| |
Bettles
(BET-ullz); formerly Bettles Field
For Photos of Bettles click here
| Current Population: |
22
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
|
| Incorporation Type: |
2nd Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
Unorganized |
| Taxes: |
Sales: None,
Property: None, Special: None
|
|
| Location
and Climate |
|
Bettles is located about 180 air miles and 250 road miles northwest of Fairbanks, adjacent to Evansville. It lies just north of the Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge. Bettles is located on the S.E. bank of the Koyukuk River. The community
lies at approximately 66.917880° North Latitude
and -151.515130° West Longitude.
(Sec. 16, T024N, R019W, Fairbanks Meridian.)
Bettles is located in the
Fairbanks Recording District.
The area encompasses 1.6
sq. miles of land and 0.0 sq. miles
of water.
The area experiences a cold, continental climate with extreme temperature differences. The average high temperature during July is 70 °F. The average low temperature during January is well below 0 °F. Extended periods of -40 °F are common. The highest temperature ever recorded was 93 °F and the lowest was -82 °F. Average precipitation is 13.4 inches, and average annual snowfall is 77 inches. |
Topographic
map of
Bettles
area
 |
| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| Several Native groups have lived in the area, including Koyukon Athabascans and Kobuk, Selawik, and Nunamiut Eskimos from the north and northwest. The Koyukon lived in several camps throughout the year, moving as the seasons changed, following the wild game and fish. "Old Bettles," located 6 miles from the present community, was named for Gordon Bettles, who opened a trading post during the 1899 gold rush. Old Bettles was the northern terminal of the Koyukuk River barge line, and a post office operated there from 1901 to 1956. Today, the new site of Bettles is also known as Bettles Field. The Bettles Runway was constructed in 1945 by the U.S. Navy under Navy Contract Noy-12081 with Lytle and Green Construction as contractor. The U.S. Navy used these facilities as a support base for exploring National Petroleum Reserve. Later, the FAA took over the runway and its maintenace. Work opportunities at Bettles Field attracted both Natives and non-Natives to the new airfield. Wilford Evans, Sr., opened a sawmill at the present site of Evansville and built the Bettles Lodge and General Store. A post office was established at the Bettles Lodge in 1950. A school was constructed in 1956. A health clinic opened in 1980. Bettles incorporated as a city during 1985. The city boundaries do not include the Village of Evansville.
The population of the community consists of 23.3%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Residents of Bettles are both Native and non-Native. The school was closed in 2002, due to low enrollment.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 36, and vacant housing units numbered 20.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 6.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 28 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
0 percent,
although
15.15 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $49,375, per capita income was $19,586, and
6.38 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
|
| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| The majority of homes have individual water wells, septic tanks, and complete plumbing. A permitted landfill is operated by the Native Village of Evansville.
Electricity is provided by Alaska Power Company.
There are no state operated schools located in the community.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Frank Tobuk Sr. Health Clinic in Evansville (907-692-5035).
Bettles is classified as an isolated village center, it is found in EMS Region 1C in the Interior Region. Emergency Services have river and air access. Emergency service is provided by volunteers and a health aide
Auxiliary health care is provided by Frank Tobuk Sr. Health Clinic in Evansville.
|
| Economy
and Transportation |
The economy is linked to air transportation, visitor services, and government. 100% of the heads of household are employed, most full-time, which is unique for a rural community. The community is accessible by road during winter months, which dramatically reduces the cost of goods and supplies. The FAA, National Park Service, school, tribe, city, general store, and lodging provide year-round employment. During the summer, tourist-oriented businesses and guides for the Brooks Range provide seasonal employment. Subsistence activities are important to the Native residents; subsistence use by the non-Natives is substantially lower. Salmon, moose, bear, caribou, and sheep are used.
During four months of the year, the Bettles Winter Road, a 30-mile winter trail, gives residents access to the Dalton Highway, which leads to Fairbanks. The Koyukuk River is used in the summer, but no commercial barge is available. The state-owned airport is classified as a transport center, with a manned FAA contract weather station, a 5,200' long by 150' wide gravel runway, and a float pond. Trucks, cars, snowmachines, and ATVs are used for local transportation. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Bettles
P.O. Box 26023
Bettles Field, AK 99726
Phone 907-692-5191
Fax 907-692-5191
E-mail cityofbtt@gmail.com
Regional
Organizations
Regional Native Health Corporation - Tanana Chiefs Conference
P.O. Box 129
Tok, AK 99780
Phone 907-883-5181
Fax 907-883-1114
E-mail rose.isaac@tananachiefs.org
|
 |
|
