Sand Point, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Sand Point, also known as Qagun Tayagungin, is a city in Aleutians East Borough, Alaska
, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 952. In 2009, the population was 962. It is located on northwestern Popof Island
, off the Alaska Peninsula
. It is the borough seat
of Aleutians East Borough, and is located near the entrance to the Bering Sea
.
The Aleutians East Borough School District is located in Southwestern Alaska along the Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian Chain The District was formed in 1988 from smaller districts who consolidated and formed a Borough with taxing authority. The Borough and District boundaries are the same, and stretch over approximately 15000 square miles (38,849.8 km²) of road-less, mostly treeless tundra, from the middle of the Alaska Peninsula to the north and east, going southwest out to Akutan just east of Dutch Harbor.
. There is a cold storage and fish-processing plant owned and operated by Trident Seafoods and Peter Pan has a support facility. There is an airport with a 4000 feet (1,219.2 m) paved runway and daily flights (weather permitting) to Anchorage
, 575 nautical miles (1.1 km²) to the northeast.
The town is above the treeline, and there is a small herd of 120 bison
(first introduced in the 1930s) which provides some meat for the island's inhabitants. It is notorious for the high winds caused by the meeting of cold air flows from the Bering Sea
with the warm air over the Japan Current. It has a maritime climate, with temperature averages ranging from -9 F, an average snowfall of 52 inches (132.1 cm) and an average rainfall of 33 inches (83.8 cm).
The Russian Orthodox St. Nicholas Chapel was built in Sand Point in 1933.
, 1.47% Black
or African American
, 42.33% Native American
, 23.21% Asian
, 0.32% Pacific Islander
, 2.21% from other races
, and 2.73% from two or more races. 13.55% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 229 households out of which 39.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 20.4% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 41.5% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 3.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 165.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 181.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $55,417, and the median income for a family was $58,000. Males had a median income of $20,000 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $21,954. About 10.3% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 32.1% of those age 65 or over.
, Sand Point has a subpolar oceanic climate (Köppen
Cfc), though compared to most parts of the region it is a little less rainy and has fewer wet days - 145 as against over 220 throughout the Aleutian Islands and in most of Southeast Alaska.
. Every July the town hosts a Culture Camp in which Aleut traditions such as dance, sewing Aleut dresses, playing drums, building kayaks, knot tying, and weaving are taught. Culture Camp has an Aleut language component built into the program.
Cargo service to Sand Point is available on PenAir and Alaska Central Express (ACE) Air Cargo. PenAir has cargo flights to Sand Point six mornings a week. ACE Air Cargo flies to Sand Point several days a week.
During the summer months and into the fall, the Alaska Marine Highway operates the Tustumena. The Tustumena stops in Sand Point four times per month. From Sand Point the ferry goes to King Cove, Cold Bay, False Pass and Dutch Harbor. The ship has staterooms and dining room service. The ferry takes cars and trucks.
In Sand Point, rental cars are available from the Harbor Cafe and the Marine View Bed & Breakfast.
Sand Point is off the road system.
. Commercial
and pole fishing
is an enjoyable pastime for the residents of Sand Point. Boating
and riding ATVs
are popular pastimes. There is an annual Silver Salmon Derby in which contestants try to catch the largest fish to earn a cash prize. Adults can play Bingo and pull tabs
on Sunday. The Boys and Girls Club offers after-school activities.
has a major halibut
, pollock
, and salmon
processing plant
, and provides fuel and other services. Peter Pan Seafoods owns a storage and transfer facility. In 1991, New West Fisheries had a floating processor
near the City dock for Pacific cod
processing. Residents in Sand Point have to acquire commercial fishing permits to be able to participate in the fisheries.
) provides groceries, apparel, motorized vehicles such as ATVs, and toiletries. Small local stores provide goods like hardware, toys, groceries, and electronics. There is a small selection of restaurants in the town. Alcohol can be purchased at two locations. A Bed & Breakfast is located near the Trident bunkhouses. Cut R' Loose Coffee provides Espresso and other specialty drinks to the local community.
