Quinhagak, Alaska

Quinhagak (/ˈkwɪnəhɑːk/;[4] Russian: Куинагак; Central Yupik: Kuinerraq)[5] is a city in Bethel Census Area, Alaska, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city is 669,[6] up from 555 in 2000.

Quinhagak Kuinerraq
City
Quinhagak Airport
Quinhagak Location within the state of Alaska
Coordinates: 59°45′12″N 161°54′10″W
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Census Area	Bethel
Incorporated	February 13, 1975[1]
Government
• Mayor	Jerilyn Kelly
• State senator	Lyman Hoffman (D-C)
• State rep.	Tiffany Zulkosky (R)
Area [2]
• Total	4.69 sq mi (12.14 km^2)
• Land	4.10 sq mi (10.62 km^2)
• Water	0.59 sq mi (1.52 km^2)
Elevation	16 ft (5 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	669
• Estimate  (2019)[3]	706
• Density	172.20/sq mi (66.48/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-8 (AKDT)
ZIP code	99655
Area code	907
FIPS code	02-64600
GNIS feature ID	1408462

The Yupik name for the village is Kuinerraq, meaning "new river channel." It has been dated to at least 1000 AD.[7]

Quinhagak is near the Nunalleq archaeological site, which has "easily the largest collection of pre-contact Yup'ik material anywhere," according to anthropologist Rick Knecht. Thousands of items dating from 1350 to 1670 have been uncovered. These include many organic artifacts preserved in permafrost. The site is located along eroding coastline and up to 75% of the original site is thought to have washed away as of 2013, including the original excavation site.[8][9]

Geography

Quinhagak is located at 59°45′12″N 161°54′10″W.[10] 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 5.2 square miles (13 km²), of which, 4.7 square miles (12 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (10.86%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	83		—
1890	109		31.3%
1900	201		84.4%
1910	111		−44.8%
1920	193		73.9%
1930	230		19.2%
1940	224		−2.6%
1950	194		−13.4%
1960	228		17.5%
1970	340		49.1%
1980	412		21.2%
1990	501		21.6%
2000	555		10.8%
2010	669		20.5%
Est. 2019	706	[3]	5.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

Quinhagak has appeared under six different names on census records over the course of a century. It first appeared on the 1880 U.S. Census as the unincorporated Inuit village of "Quinchahamute."[12][13] In 1890, it returned as "Quinhaghamiut."[14] In 1900, it returned as "Kwiniak."[15] In 1910, it returned as "Kwinak", with the alternative spelling of "Quinhagak."[16] In 1920 and 1930, it appeared exclusively under its present spelling of Quinhagak. From 1940-70, it was spelled as "Kwinhagak." It was formally incorporated in 1975 with the current spelling of Quinhagak.

As of the census[17] of 2000, there were 555 people, 137 households, and 113 families residing in the city. The population density was 118.5 people per square mile (45.8/km²). There were 153 housing units at an average density of 32.7 per square mile (12.6/km²). 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.

Economy

The village hosts a commercial fishing industry and fish plant (not operational since the Platinum Fish Processing Plants opening in 2010). Although a commercial fishing village, there has been no commercial fishing since the local processor, Coastal Villages Seafood/Coastal Villages Region Fund, stopped buying salmon since 2016.

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).

Education

Lower Kuskokwim School District operates the Kuinerrarmiut Elitnaurviat School, K-12.[18]

References

1. 1996 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory. Juneau: Alaska Municipal League/Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs. January 1996. p. 125.
2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
4. "Quinhagak". Alaska Community Information Summaries (CIS). Retrieved 2010-11-30.
5. Nunamta Ellamta-llu Ayuqucia (Map). Calista Elders Council. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
6. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau, American FactFinder. Archived from the original on 2020-02-12. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
7. Administration, United States Economic Development; Commerce, United States Dept of (1996-01-01). American Indian reservations and trust areas. Economic Development Administration, U.S. Dept. of Commerce.
8. Dunham, Mike (17 August 2013). "Excavation reveals largest trove of Yup'ik artifacts". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
9. "Nunalleq 2013 official project website". Retrieved 19 August 2013.
10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
12. http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1880a_v1-17.pdf
13. "Geological Survey Professional Paper". U.S. Government Printing Office. Apr 22, 1949. Retrieved Apr 22, 2019 – via Google Books.
14. http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1890a_v8-01.pdf
15. http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/33405927v1ch07.pdf
16. https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/41033927n358-359ch10.pdf
17. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
18. "Home." Kuinerrarmiut Elitnaurviat School. Retrieved on July 13, 2018.