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Dillingham
(DILL-eeng-ham); a.k.a. Curyung; Kanakanak
For Photos of Dillingham click here
For a Map of Dillingham click here
| Current Population: |
2,347
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
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| Incorporation Type: |
1st Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
Unorganized |
| Taxes: |
Sales: 6%,
Property: 13.0 mills, Special: 10% Bed and Liquor Tax; 6% Gaming Tax
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| National Flood Insurance Program Participant: |
Yes |
| Coastal Management District: |
Bristol Bay CRSA |
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| Location
and Climate |
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Dillingham is located at the extreme northern end of Nushagak Bay in northern Bristol Bay, at the confluence of the Wood and Nushagak Rivers. It lies 327 miles southwest of Anchorage, and is a 6 hour flight from Seattle. The community
lies at approximately 59.039720° North Latitude
and -158.457500° West Longitude.
(Sec. 21, T013S, R055W, Seward Meridian.)
Dillingham is located in the
Bristol Bay Recording District.
The area encompasses 33.6
sq. miles of land and 2.1 sq. miles
of water.
The primary climatic influence is maritime, however, the arctic climate of the Interior also affects the Bristol Bay coast. Average summer temperatures range from 37 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit. Average winter temperatures range from 4 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Annual precipitation is 26 inches, and annual snowfall is 65 inches. Heavy fog is common in July and August. Winds of up to 60-70 mph may occur between December and March. The Nushagak River is ice-free from June through November. |
Topographic
map of
Dillingham
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| The area around Dillingham was inhabited by both Eskimos and Athabascans and became a trade center when Russians erected the Alexandrovski Redoubt (Post) in 1818. Local Native groups and Natives from the Kuskokwim Region, the Alaska Peninsula and Cook Inlet mixed together as they came to visit or live at the post. The community was known as Nushagak by 1837, when a Russian Orthodox mission was established. In 1881 the U.S. Signal Corps established a meteorological station at Nushagak. In 1884 the first salmon cannery in the Bristol Bay region was constructed by Arctic Packing Co., east of the site of modern-day Dillingham. Ten more were established within the next seventeen years. The post office at Snag Point and town were named after U.S. Senator Paul Dillingham in 1904, who had toured Alaska extensively with his Senate subcommittee during 1903. The 1918-19 influenza epidemic struck the region, and left no more than 500 survivors. A hospital and orphanage were established in Kanakanak after the epidemic, 6 miles from the present-day City Center. The Dillingham townsite was first surveyed in 1947. The City was incorporated in 1963.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Curyung Tribal Council.
The population of the community consists of 60.9%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Traditionally a Yup'ik Eskimo area, with Russian influences, Dillingham is now a highly mixed population of non-Natives and Natives. The outstanding commercial fishing opportunities in the Bristol Bay area are the focus of the local culture.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 1,000, and vacant housing units numbered 116.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 39.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 1,154 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
7.11 percent,
although
32.2 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $51,458, per capita income was $21,537, and
11.7 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Around 90% of homes are fully plumbed. Dillingham's water is derived from three deep wells. Water is treated, stored in tanks (capacity is 1,250,000 gallons) and distributed. Approximately 40% of homes are served by the City's piped water system; 60% use individual wells. The core townsite is served by a piped sewage system; waste is treated in a sewage lagoon. However, the majority of residents (75%) have septic systems. Dillingham Refuse Inc., a private firm, collects refuse three times a week. The Senior Center collects aluminum for recycling, and NAPA recycles used batteries. The Chamber of Commerce coordinates recycling of several materials, including fishing web. Nushagak Electric owns and operates a diesel plant in Dillingham which also supplies power to Aleknagik.
Electricity is provided by Nushagak Electric Cooperative.
There are 2 schools located in the community,
attended by 507
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Kanakanak Hospital/PHS (907-842-5201).
The hospital is a qualified Acute Care facility (842-5201). Clinic (842-5981). Specialized Care: U.S. IHS Jake's Place (crisis, respite, lodging, health care); BBAHC Our House (emergencies, crisis, respite, lodging, health care); BBAHC Community Mental Health Center (City 842-1230). Dillingham is classified as a large town/Regional Center, it is found in EMS Region 2I in the Bristol Bay Region. Emergency Services have limited highway, coastal, airport, floatplane and helicopter access. Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service and volunteers
Auxiliary health care is provided by Dillingham Volunteer Fire & Rescue Squad (907-842-2288/5354); BBAHC Medevac (907-842-5201/2950).
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| Economy
and Transportation |
Dillingham is the economic, transportation, and public service center for western Bristol Bay. Commercial fishing, fish processing, cold storage and support of the fishing industry are the primary activities. Icicle, Peter Pan, Trident and Unisea operate fish processing plants in Dillingham. 230 residents hold commercial fishing permits. During spring and summer, the population doubles. The city's role as the regional center for government and services helps to stabilize seasonal employment. Many residents depend on subsistence activities and trapping of beaver, otter, mink, lynx and fox provide cash income. Salmon, grayling, pike, moose, bear, caribou, and berries are harvested.
