| |
Chefornak
(chuh-FORE-nuck); alt. Chefarnok
For Photos of Chefornak click here
For a Map of Chefornak click here
| Current Population: |
470
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
|
| Incorporation Type: |
2nd Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
Unorganized |
| Taxes: |
Sales: 2%,
Property: None, Special: None
|
| Coastal Management District: |
Ceñaliulriit CRSA |
|
| Location
and Climate |
|
Chefornak is located on the south bank of the Kinia River, at its junction with the Keguk River, in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. The village lies within the Clarence Rhode National Wildlife Refuge, established for migratory waterfowl protection. Chefornak is 98 air miles southwest of Bethel and 490 miles southwest of Anchorage. The community
lies at approximately 60.160000° North Latitude
and -164.265830° West Longitude.
(Sec. 19, T001N, R086W, Seward Meridian.)
Chefornak is located in the
Bethel Recording District.
The area encompasses 5.7
sq. miles of land and 0.8 sq. miles
of water.
Chefornak is located in a marine climate. Precipitation averages 22 inches, with 43 inches of snowfall annually. Summer temperatures range from 41 to 57 °F. Winter temperatures range 6 to 24 °F. |
Topographic
map of
Chefornak
area
 |
| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| The area has historically been occupied by Yup'ik Eskimos. In the early 1950s, Alexie Amagiqchik founded a small general store at the site. He had moved from a village on the Bering Sea to the new location one mile inland to escape potential floodwaters. Others from the original village followed and settled in Chefornak. The city was incorporated in 1974.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Village of Chefornak.
The population of the community consists of 98%
Alaska Native or part Native.
A traditional Yup'ik Eskimo community, Chefornak residents practice a subsistence lifestyle with some commercial fishing. The sale or importation of alcohol is banned in the village.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 82, and vacant housing units numbered 7.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 1.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 118 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
11.94 percent,
although
41.58 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $35,556, per capita income was $8,474, and
25.07 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
|
| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| One well and a water treatment plant serve 12 watering points. The treated water is undrinkable due to salt water intrusion. Residents drink melted ice cut from a local pond in the winter and rain catchment the rest of the year. High snow drifts make boardwalk impassable for winter haul service. The community has requested a grant for a new water treatment plant. The school is in the process of establishing its own water system using reverse osmosis to treat the salty water.
Electricity is provided by Naterkaq Light Plant.
There is one school located in the community,
attended by 155
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Chefornak Clinic (907-867-8919).
Chefornak Clinic is a Primary Health Care facility. Chefornak is classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 7A in the Yukon/Kuskokwim Region. Emergency Services have floatplane and air access. Emergency service is provided by a health aide
|
| Economy
and Transportation |
Other than government positions, most employment in Chefornak is seasonal, supplemented by subsistence activities. 34 residents hold commercial fishing permits for herring roe and salmon fisheries. Coastal Villages Seafood, Inc., processes halibut and salmon in Chefornak. Trapping is also a source of income.
A state-owned 2,500' long by 35' wide gravel airstrip provides chartered and private air access year-round, and a seaplane base is available. Although there are no docking facilities at this time, a number of fishing boats and skiffs are used for local travel. Snowmachines are relied upon during the winter. Winter trails are marked to Kipnuk (20 mi.) and Kasigluk (83 mi.) |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Chefornak
P.O. Box 29
Chefornak, AK 99561
Phone 907-867-8528
Fax 907-867-8704
E-mail citychefornak@yahoo.com
Electric Utility -
Naterkaq Light Plant
P.O. Box 11
Chefornak, AK 99561-0011
Phone 907-867-8213
Fax 907-867-8724
Village Corporation -
Chefarnrmute Incorporated
P.O. Box 70
Chefornak, AK 99561
Phone 907-867-8115
Fax 907-867-8895
Village Council -
Village of Chefornak
P.O. Box 110
Chefornak, AK 99561-0110
Phone 907-867-8850 or 8502
Fax 907-867-8711
Regional
Organizations
Regional Native Corporation - Calista Corporation
301 Calista Court, Suite A
Anchorage, AK 99518-3028
Phone 907-279-5516
Fax 907-272-5060
E-mail calista@calistacorp.com
Web http://www.calistacorp.com
Regional Native Health Corporation - Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp.
P.O. Box 528
Bethel, AK 99559
Phone 907-543-6020
Fax 907-543-6006
E-mail gene_peltola@ykhc.org
Web http://www.ykhc.org/
CDQ Group - Coastal Villages Region Fund
711 H Street, Suite 200
Anchorage, AK 99501-3461
Phone 907-278-5151
Fax 907-278-5150
E-mail morgen_c@coastalvillages.org
Web http://www.coastalvillages.org/
|
 |
|