Aleutians East Borough, Alaska
- See also :*List of airports in the Aleutians East Borough*National Register of Historic Places listings in Aleutians East Borough, Alaska-External links:*-References:...
, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 952. In 2009, the population was 962. It is located on northwestern Popof Island
Popof Island
Popof Island is an island in the Shumagin Islands south of mainland Alaska. The largest community in the area, Sand Point, is located on the northwest coast. Popof Island is 10 miles long, 5 miles wide and the peak elevation is 1,550 feet . It is located at...
, off 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....
. It is the borough seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Aleutians East Borough, and is located near the entrance to the Bering Sea
Bering 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....
.
The Aleutians East Borough School District is located in Southwestern Alaska along the Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian Chain The District was formed in 1988 from smaller districts who consolidated and formed a Borough with taxing authority. The Borough and District boundaries are the same, and stretch over approximately 15000 square miles (38,849.8 km²) of road-less, mostly treeless tundra, from the middle of the Alaska Peninsula to the north and east, going southwest out to Akutan just east of Dutch Harbor.
History
Sand Point was founded by a San Francisco fishing company in 1898 as a cod fishing station and trading post. Aleuts and Scandinavians were among the early residents. Gold mining was briefly a part of the economy during the early 1900s. Fishing remains an important industry, as Sand Point is home to one of the largest fishing fleets in the Aleutian Chain.Description
Almost half the inhabitants are of Aleut descent - mainly from the Qagan Tayagungin tribe, and support themselves by fishing and fish processingFish processing
The term fish processing refers to the processes associated with fish and fish products between the time fish are caught or harvested, and the time the final product is delivered to the customer...
. There is a cold storage and fish-processing plant owned and operated by Trident Seafoods and Peter Pan has a support facility. There is an airport with a 4000 feet (1,219.2 m) paved runway and daily flights (weather permitting) to 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...
, 575 nautical miles (1.1 km²) to the northeast.
The town is above the treeline, and there is a small herd of 120 bison
Bison
Members of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
(first introduced in the 1930s) which provides some meat for the island's inhabitants. It is notorious for the high winds caused by the meeting of cold air flows from the Bering Sea
Bering 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....
with the warm air over the Japan Current. It has a maritime climate, with temperature averages ranging from -9 F, an average snowfall of 52 inches (132.1 cm) and an average rainfall of 33 inches (83.8 cm).
The Russian Orthodox St. Nicholas Chapel was built in Sand Point in 1933.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 952 people, 229 households, and 155 families residing in the city. The population density was 122.1 people per square mile (47.1/km²). There were 282 housing units at an average density of 36.2 per square mile (14.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 27.73% 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...
, 1.47% 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...
, 42.33% 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...
, 23.21% 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...
, 0.32% Pacific Islander
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...
, 2.21% 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 2.73% from two or more races. 13.55% 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 229 households out of which 39.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 20.4% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 41.5% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 3.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 165.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 181.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $55,417, and the median income for a family was $58,000. Males had a median income of $20,000 versus $22,500 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 city was $21,954. About 10.3% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 32.1% of those age 65 or over.
Climate
Like all of Southwest AlaskaSouthwest Alaska
Southwest Alaska is a region of the U.S. state of Alaska. The area is not exactly defined by any governmental administrative region; nor does it always have a clear geographic boundary.-Geography:...
, Sand Point has a subpolar oceanic climate (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...
Cfc), though compared to most parts of the region it is a little less rainy and has fewer wet days - 145 as against over 220 throughout the Aleutian Islands and in most of Southeast Alaska.
Culture
Sand Point is a mixed Native and non-Native community. More than 50% of the permanent residents in Sand Point are known as Aleuts or UnanganUnangan
Unangan is the name that the people of the southwest Alaska Peninsula and the islands now called the Aleutian Islands call themselves.Ivan Veniaminov lived amongst the indigenous people of the Fox Islands from 1824 to 1834, extensively studying the language and the people, and he does not...
