Quinhagak, Alaska

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quinhagak (IPA: ['kwɪn ə hɑk]; also spelled Kwinhagak) is a city in Bethel Census Area, Alaska, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 555.

The Yupik name for the village is Kuinerraq, meaning "new river channel." It has been dated to at least 1000 AD.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Economy
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Quinhagak is located at 59°45′12″N, 161°54′10″W (59.753374, -161.902701)^GR1. It is situated on the Kanektok River and near the Arolik River, approximately a mile from the Kuskokwim Bay of the Bering Sea.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.6 km² (5.2 mi²). 12.1 km² (4.7 mi²) of it is land and 1.5 km² (0.6 mi²) of it (10.86%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 555 people, 137 households, and 113 families residing in the city. The population density was 45.8/km² (118.5/mi²). There were 153 housing units at an average density of 12.6/km² (32.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 2.70% White, 96.04% Native American, and 1.26% from two or more races. 0.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 137 households out of which 50.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.8% were non-families. 12.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.05 and the average family size was 4.52.

In the city the population was spread out with 37.1% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 16.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 109.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,156, and the median income for a family was $25,313. Males had a median income of $23,750 versus $36,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $8,127. About 27.2% of families and 26.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.0% of those under age 18 and 25.0% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Economy

The village hosts a commercial fishing industry and cannery, and the population during the summer salmon season increases as workers from other area villages migrate to Quinhagak to work.

Most Quinhagak households practice subsistence hunting and gathering in addition to any wage work they are able to find, utilizing the village's excellent location for salmon and trout fishing, bird, caribou, and moose hunting, and berry picking. Much of the work available is government-funded (through the Lower Kuskokwim School District, which runs the local school, or through the Native Village of Kwinhagak) or seasonal (commercial fishing and/or canning).