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Koyukuk
(KOY-yuh-kuck)
For Photos of Koyukuk click here
| Current Population: |
88
(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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Koyukuk is located on the Yukon River near the mouth of the Koyukuk River, 30 miles west of Galena and 290 air miles west of Fairbanks. It lies adjacent to the Koyukuk National Wildlife Refuge and the Innoko National Wildlife Refuge. The community
lies at approximately 64.880930° North Latitude
and -157.701030° West Longitude.
(Sec. 17, T007S, R006E, Kateel River Meridian.)
Koyukuk is located in the
Nulato Recording District.
The area encompasses 6.2
sq. miles of land and 0.1 sq. miles
of water.
The area experiences a cold, continental climate with extreme temperature differences. The average daily high temperature during July is in the low 70s; the average daily low temperature during January ranges from 10 to below 0 °F. Sustained temperatures of -40 °F are common during winter. Extreme temperatures have been measured from -64 to 92 °F. Annual precipitation is 13 inches, with 60 inches of snowfall annually. The river is ice-free from mid-May through mid-October. |
Topographic
map of
Koyukuk
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| The Koyukon Athabascans traditionally had spring, summer, fall, and winter camps and moved as the wild game migrated. There were 12 summer fish camps located on the Yukon River between the Koyukuk River and the Nowitna River. Friendships and trading between the Koyukon and Inupiat Eskimos of the Kobuk area occurred for generations. A Russian trading post was established at nearby Nulato in 1838. A smallpox epidemic, the first of several major epidemics, struck the Koyukon in 1839. A military telegraph line was constructed along the north side of the Yukon around 1867, and Koyukuk became the site of a telegraph station. A trading post opened around 1880, just before the gold rush of 1884-85. The population of Koyukuk at this time was approximately 150. Missionary activity was intense along the Yukon, and a Roman Catholic mission and school opened downriver in Nulato in 1887. A post office operated from 1898 to 1900. Steamboats on the Yukon, which supplied gold prospectors, peaked in 1900 with 46 boats in operation. A measles epidemic and food shortages during 1900 tragically reduced the Native population by one-third. Gold seekers left the Yukon after 1906, but other mining activity, such as the Galena lead mines, began operating in 1919. The first school was constructed in 1939. After the school was built, families began to live at Koyukuk year-round. The city was incorporated in 1973. The community has experienced severe flooding from both the Yukon and Koyukuk Rivers, and residents want to relocate.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Koyukuk Native Village.
The population of the community consists of 91.1%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Residents are primarily Koyukon Athabascans with a subsistence lifestyle.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 55, and vacant housing units numbered 16.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 16.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 40 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
23.08 percent,
although
41.18 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $19,375, per capita income was $11,342, and
35.11 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| The city provides treated well water at the washeteria. Households are not plumbed, and residents use honeybuckets. The school and washeteria use city water, with sewage disposal into a lagoon. Seven households are on the flush/haul system. The landfill is availalbe.
Electricity is provided by City of Koyukuk.
There is one school located in the community,
attended by 12
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Koyukuk Health Clinic (907-927-2221).
Koyukuk is classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 1C in the Central 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 volunteers and a health aide
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| Economy
and Transportation |
There are few full-time jobs in the community; the city, tribe, clinic, school, and store provide the only year-round employment. BLM firefighting, construction work, and other seasonal jobs often conflict with subsistence opportunities. Trapping and beadwork supplement incomes. Subsistence foods include salmon, whitefish, moose, waterfowl, and berries.
The state-owned 2,645' long by 60' wide lighted gravel runway provides year-round transportation. The river is heavily traveled when ice-free, from mid-May through mid-October. Cargo is delivered by barge about four times each summer. Numerous local trails and winter trails to Chance and Nulato are used by residents. Snowmachines, ATVs, and riverboats are used for local transportation. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Koyukuk
P.O. Box 49
Koyukuk, AK 99754
Phone 907-927-2215
Fax 907-927-2230
E-mail cityofkoyukuk@hotmail.com
Village Council -
Koyukuk Native Village
P.O. Box 109
Koyukuk, AK 99754
Phone 907-927-2253
Fax 907-927-2220
E-mail cynthia.pilot@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 - 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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