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Aniak
(ANN-ee-ack)
For Photos of Aniak click here
For a Map of Aniak click here
| Current Population: |
494
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
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| Incorporation Type: |
2nd Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
Unorganized |
| Taxes: |
Sales: 2%,
Property: None, Special: None
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| National Flood Insurance Program Participant: |
Yes |
| Coastal Management District: |
Ceñaliulriit CRSA |
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| Location
and Climate |
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Aniak is located on the south bank of the Kuskokwim River at the head of Aniak Slough, 59 miles southeast of Russian Mission in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. It lies 92 air miles northeast of Bethel and 317 miles west of Anchorage. The community
lies at approximately 61.578330° North Latitude
and -159.522220° West Longitude.
(Sec. 12, T017N, R057W, Seward Meridian.)
Aniak is located in the
Kuskokwim Recording District.
The area encompasses 6.5
sq. miles of land and 2.3 sq. miles
of water.
Climate is maritime in the summer and continental in winter. Temperatures range between -55 and 87 °F. Average yearly precipitation is 19 inches, and average yearly snowfall is 60 inches. The Kuskokwim is ice-free from mid-June through October. |
Topographic
map of
Aniak
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| Aniak is a Yup'ik word meaning "the place where it comes out," which refers to the mouth of the Aniak River. This river played a key role in the placer gold rush of 1900-01. In 1914, Tom L. Johnson homesteaded the site and opened a store and post office. The Yup'ik village of Aniak had been abandoned long before this time. Eskimos Willie Pete and Sam Simeon brought their families from Ohagamuit to Aniak, which reestablished the Native community. A Russian-era trader named Semyeon Lukin is credited with the discovery of gold near Aniak in 1932. A territorial school opened in 1936. Construction of an airfield began in 1939, followed by the erection of the White Alice radar-relay station in 1956, which closed in 1978. The city was incorporated in 1972.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Village of Aniak.
The population of the community consists of 73.3%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Aniak's population is primarily Yup'ik Eskimos and Tanaina Athabascans. Subsistence foods contribute largely to villagers' diets. Many families travel to fish camps each summer.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 203, and vacant housing units numbered 29.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 6.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 232 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
13.11 percent,
although
41.71 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $41,875, per capita income was $16,550, and
14.04 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| The majority of homes (155) are plumbed and have individual wells. A central well was completed in 1988 by the village corporation; there are also wells at Auntie Marie Nicoli School and the Joe Parent Voc Ed Center. Only 21 households haul water. A central piped sewage system serves most residents, with the exception of the school, the clinic, and the Napat subdivision across Aniak Slough. The system has four lift stations, and wastewater is treated in a lagoon. Some homes use individual septic tanks, but permafrost has caused drainfield problems, so most of the unserved homes use pit privies. The city provides septic pumping services. A washeteria is operated by the village council. Aniak Power & Light is a privately-owned company.
Electricity is provided by Aniak Light & Power Company.
There are 2 schools located in the community,
attended by 113
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Clara Morgan Sub-Regional Clinic (907-675-4556).
The Clara Morgan Sub-Regional Clini is a qualified Emergency Care Center and provides: Primary Health Care, Prevetion Services, Dental care, Behavioral Health, Pharmacy, Radiology and Optometry services. Specialized Care: KNA Community Counseling Center (Kuskokwim Native Assoc.) provides consumer and psychiatric services. Aniak is classified as an isolated town/Sub-Regional Center, it is found in EMS Region 7A in the Yukon/Kuskokwim Region. Emergency Services have limited river and air access. Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service, volunteers and a health aide
Auxiliary health care is provided by Aniak Volunteer Fire Dept. (907-675-4601).
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| Economy
and Transportation |
The economy of Aniak is based on government, transportation, and retail services. As the largest city in the area, Aniak is a service hub for surrounding villages. Subsistence activities supplement part-time wage earnings, and some commercial fishing occurs. Poor fish returns since 1997 have affected the community. Twelve residents hold commercial fishing permits. The school district, Kuskokwim Native Association, Bush-Tell Inc., and the Aniak Subregional Clinic provide most year-round employment. Salmon, moose, bear, birds, berries, and home gardening provide food sources.
Access to Aniak is limited to air and water. The state-owned airport has an asphalt runway that is 6,000' long by 150' wide, is lighted, and is equipped for instrument approaches. Regular flights are provided by several carriers, including charter operators. Float planes can also land on Aniak Slough. Fuel and supplies are brought in by barge during the summer; other goods are delivered by air year-round. There is no road connection to other villages, although trails and the frozen river are used by snowmachines during winter. A winter trail is marked to Kalskag (15 mi.). The community has requested construction of a road to Chuathbaluk. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Aniak
P.O. Box 189
Aniak, AK 99557
Phone 907-675-4481
Fax 907-675-4486
E-mail aniakcityof@yahoo.com
Electric Utility -
Aniak Light & Power Company
4th & Boundary Ave., Box 129
Aniak, AK 99557-0129
Phone 907-675-4334
Fax 907-675-4334
Regional Development -
Interior Rivers Resource Conservation & Development Council
P.O. Box 309
Aniak, AK 99557
Phone 907-675-4578
Fax 907-675-4579
E-mail nicholasmrgn@yahoo.com
Web http://www.interiorrivers.org
Regional Native Non-Profit -
Kuskokwim Native Association
P.O. Box 127
Aniak, AK 99557
Phone 907-675-4384
Fax 907-675-4387
School District -
Kuspuk School District
P.O. Box 49
Aniak, AK 99557-0049
Phone 907-675-4250
Fax 907-675-4305
E-mail ballen@kuspuk.org
Web http://www.kuspuk.org
Village Corporation -
The Kuskokwim Corporation (Aniak Office)
P.O. Box 227
Aniak, AK 99557
Phone 907-675-4275
Fax 907-675-4276
Village Corporation -
The Kuskokwim Corporation
4300 B Street, Suite 207
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone 907-243-2944
Fax 907-243-2984
E-mail ces@kuskokwim.com
Web http://www.kuskokwim.com
Village Council -
Village of Aniak
P.O. Box 349
Aniak, AK 99557
Phone 907-675-4349
Fax 907-675-4513
E-mail aniaktc@yahoo.com or wmorgan@kuskuk.org
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/
Regional Native Non-Profit - Kuskokwim Native Association
P.O. Box 127
Aniak, AK 99557
Phone 907-675-4384
Fax 907-675-4387
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