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Fort Yukon
(YOO-kawn)
For Photos of Fort Yukon click here
For a Map of Fort Yukon click here
| Current Population: |
587
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
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| Incorporation Type: |
2nd Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
Unorganized |
| Taxes: |
Sales: None,
Property: None, Special: None
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| National Flood Insurance Program Participant: |
Yes |
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| Location
and Climate |
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Fort Yukon is located at the confluence of the Yukon and Porcupine Rivers, about 145 air miles northeast of Fairbanks. The community
lies at approximately 66.564720° North Latitude
and -145.273890° West Longitude.
(Sec. 18, T020N, R012E, Fairbanks Meridian.)
Fort Yukon is located in the
Fairbanks Recording District.
The area encompasses 7.0
sq. miles of land and 0.4 sq. miles
of water.
The winters are long and harsh, and the summers are short but warm. After freeze-up, the plateau is a source of cold, continental arctic air. Daily minimum temperatures between November and March are usually below 0 °F. Extended periods of -50 to -60 °F are common. Summer high temperatures run 65 to 72 °F; a high of 97 °F has been recorded. Total annual precipitation averages 6.58 inches, with 43.4 inches of snowfall. The Yukon River is ice-free from the end of May through mid-September. |
Topographic
map of
Fort Yukon
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| Fort Yukon was founded in 1847 by Alexander Murray as a Canadian outpost in Russian territory. It became an important trade center for the Gwich'in Indians, who inhabited the vast lowlands of the Yukon Flats and River valleys. The Hudson Bay Company, a British trading company, operated at Fort Yukon from 1846 until 1869. In 1862, a mission school was established. In 1867, Alaska was purchased by the U.S., and, two years later, it was determined that Fort Yukon was on American soil. Moses Mercier, a trader with the Alaska Commercial Company, took over operation of the Fort Yukon Trading Post. A post office was established in 1898. The fur trade of the 1800s, the whaling boom on the Arctic coast (1889-1904), and the Klondike gold rush spurred economic activity and provided some economic opportunities for the Natives. However, major epidemics of introduced diseases struck the Fort Yukon population from the 1860s until the 1920s. In 1949, a flood damaged or destroyed many homes in Fort Yukon. During the 1950s, a White Alice radar site and an Air Force station were established. Fort Yukon incorporated as a city in 1959.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Native Village of Fort Yukon; Canyon Village Traditional Council (not recognized).
The population of the community consists of 88.7%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Most Fort Yukon residents are descendants of the Yukon Flats, Chandalar River, Birch Creek, Black River, and Porcupine River Gwich'in Athabascan tribes. Subsistence is an important component of the local culture. The sale of alcohol is restricted to the city-owned package store.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 317, and vacant housing units numbered 92.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 37.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 237 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
17.99 percent,
although
47.22 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $29,375, per capita income was $13,360, and
18.55 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Water is derived from two wells and is treated and stored in a 110,000-gal. tank. A combination of piped water, water delivery, and individual wells serve households. A flush/haul system, septic tanks, honeybuckets, and outhouses are used for sewage disposal. Approximately half of all homes are plumbed. The piped water system and household septic tanks were installed in 1984.
Electricity is provided by Gwitchyaa Zhee Utilities.
There is one school located in the community,
attended by 116
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Birch Creek Health Clinic (907-221-2537); Yukon Flats Health Center (907-662-2460); Fort Yukon Public Health Office (662-2889).
The clinic is a qualified emergency care center. Fort Yukon is classified an isolated town/sub-regional center, it is found in EMS Region 1C in the Interior Region. Emergency Services have river and air access, and are within 30 minutes of a higher-level satellite health care facility. Emergency service is provided by 911 telephone service, volunteers and a health aide.
Auxiliary health care is provided by Fort Yukon EMS & Rescue Squad (662-2460/2461).
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| Economy
and Transportation |
City, state, and federal agencies and the Native corporation are the primary employers in Fort Yukon. The school district is the largest employer. Winter tourism is becoming increasingly popular -- Fort Yukon experiences spectacular northern lights. The BLM operates an emergency fire fighting base at the airport. The U.S. Air Force operates a White Alice Radar Station in Fort Yukon. Trapping and Native handicrafts also provide income. Residents rely on subsistence foods -- salmon, whitefish, moose, bear, caribou, and waterfowl provide most meat sources. One resident holds a commercial fishing permit.
Fort Yukon is accessible by air year-round and by barge during the summer months. Heavy cargo is brought in by barge from the end of May through mid-September; there is a barge off-loading area but no dock. Riverboats and skiffs are used for recreation, hunting, fishing, and other subsistence activities. A state-owned 5,810' long by 150' wide lighted gravel airstrip is available; Hospital Lake, adjacent to the airport, is used by float planes. There are 17 miles of local roads and over 100 automobiles and trucks. The city transit bus system provides transport throughout the town. Snowmachines and dog sleds are used on area trails or the frozen river, which becomes an ice road to area villages during winter. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Fort Yukon
P.O. Box 269
Fort Yukon, AK 99740
Phone 907-662-2479
Fax 907-662-2717
E-mail cityclerk@gci.net
Economic Development -
Yukon Flats Resource Conser. & Dev.
P.O. Box 283
Fort Yukon, AK 99740
Phone 907-662-2667
Electric Utility -
Gwitchyaa Zhee Utility Company
P.O. Box 9
Fort Yukon, AK 99740-0009
Phone 907-662-2322
Fax 907-662-2983
School District -
Yukon Flats School District
P.O. Box 350
Ft. Yukon, AK 99740-0350
Phone 907-662-2515
Fax 907-662-3094
E-mail bill.walz@yukonflats.net
Web http://www.yukonflats.net
Village Corporation -
Canyon Village Traditional Council
P.O. Box 13
Fort Yukon, AK 99740
Phone 907-662-2502
Fax 907-662-3047
Village Corporation -
Gwitchyaa Zhee Corporation
P.O. Box 329
Fort Yukon, AK 99740
Phone 907-662-3056
Fax 907-662-2646
Village Council -
Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments
P.O. Box 33
Fort Yukon, AK 99740
Phone 907-662-2587
Fax 907-662-3333
E-mail administration@catg.org
Web http://www.catg.org
Village Council -
Native Village of Fort Yukon
P.O. Box 126
Fort Yukon, AK 99740
Phone 907-662-2581
Fax 907-662-2222
E-mail mary_beth_solomon@hotmail.com
Regional
Organizations
Regional Native Corporation - Doyon, Limited
1 Doyon Place, Suite 300
Fairbanks, AK 99701-2941
Phone 907-459-2000
Fax 907-459-2060
E-mail info@doyon.com
Web http://www.doyon.com
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
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