False Pass, Alaska

False Pass
City
False Pass looking north
Nickname(s): "The Pass" The City of False Pass as seen from the south.
False Pass Location in Alaska
Coordinates: 54°49′40″N 163°23′57″W / 54.82778°N 163.39917°W / 54.82778; -163.39917
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Borough	Aleutians East
Incorporated	October 19, 1990[1]
Government
• Mayor	Tom Hoblet[2]
Area
• Total	68.3 sq mi (176.8 km2)
• Land	26.9 sq mi (69.6 km2)
• Water	41.4 sq mi (107.2 km2)
Elevation	30 ft (9 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	35
Time zone	Alaska (AKST) (UTC-9)
• Summer (DST)	AKDT (UTC-8)
ZIP codes	99583
Area code	907
FIPS code	02-24660
Website	City Website

False Pass (Isanax̂^[3] in Aleut) is a city in Aleutians East Borough, Alaska, United States. Isanax̂ (variously spelled Issannakh, Isanak etc.) is the Aleut name for present day Isanotski Strait and means gap, hole, rent, or tear in the Aleut language which was rendered as Isanotski (or Issanakskie, Isanotskoi, Isanakh etc.) in transliterated Russian. The strait appears as Исанакъ in 1802 and Исаноцкый in 1844 on Russian maps.^[4][5][6] Isanotski Strait lies between the tip of the Alaska Peninsula and Unimak Island, the first of the Aleutian Islands and it connects the northern Gulf of Alaska with the Bering Sea. This strait was used for safe passage for millennia by Aleuts and later by the Russians during their occupation of the area. The strait is used today by most vessels less than 200 feet in length traveling to and from northern Alaska and points in southwest and southeast Alaska and the "lower 48" states.^[7]

False Pass is an early English name for Isanotski Strait on which the City of False Pass is located. The strait was called "False Pass" by early American sailing ship captains because it was thought to be impassable for their deep draft vessels at the northern end. A salmon cannery was built on the Unimak Island side of the strait in 1919 ^[8] which provided the nucleus for the modern settlement. A U.S. post office with the name of False Pass was established in 1921 which gave official status to the community.^[9] Commercial fishing for salmon, cod, halibut and crab continues to be the core of the community's lifestyle and economy. The city population was 35 at the 2010 census.

Geography

False Pass is located at 54°49′40″N 163°23′57″W / 54.82778°N 163.39917°W / 54.82778; -163.39917 (54.827886, -163.399090)^[10]. It is near the eastern end of Unimak Island, in the Aleutian Islands chain. Part of the city (26.093 km², or 10.075 sq mi) is actually on the westernmost tip of the mainland Alaska Peninsula, across the Isanotski Strait (about 600 meters at the closest point), although that section is nearly unpopulated. The city boundaries include the abandoned villages of Morzhovoi and Ikatan.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 68.3 square miles (177 km²), of which, 26.9 square miles (70 km²) of it is land and 41.4 square miles (107 km²) of it (60.63%) is water.

Demographics

2000 Census

As of the census^[11] of 2000, there were 64 people, 22 households, and 13 families residing in the city. The population density was 2.4 people per square mile (0.9/km²). There were 40 housing units at an average density of 1.5 per square mile (0.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 62.50% Native American, 26.56% White, 1.56% from other races, and 9.38% from two or more races. 1.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 22 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 22.7% were married couples living together, 18.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.79.

In the city the age distribution of the population shows 35.9% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 18.8% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 4.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $49,375, and the median income for a family was $70,625. Males had a median income of $23,750 versus $37,083 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,465. There were 11.1% of families and 8.0% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 50.0% of those over 64.

Occupation categories for the 2000 census are shown in the accompanying pie chart. The community has traditionally depended upon commercial fishing, but it now employs only 24% of the workforce or 10 individuals. These individuals are boat captains and crewmen. As in many modern American communities, white collar sales/office and management positions now employ 51% of the employment positions or 21 people.^[12]

Transportation

Boats and aircraft are the only way to get to False Pass. Aircraft use False Pass Airport.

Picture gallery

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  False Pass, Alaska, looking south.

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  False Pass, Alaska, looking east.

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  City of False Pass, AK, Ferry Dock & Boat Harbor

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  Isanotski Strait south entrance from Ikatan Bay.

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  Old section town foreground, False Pass, AK.

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  Bering Pacific Seafoods, False Pass.

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  Public buildings, mid-foreground, False Pass, Alaska

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  Crab boats loading pots in False Pass, AK.

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  Local salmon seiner, False Pass, AK.

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  Gillnetters at Peter Pan dock, False Pass, AK.

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  Salmon boats at dock in False Pass, AK.

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  Salmon boats hauled up in False Pass, AK.

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  Local salmon seiner "up for the winter".

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  Seattle freighter arrives twice a month at False Pass.

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  Alaska Ferry Tustamena arrives monthly in False Pass.

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  Peter Pan dock, looking west, False Pass.

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  Old cannery board walks, False Pass.

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  Original plat for cannery, False Pass.

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  False Pass P.O., library, City Offices.

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  False Pass Medical Clinic.

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  False Pass School and Roundtop volcano.

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  False Pass grocery store & city dock.

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  View east down Roundtop Valley, False Pass.

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  Isanotski Peaks & Roundtop Volcano, Unimak Island.

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  Cemetery in False Pass, Alaska.

References

Coordinates: 54°49′40″N 163°23′57″W / 54.827886°N 163.39909°W / 54.827886; -163.39909

v t e Municipalities and communities of Aleutians East Borough, Alaska, United States Borough seat: Sand Point Cities Akutan Cold Bay False Pass King Cove Sand Point CDP Nelson Lagoon Unincorporated communities Ikatan Morzhovoi Ghost towns Adamagan Belkofski Pauloff Harbor Unga