Dillingham can be reached by air and sea. The State-owned airport provides a 6,404' long by 150' wide paved runway and Flight Service Station, and regular jet flights are available from Anchorage. A seaplane base is available 3 miles west at Shannon's Pond; it is owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Division of Lands. A heliport is available at Kanakanak Hospital. There is a City-operated small boat harbor with 320 slips, a dock, barge landing, boat launch, and boat haul-out facilities. It is a tidal harbor and only for seasonal use. Two barge lines make scheduled trips from Seattle. There is a 23-mile DOT-maintained gravel road to Aleknagik; it was first constructed in 1960. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
CDQ Group -
Bristol Bay Econ. Dev. Corp.
P.O. Box 1464
Dillingham, AK 99576-1464
Phone 907-842-4370
Fax 907-842-4336
E-mail sockeye1@nushtel.net
Web http://www.bbedc.com
Chamber of Commerce -
Dillingham Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center
P.O. Box 348
Dillingham, AK 99576
Phone 907-842-5115
Fax 907-842-4097
E-mail dlgchmbr@nushtel.com
Web http://www.dillinghamak.com/
City -
City of Dillingham
P.O. Box 889
Dillingham, AK 99576
Phone 907-842-5211
Fax 907-842-5691
E-mail manager@dillinghamak.us
Web http://www.ci.dillingham.ak.us
Electric Utility -
Nushugak Electric Cooperative
P.O. Box 350
Dillingham, AK 99576-0350
Phone 907-842-5251
Fax 907-842-2799
Housing Authority -
Bristol Bay Housing Authority
P.O. Box 50
Dillingham, AK 99576
Phone 907-842-5956
Fax 907-842-2784
E-mail dmcclure@bbha.org
Web http://www.bbha.org
Media -
Bristol BayTimes
301 Calista Court, STE B
Anchorage, AK 99518
Phone 907-272-9830
Fax 907-272-9512
E-mail rhowell@alaskanewspapers.com
Web http://www.alaskanewspapers.com
Other -
Alaska Legal Services Corp. (Dillingham Office)
P.O. Box 176
Dillingham, AK 99576-0176
Phone 907-842-1452
Fax 907-842-1430
E-mail dillingham@alsc-law.org
Private, Non-Profit -
Alaska Native Indian Child Welfare Association
P.O. Box 310
Dillingham, AK 99576
Phone 907-842-4139
Web http://www.anicwa.org
Regional Health Corporation -
Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation
P.O. Box 130
Dillingham, AK 99576
Phone 907-842-5201
Fax 907-842-9251
E-mail rclark@bbahc.org
Web http://www.bbahc.org
Regional Native Corporation -
Bristol Bay Native Corporation
111 W 16th Ave, Suite 400
Anchorage, AK 99501-6299
Phone 907-278-3602
Fax 907-276-3924
E-mail jasonmetrokin@bbnc.net
Web http://www.bbnc.net
Regional Native Non-Profit -
Bristol Bay Native Association
P.O. Box 310
Dillingham, AK 99576
Phone 907-842-5257
Fax 907-842-5932
E-mail randersen@bbna.com, vbraswell@bbna.com
Web http://www.bbna.com
School District -
Dillingham City School District
P.O. Box 170
Dillingham, AK 99576
Phone 907-842-5223
Fax 907-842-5634
E-mail buchi@dlgsd.org, darlene@dlgsd.org
Web http:// www.dlgsd.org
School District -
Southwest Region School District
P.O. Box 90
Dillingham, AK 99576
Phone 907-842-5287
Fax 907-842-5428
E-mail jfoster@swrsd.org
Web http://www.swrsd.org
Village Corporation -
Choggiung, Limited
P.O. Box 330
Dillingham, AK 99576
Phone 907-842-5218
Fax 907-842-5462
Village Corporation -
Olsonville, Incorporated
P.O. Box 571
Dillingham, AK 99576
Phone 907-842-3511
Fax 907-842-3512
Village Council -
Curyung Tribal Council
P.O. Box 216
Dillingham, AK 99736
Phone 907-842-2384
Fax 907-842-4510
E-mail dorothy@curyungtribe.com
Web http://www.curyungtribe.com
Regional
Organizations
Regional Native Corporation - Bristol Bay Native Corporation
111 W 16th Ave, Suite 400
Anchorage, AK 99501-6299
Phone 907-278-3602
Fax 907-276-3924
E-mail jasonmetrokin@bbnc.net
Web http://www.bbnc.net
Regional Native Non-Profit - Bristol Bay Native Association
P.O. Box 310
Dillingham, AK 99576
Phone 907-842-5257
Fax 907-842-5932
E-mail randersen@bbna.com, vbraswell@bbna.com
Web http://www.bbna.com
Native Housing Authority - Bristol Bay Housing Authority
P.O. Box 50
Dillingham, AK 99576
Phone 907-842-5956
Fax 907-842-2784
E-mail dmcclure@bbha.org
Web http://www.bbha.org
CDQ Group - Bristol Bay Econ. Dev. Corp.
P.O. Box 1464
Dillingham, AK 99576-1464
Phone 907-842-4370
Fax 907-842-4336
E-mail sockeye1@nushtel.net
Web http://www.bbedc.com
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