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Tyonek
(tie-OH-neck)
For Photos of Tyonek click here
For a Map of Tyonek click here
| Current Population: |
154
(2008 Estimated Population (not Certified))
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| Incorporation Type: |
Unincorporated |
| Borough Located In: |
Kenai Peninsula Borough |
| Taxes: |
Sales: 3% (Borough),
Property: 5.9 mills (Borough), Special: None
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| National Flood Insurance Program Participant: |
Yes |
| Coastal Management District: |
Kenai Peninsula Borough |
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| Location
and Climate |
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Tyonek lies on a bluff on the northwest shore of Cook Inlet, 43 miles southwest of Anchorage. Tyonek is not located directly on the Kenai Peninsula. The community
lies at approximately 61.068060° North Latitude
and -151.136940° West Longitude.
(Sec. 01, T011N, R011W, Seward Meridian.)
Tyonek is located in the
Anchorage Recording District.
Winter temperatures typically range 4 to 22; summer temperatures average from 46 to 65. Temperature extremes have been recorded from -27 to 91. Average annual precipitation is 23 inches, including 82 inches of snow. |
Topographic
map of
Tyonek
area
 |
| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| It is a Dena'ina (Tanaina) Athabascan Indian village. Various settlements in this area include Old Tyonek Creek, Robert Creek, Timber Camp, Beluga and Moquawkie Indian Reservation. Captain Cook's journal provides a description of the Upper Cook Inlet Athabascans in 1778, who possessed iron knives and glass beads. He concluded that the Natives were trading indirectly with the Russians. Russian trading settlements were established at "Tuiunuk" and Iliamna prior to the 1790s, but were destroyed due to dissension between the Natives and the Russians. Between 1836 and 1840, half of the region's Indians died from a smallpox epidemic. The Alaska Commercial Company had a major outpost in Tyonek by 1875. In 1880, "Tyonok" station and village, believed to be two separate communities, had a total of 117 residents, including 109 Athabascans, 6 "creoles" and 2 whites. After gold was discovered at Resurrection Creek in the 1880s, Tyonek became a major disembarkment point for goods and people. A saltery was established in 1896 at the mouth of the Chuitna River north of Tyonek. In 1915, the Tyonek Reservation (also known as Moquawkie Indian Reservation) was established. The devastating influenza epidemic of 1918-19 left few survivors among the Athabascans. The village was moved to its present location atop a bluff when the old site near Tyonek Timber flooded in the early 1930s. The population declined when Anchorage was founded. In 1965, the federal court ruled that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) had no right to lease Tyonek Indian land for oil development without permission of the Indians themselves. The tribe subsequently sold rights to drill for oil and gas beneath the reservation to a group of oil companies for $12.9 million. The reservation status was revoked with the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971. Beluga, a site near Tyonek, is owned by Chugach Electric Association and provides some electricity for Anchorage.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Native Village of Tyonek.
The population of the community consists of 95.3%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Tyonek is a Dena'ina Indian village practicing a subsistence lifestyle.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 134, and vacant housing units numbered 68.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 56.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 64 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
27.27 percent,
although
55.56 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $26,667, per capita income was $11,261, and
13.94 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| A piped water and sewer system serves the entire community -- approximately 90 homes and facilities. Water is derived from Second Lake, is treated and stored in a 175,000-gal. tank. Back-up water supplies are available from a lake near the airport. A small coin-operated washeteria, with one washer and dryer, is available.
Electricity is provided by Chugach Electric Association.
There is one school located in the community,
attended by 37
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Indian Creek Health Clinic (583-2461).
Tyonek is classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 2J in the Kenai Peninsula Region. Emergency Services only have air access. Emergency service is provided by volunteers and a health aide
Auxiliary health care is provided by Tyonek Volunteer Rescue Squad (583-2135/583-2136).
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| Economy
and Transportation |
Subsistence activities provide salmon, moose, beluga whale and waterfowl. 20 residents hold commercial fishing permits. Tyonek offers recreational fishing and hunting guide services. Some residents trap during winter. The North Foreland Port Facility at Tyonek is the preferred site for export of Beluga coal.
The village is not accessible by road. Permission is required to land at the local 3,000' long by 90' wide gravel airstrip, owned by the Village of Tyonek, although regularly-scheduled flights are available. A State-owned 4,003' gravel airstrip is available at Nikolai Creek, and a 2,400' gravel airstrip, owned by Arco Alaska, is located at Beluga. A local road connects to nearby Beluga. Barges deliver heavy goods to the village. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
Village Corporation -
Tyonek Native Corporation
1689 C Street, Suite 219
Anchorage, AK 99501-5131
Phone 907-272-0707
Fax 907-274-7125
E-mail bperatrovich@tyonek.com
Village Council -
Native Village of Tyonek
P.O. Box 82009
Tyonek, AK 99682-0009
Phone 907-583-2271
Fax 907-583-2442
E-mail tyonek@aitc.org
Regional
Organizations
Borough - Kenai Peninsula Borough
144 North Binkley Street
Soldotna, AK 99669
Phone 907-262-4441
Fax 907-714-2377
E-mail assemblyclerk@borough.kenai.ak.us
Web http://www.borough.kenai.ak.us
Regional Native Corporation - Cook Inlet Region, Inc.
P.O. Box 93330
Anchorage, AK 99509-3330
Phone 907-274-8638
Fax 907-279-8836
E-mail info@ciri.com
Web http://www.ciri.com/
Regional Native Health Corporation - Southcentral Foundation
4501 Diplomacy
Anchorage, AK 99508
Phone 907-729-4955
Fax 907-729-4972
E-mail katherineg@scf.cc
Web http://www.southcentralfoundation.com
Native Housing Authority - Native Village of Tyonek
P.O. Box 82009
Tyonek, AK 99682-0009
Phone 907-583-2271
Fax 907-583-2442
E-mail tyonek@aitc.org
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