Coldfoot, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Coldfoot is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area
in the U.S. state
of Alaska
. The population was 13 at the 2000 census
.
Coldfoot primarily serves as a truck stop
on the Dalton Highway
from Fairbanks
to Prudhoe Bay
. North of Coldfoot, there are no services for 240 miles (400 km), until Deadhorse
. It has a restaurant and a small number of overnight accommodations (converted pipeline construction camp quarters). Bus tours along the highway typically take two days with passengers spending the night in Coldfoot. The BLM, USFWS
, and NPS
jointly staff a small visitor center during the summer. The Coldfoot truck stop was founded by Iditarod champion Dick Mackey
who started his operation by selling hamburgers out of a converted school bus. Truckers helped build the existing truck stop and cafe. The Alaska Department of Transportation (DOT) has a Camp (Maintenaince Station) in Coldfoot.
The town was originally a mining
camp named Slate Creek, and around 1900 got its present name when prospectors going up the nearby Koyukuk River
would get "cold feet" and turn around. In 1902 Coldfoot had two roadhouses, two stores, seven saloons
, and a gambling
house. A post office
operated from 1902 to 1912, then reopened in 1984.
Coldfoot Airport
, on the west side of the Dalton Highway, consists of a 4,000-foot (1220 m) gravel strip.
Coldfoot has been featured on the third and fourth seasons of Ice Road Truckers
, a Canadian reality television
series airing on the History Channel. The show, which dramatizes trucking on the Dalton Highway, often features truckers transporting equipment to the oil companies located in or around the Prudhoe Bay area.
, the CDP has a total area of 37 square miles (95.8 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 13 people, 6 households, and 1 family residing in the CDP. The population density
was 0.4 people per square mile (0.1/km²). There were 12 housing units at an average density of 0.3 per square mile (0.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 100% White.
There were 6 households out of which 30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30% were married couples
living together, and 70% were non-families. 50% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.2 and the average family size was 4.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 20% under the age of 18, 10% from 18 to 24, 40% from 25 to 44, and 30% from 45 to 64. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 230 males (4 females, 9 males). For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 230 males (3 females, 7 males).
The median income for a household in the CDP was $61,250 and the per capita income
was $42,620. None of the population lives below the poverty line.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,588. It is part of the unorganized borough and therefore has no borough seat...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. The population was 13 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
Coldfoot primarily serves as a truck stop
Truck stop
A truck stop is a commercial facility predicated on providing fuel, parking, and often food and other services to motorists and truck drivers...
on the Dalton Highway
Dalton Highway
The James W. Dalton Highway, usually Dalton Highway is a 414-mile road in Alaska. It begins at the Elliott Highway, north of Fairbanks, and ends at Deadhorse near the Arctic Ocean and the Prudhoe Bay oil fields...
from Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks is a home rule city in and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska.Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska, and second largest in the state behind Anchorage...
to Prudhoe Bay
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska
Prudhoe Bay or Sagavanirktok is a census-designated place located in North Slope Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2010 census, the population of the CDP was 2,174 people; however, at any given time several thousand transient workers support the Prudhoe Bay oil field...
. North of Coldfoot, there are no services for 240 miles (400 km), until Deadhorse
Deadhorse, Alaska
Deadhorse is an unincorporated community in North Slope Borough, Alaska, United States, along the North Slope near the Arctic Ocean. The town consists mainly of facilities for the workers and companies that operate at the nearby Prudhoe Bay oil fields. Deadhorse is accessible via the Dalton Highway...
. It has a restaurant and a small number of overnight accommodations (converted pipeline construction camp quarters). Bus tours along the highway typically take two days with passengers spending the night in Coldfoot. The BLM, USFWS
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
, and NPS
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
jointly staff a small visitor center during the summer. The Coldfoot truck stop was founded by Iditarod champion Dick Mackey
Dick Mackey
Dick Mackey is an American dog musher who won the 1,049-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across the U.S. state of Alaska in 1978 by the closest margin in the history of the event. His son, Rick Mackey, became the first legacy winner when he won the race in 1983...
who started his operation by selling hamburgers out of a converted school bus. Truckers helped build the existing truck stop and cafe. The Alaska Department of Transportation (DOT) has a Camp (Maintenaince Station) in Coldfoot.
The town was originally a mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
camp named Slate Creek, and around 1900 got its present name when prospectors going up the nearby Koyukuk River
Koyukuk River
The Koyukuk River is a principal tributary of the Yukon River, approximately 500 mi long, in northern Alaska in the United States.It drains an area north of the Yukon on the southern side of the Brooks Range...
would get "cold feet" and turn around. In 1902 Coldfoot had two roadhouses, two stores, seven saloons
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
, and a gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
house. A post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
operated from 1902 to 1912, then reopened in 1984.
Coldfoot Airport
Coldfoot Airport
Coldfoot Airport is a state-owned, public-use airport located in Coldfoot, in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska.- Facilities and aircraft :...
, on the west side of the Dalton Highway, consists of a 4,000-foot (1220 m) gravel strip.
Coldfoot has been featured on the third and fourth seasons of Ice Road Truckers
Ice Road Truckers
Ice Road Truckers is a documentary-style reality television series that premiered on History on June 17, 2007.-History:In 2000, History aired a 46-minute episode titled "Ice Road Truckers" as part of the Suicide Missions series...
, a Canadian reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
series airing on the History Channel. The show, which dramatizes trucking on the Dalton Highway, often features truckers transporting equipment to the oil companies located in or around the Prudhoe Bay area.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 CDP has a total area of 37 square miles (95.8 km²), all land.
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 13 people, 6 households, and 1 family residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 0.4 people per square mile (0.1/km²). There were 12 housing units at an average density of 0.3 per square mile (0.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 100% White.
There were 6 households out of which 30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, and 70% were non-families. 50% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.2 and the average family size was 4.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 20% under the age of 18, 10% from 18 to 24, 40% from 25 to 44, and 30% from 45 to 64. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 230 males (4 females, 9 males). For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 230 males (3 females, 7 males).
The median income for a household in the CDP was $61,250 and 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...
was $42,620. None of the population lives below the poverty line.