King Salmon, Alaska
Encyclopedia
King Salmon is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Bristol Bay Borough
in the U.S. state of Alaska
. As of the 2000 census
the population was 442. King Salmon is the borough seat of neighboring Lake and Peninsula Borough, but does not serve that purpose in its own borough, whose borough seat is in Naknek
.
on the Alaska Peninsula
, about 25 km (15.5 mi) upriver from Naknek
, near Naknek Lake
. According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 171 square miles (442.9 km²), of which, 169.6 square miles (439.3 km²) of it is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) of it (0.82%) is water.
King Salmon has a subarctic climate
(Köppen
Dfc). Temperatures, especially extreme temperatures, are much less moderate than on the Pacific Ocean side of the Alaska Peninsula; however, average temperatures in winter are still milder than a number of cities in the contiguous United States, such as Fargo, North Dakota
. The town lies just below the southern limit of sporadic permafrost in Alaska, and is strongly sheltered from the extremely wet Aleutian Low
which drops most of its moisture on the opposite side of the mountains.
, 1.13% Black
or African American
, 28.96% Native American
, 0.23% Asian
(i.e. 1 person), 0.23% from other races
, and 3.17% from two or more races. 0.45% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 196 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 4.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.4% were non-families. 41.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 35.7% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 2.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 122.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 131.2 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $54,375, and the median income for a family was $64,375. Males had a median income of $45,000 versus $35,500 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $26,755. About 8.8% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
In the 1940s and 1950s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed a 25 km (15.5 mi) long road from King Salmon to Naknek. Other government agencies, such as the National Park Service
, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and the United States Weather Bureau, built facilities at King Salmon. The King Salmon Inn opened in 1956.
King Salmon is now a government, transportation, and service and shipment center for the commercial red salmon and sport fishing industries.
The Air Force base was closed in 1993, and is kept in caretaker status by Anchorage
-based Chugach Support Services.
In 2010, a local National Weather Service employee and his wife were involved in an Islamic domestic terrorism plot that had proceeded to the operational phase. A hit list of 20 people that included media and military personal was found.
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 Bristol Bay Borough
Bristol Bay Borough, Alaska
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,258 people, 490 households, and 300 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2 people per square mile . There were 979 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile...
in the U.S. state 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...
. As of 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...
the population was 442. King Salmon is the borough seat of neighboring Lake and Peninsula Borough, but does not serve that purpose in its own borough, whose borough seat is in Naknek
Naknek, Alaska
Naknek is a census-designated place located in Bristol Bay Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2000 census, the population of the CDP was 678....
.
Geography and climate
King Salmon is located on the north bank of the Naknek RiverNaknek River
Naknek River is a 56-km-long river in the Bristol Bay Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. It flows westward from Naknek Lake, draining it into the Kvichak Bay arm of Bristol Bay...
on the Alaska Peninsula
Alaska Peninsula
The Alaska Peninsula is a peninsula extending about to the southwest from the mainland of Alaska and ending in the Aleutian Islands. The peninsula separates the Pacific Ocean from Bristol Bay, an arm of the Bering Sea....
, about 25 km (15.5 mi) upriver from Naknek
Naknek, Alaska
Naknek is a census-designated place located in Bristol Bay Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2000 census, the population of the CDP was 678....
, near Naknek Lake
Naknek Lake
Naknek Lake is a lake in southern Alaska, near the base of the Alaska Peninsula. The lake is long and 5–13 km wide. The lake drains west into Bristol Bay through the Naknek River....
. 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 CDP has a total area of 171 square miles (442.9 km²), of which, 169.6 square miles (439.3 km²) of it is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) of it (0.82%) is water.
King Salmon has a subarctic climate
Subarctic climate
The subarctic climate is a climate characterized by long, usually very cold winters, and short, cool to mild summers. It is found on large landmasses, away from the moderating effects of an ocean, generally at latitudes from 50° to 70°N poleward of the humid continental climates...
(Köppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Dfc). Temperatures, especially extreme temperatures, are much less moderate than on the Pacific Ocean side of the Alaska Peninsula; however, average temperatures in winter are still milder than a number of cities in the contiguous United States, such as Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
. The town lies just below the southern limit of sporadic permafrost in Alaska, and is strongly sheltered from the extremely wet Aleutian Low
Aleutian low
The Aleutian Low is a semi-permanent low pressure center located near the Aleutian Islands during the winter. It is one of the main centers of action in the atmospheric circulation of the Northern Hemisphere...
which drops most of its moisture on the opposite side of the mountains.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 442 people, 196 households, and 105 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2.6 people per square mile (1.0/km²). There were 343 housing units at an average density of 2.0 per square mile (0.8/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 66.29% WhiteRace (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...
, 1.13% Black
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...
or African American
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...
, 28.96% Native American
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...
, 0.23% Asian
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...
(i.e. 1 person), 0.23% from other races
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 3.17% from two or more races. 0.45% of the population were Hispanic
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...
or Latino
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...
of any race.
There were 196 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 4.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.4% were non-families. 41.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 35.7% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 2.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 122.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 131.2 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $54,375, and the median income for a family was $64,375. Males had a median income of $45,000 versus $35,500 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 CDP was $26,755. About 8.8% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
History
In the 1930s, the U.S. government built an air navigation silo at the site of present-day King Salmon. At the beginning of World War II, the U.S. Army Air Forces built an air base around the silo. It was maintained by the Civil Aeronautics Administration throughout the war.In the 1940s and 1950s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed a 25 km (15.5 mi) long road from King Salmon to Naknek. Other government agencies, such as the National Park Service
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...
, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and the United States Weather Bureau, built facilities at King Salmon. The King Salmon Inn opened in 1956.
King Salmon is now a government, transportation, and service and shipment center for the commercial red salmon and sport fishing industries.
The Air Force base was closed in 1993, and is kept in caretaker status by Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
-based Chugach Support Services.
In 2010, a local National Weather Service employee and his wife were involved in an Islamic domestic terrorism plot that had proceeded to the operational phase. A hit list of 20 people that included media and military personal was found.