Chefornak, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Chefornak is a city in Bethel Census Area, Alaska
, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 394.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 6.5 square miles (16.8 km²), of which, 5.7 square miles (14.8 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it (11.71%) is water.
, as well as being in a region impacted by past volcanism, Chefornak has many interesting local landmarks.
An extinct volcano, Tern Mountain, is visible in the distance. Large, blocky, igneous rocks are a common sight in the village and the surrounding tundra.
The Kinia River (Urrsukvaaq) and its many tributaries are important to the people of the village, because of water travel to hunting and fishing areas, as well as because of difficulties presented by flooding and erosion.
of 2000, there were 394 people, 75 households, and 63 families residing in the city. The population density was 68.8 people per square mile (26.5/km²). There were 82 housing units at an average density of 14.3 per square mile (5.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.40% Alaska Native
, 2.03% White
, and 4.57% from two or more races.
There were 75 households out of which 60.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.0% were non-families. 14.7% of all households were made up of individuals and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 5.25 and the average family size was 5.98.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 45.2% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 16.5% from 45 to 64, and 4.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 21 years. For every 100 females there were 106.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,556, and the median income for a family was $36,042. Males had a median income of $15,000 versus $20,833 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $8,474. About 21.3% of families and 25.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.0% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
, Salmon
, and Herring
which are dried and eaten like jerky. Berries such as Salmonberries (cloudberries)
, Black berries (crowberries)
, and Blueberries (bog bilberries)
are also gathered and used to prepare akutaq. Other native foods that are gathered include mousefood
, Labrador tea
, and greens such as sourdock
.
is in the process of being moved further from the village due to concerns with its proximity to the school. The new airstrip has been constructed, but the gravel must settle for several years before the airstrip is usable. Within the village, transportation options include four-wheel, bicycle, snow machine, and on foot.
Bethel Census Area, Alaska
Bethel Census Area is a census area located in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of 2000, the population is 16,006. It is part of the unorganized borough and therefore has no borough seat...
, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 394.
Geography
Chefornak is located at 60°9′33"N 164°16′10"W (60.159070, -164.269437).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 6.5 square miles (16.8 km²), of which, 5.7 square miles (14.8 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it (11.71%) is water.
Local Geology
Located in a region where the arctic tundra meets and interacts with the Bering SeaBering Sea
The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves....
, as well as being in a region impacted by past volcanism, Chefornak has many interesting local landmarks.
An extinct volcano, Tern Mountain, is visible in the distance. Large, blocky, igneous rocks are a common sight in the village and the surrounding tundra.
The Kinia River (Urrsukvaaq) and its many tributaries are important to the people of the village, because of water travel to hunting and fishing areas, as well as because of difficulties presented by flooding and erosion.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 394 people, 75 households, and 63 families residing in the city. The population density was 68.8 people per square mile (26.5/km²). There were 82 housing units at an average density of 14.3 per square mile (5.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.40% Alaska Native
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.03% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 4.57% from two or more races.
There were 75 households out of which 60.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.0% were non-families. 14.7% of all households were made up of individuals and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 5.25 and the average family size was 5.98.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 45.2% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 16.5% from 45 to 64, and 4.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 21 years. For every 100 females there were 106.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,556, and the median income for a family was $36,042. Males had a median income of $15,000 versus $20,833 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $8,474. About 21.3% of families and 25.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.0% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Cultural Activities
Yup'ik dancing is popular in the village. The high school has an Yup'ik Dance Team which often visits other villages for feasts and festivals. Often the village hosts a dance festival in April, and the large Camai-i festival in Bethel attracts many from Chefornak and the surrounding villages to display their dances and to see the dances of other regions.Subsistence Living
Many of the villagers live a subsistence lifestyle which means that they continue to carry out the traditional hunter-gatherer activities of their ancestors. One of the foods that they rely on is fish such as HalibutHalibut
Halibut is a flatfish, genus Hippoglossus, from the family of the right-eye flounders . Other flatfish are also called halibut. The name is derived from haly and butt , for its popularity on Catholic holy days...
, Salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
, and Herring
Herring
Herring is an oily fish of the genus Clupea, found in the shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans, including the Baltic Sea. Three species of Clupea are recognized. The main taxa, the Atlantic herring and the Pacific herring may each be divided into subspecies...
which are dried and eaten like jerky. Berries such as Salmonberries (cloudberries)
Cloudberry
Rubus chamaemorus is a rhizomatous herb native to alpine and arctic tundra and boreal forest, producing amber-colored edible fruit similar to the raspberry or blackberry...
, Black berries (crowberries)
Crowberry
Crowberry is a small genus of dwarf evergreen shrubs that bear edible fruit. They are commonly found in the northern hemisphere, from temperate to subarctic climates, and also in the Southern Andes of South America and on the South Atlantic islands of South Georgia, the Falklands and Tristan da...
, and Blueberries (bog bilberries)
Vaccinium uliginosum
Vaccinium uliginosum is a flowering plant in the genus Vaccinium.-Distribution:Vaccinium uliginosum is native to cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, at low altitudes in the Arctic, and at high altitudes south to the Pyrenees, the Alps, and the Caucasus in Europe, the mountains of...
are also gathered and used to prepare akutaq. Other native foods that are gathered include mousefood
Mousefood
Mousefood or Anlleq is a native food highly prized by Yupik Eskimos on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. It consists of the roots of various tundra plants which are cached by voles in underground burrows.-Types of Mousefood:...
, Labrador tea
Labrador tea
Labrador tea is a name commonly applied to three closely related species:* Rhododendron tomentosum ,...
, and greens such as sourdock
Rumex arcticus
Rumex arcticus, commonly known as Sourdock, is a perennial flowering plant that is native to Alaska. Its leaves are an important part of the diet of native Alaskans such as the Yupik people, who include it in various dishes such as akutaq....
.
Village Buildings
Beside houses, there are only a handful of buildings in the village:- Chefarnrmute, Inc., the village corporation
- Avugiak's Store
- The Post Office
- The Town Hall/Bingo Hall
- The School (Elementary and High School are in one building)
- Chaputnguak High School
- Amakigcik School (Primary school, named after the Yup'ik Elder who selected the village site)
- The Old School (formerly B.I.A.Bureau of Indian AffairsThe Bureau of Indian Affairs is an agency of the federal government of the United States within the US Department of the Interior. It is responsible for the administration and management of of land held in trust by the United States for Native Americans in the United States, Native American...
school) - St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church
- The Power Plant
Transportation
Transportation into the village of Chefornak occurs primarily by small aircraft, although in the winter the village can be reached by snow machine as well. Goods and mail are brought into the village by plane, and during the summer months are brought up the Kinia River by barge. Chefornak's airportChefornak Airport
Chefornak Airport is a state-owned public-use airport located in Chefornak, a city in the Bethel Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. The airport is situated on the Kinia River....
is in the process of being moved further from the village due to concerns with its proximity to the school. The new airstrip has been constructed, but the gravel must settle for several years before the airstrip is usable. Within the village, transportation options include four-wheel, bicycle, snow machine, and on foot.