchorage.

A major community event is the Silver Salmon Derby, a fishing contest that takes place every fall. Participants vie for cash prizes for the largest fish in both adult and child categories. A raft race and "Polar Bear Jump" are also held. The Derby concludes with a banquet and door prize giveaway in the school gymnasium.

[edit] Izembek National wildlife refuge

The 498,000-acre Izembek refuge was established in 1960. It encompasses several large lagoons, including the 30-mile Izembek Lagoon, which serve as a food source and shelter for a large migratory avian population. Approximately 130,000 Pacific black brant, 62,000 emperor geese, 50,000 Taverner’s Canada geese, 300,000 ducks, and 80,000 shorebirds stop over in the Izembek area during migration and as many as 50,000 Steller’s eiders find winter grounds there. [2]

[edit] Geography

Cold Bay is located at 55°12′33″N, 162°42′51″W (55.209038, -162.714298)^GR1. It is west of Hawaii.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 183.7 km² (70.9 mi²). 140.8 km² (54.4 mi²) of it is land and 42.9 km² (16.6 mi²) of it (23.34%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 88 people, 36 households, and 18 families residing in the city. The population density was 0.6/km² (1.6/mi²). There were 98 housing units at an average density of 0.7/km² (1.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 71.59% White, 3.41% Black or African American, 17.05% Native American, 4.55% Asian, 2.27% Pacific Islander, and 1.14% from two or more races. 2.27% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 36 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 2.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.0% were non-families. 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 39.8% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, . The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 183.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 204.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $55,750, and the median income for a family was $64,375. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $38,333 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,037. There were no families and 27.3% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.