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Holy Cross
For a Map of Holy Cross click here
| Current Population: |
194
(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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| Location
and Climate |
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Holy Cross is located in Interior Alaska on the west bank of Ghost Creek Slough off the Yukon River. It is 40 miles northwest of Aniak and 420 miles southwest of Fairbanks. The community
lies at approximately 62.199440° North Latitude
and -159.771390° West Longitude.
(Sec. 05, T024N, R057W, Seward Meridian.)
Holy Cross is located in the
Kuskokwim Recording District.
The area encompasses 31.3
sq. miles of land and 6.2 sq. miles
of water.
The climate of Holy Cross is continental. Temperature extremes range from -62 and 93 °F. Snowfall averages 79 inches, with 19 inches of total precipitation per year. The Yukon river is ice-free from June through October. |
Topographic
map of
Holy Cross
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| Holy Cross first had contact with Europeans in the early 1840s, when Russian explorers led by Lt. Zagoskin traveled the Yukon River. They reported on "Anilukhtakpak," which had 170 people. In 1880, the village was reported as "Askhomute" with 30 residents. A Catholic mission and school were established in the 1880s by Father Aloysius Robaut, who came to Alaska across the Chilkoot Trail. Ingaliks migrated to Holy Cross to be near the mission and school. A post office was opened in 1899 under the name "Koserefsky." In 1912, the name of the town was changed to "Holy Cross" after the mission. In the 1930s and 40s, sternwheelers brought the mail and supplies two or three times a year. The course of the river changed during the 1930s, and, by the mid-40s, the slough on which the village is now located was formed. The mission church and many additional buildings were torn down after the boarding school ceased operations in 1956. The city government was incorporated in 1968.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Holy Cross Village.
The population of the community consists of 96.5%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Holy Cross is an Ingalik village. Subsistence and fishing-related activities are important to residents. The sale of alcohol is banned in the village.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 81, and vacant housing units numbered 17.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 1.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 56 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
28.21 percent,
although
66.06 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $21,875, per capita income was $8,542, and
45.6 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Water is derived from a deep well and is treated. 71 households and the school are connected to the piped water and sewer system. A number of residents in the community still haul water from the washeteria and use honeybuckets or outhouses.
Electricity is provided by AVEC.
There is one school located in the community,
attended by 49
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Theresa Demientieff Health Clinic (907-476-7174); Clara Morgan Sub-Regional Clinic (907-675-4556) in Aniak.
Holy Cross is classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 7A in the Yukon/Kuskokwim Region. Emergency Services have river and air access. Emergency service is provided by a health aide
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| Economy
and Transportation |
Holy Cross is characterized by a seasonal economy. Ten residents hold commercial fishing permits. Subsistence hunting, fishing, trapping, and gardening supplement income.
The community is dependent upon air and boat transportation. The state owns and operates a 4,000' long by 100' wide gravel airstrip. Holy Cross is serviced by barge in the summer. Residents use boats for fishing, subsistence, and recreation. 7.5 miles of local roads are used by 3-wheelers, motor bikes, snowmachines, and dog teams. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Holy Cross
P.O. Box 227
Holy Cross, AK 99602
Phone 907-476-7139
Fax 907-476-7141
Village Corporation -
Deloycheet, Incorporated
P.O. Box 228
Holy Cross, AK 99602
Phone 907-476-7177
Fax 907-476-7176
E-mail rdwalker@acsalaska.net
Village Council -
Holy Cross Village
P.O. Box 89
Holy Cross, AK 99602
Phone 907-476-7124
Fax 907-476-7132
E-mail debbieturner@tananachiefs.org
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 - 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 - 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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