. Every July the town hosts a Culture Camp in which Aleut traditions such as dance, sewing Aleut dresses, playing drums, building kayaks, knot tying, and weaving are taught. Culture Camp has an Aleut language component built into the program.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 28.9 square miles (74.9 km²), of which, 7.8 square miles (20.2 km²) of it is land and 21.1 square miles (54.6 km²) of it (73.05%) is water.Education
There are six schools located in the borough, and there are approximately one hundred students in the Sand Point School. In addition to classroom space, the school houses a library media center, gymnasium, weight room, indoor pool and shop. The Sand Point School is part of the Aleutians East Borough School District. The superintendent of the Aleutians East Borough School District is Dr. Phil Knight and the principal of the Sand Point School is Joseph Haslem.Transportation
Peninsula Airways (PenAir) offers daily flights from Anchorage to Sand Point and flies to Sand Point from Dutch Harbor and Cold Bay several days a week. From Cold Bay, PenAir flies to King Cove and several smaller, fishing villages. There is also a hovercraft that operates ferry service between Cold Bay and King Cove.Cargo service to Sand Point is available on PenAir and Alaska Central Express (ACE) Air Cargo. PenAir has cargo flights to Sand Point six mornings a week. ACE Air Cargo flies to Sand Point several days a week.
During the summer months and into the fall, the Alaska Marine Highway operates the Tustumena. The Tustumena stops in Sand Point four times per month. From Sand Point the ferry goes to King Cove, Cold Bay, False Pass and Dutch Harbor. The ship has staterooms and dining room service. The ferry takes cars and trucks.
In Sand Point, rental cars are available from the Harbor Cafe and the Marine View Bed & Breakfast.
Sand Point is off the road system.
Activities
Many people enjoy hunting for ptarmigan and buffaloAmerican Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
. Commercial
Commercial fishing
Commercial fishing is the activity of catching fish and other seafood for commercial profit, mostly from wild fisheries. It provides a large quantity of food to many countries around the world, but those who practice it as an industry must often pursue fish far into the ocean under adverse conditions...
and pole fishing
Recreational fishing
Recreational fishing, also called sport fishing, is fishing for pleasure or competition. It can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is fishing for profit, or subsistence fishing, which is fishing for survival....
is an enjoyable pastime for the residents of Sand Point. Boating
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
and riding ATVs
All-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
are popular pastimes. There is an annual Silver Salmon Derby in which contestants try to catch the largest fish to earn a cash prize. Adults can play Bingo and pull tabs
Pull-tab
A pull-tab is a gambling ticket that is sold as a means to play a pull-tab game. The object of the ticket is to open the perforated windows on the back of the ticket and match the symbols inside the ticket to the winning combinations on the front of the ticket. The winning Pull-Tab ticket is turned...
on Sunday. The Boys and Girls Club offers after-school activities.
Fishing Industry
The largest fishing fleet in the Aleutians is based in Sand Point. Trident SeafoodsTrident Seafoods
Trident Seafoods is the largest seafood company in the United States. It manages a network of fishing ships, processing plants, and a vertically integrated distributorship of its products. Founded in 1973, and based in Seattle, Washington, the company acquired Tyson Seafoods in 1999. Trident...
has a major halibut
Halibut
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...
, pollock
Pollock
Pollock is the common name used for either of the two species of marine fish in the Pollachius genus. Both P. pollachius and P. virens are commonly referred to as pollock. Other names for P...
, and 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...
processing plant
Fish processing
The term fish processing refers to the processes associated with fish and fish products between the time fish are caught or harvested, and the time the final product is delivered to the customer...
, and provides fuel and other services. Peter Pan Seafoods owns a storage and transfer facility. In 1991, New West Fisheries had a floating processor
Factory ship
A factory ship, also known as a fish processing vessel, is a large ocean-going vessel with extensive on-board facilities for processing and freezing caught fish...
near the City dock for Pacific cod
Pacific Cod
The Pacific cod, Gadus macrocephalus, is an important commercial food species. It is also known as gray cod, gray goo, gray wolf, grayest or grayfish. It has three separate dorsal fins, and the catfish-like whiskers on its lower jaw. In appearance, it is similar to the Atlantic Cod...
processing. Residents in Sand Point have to acquire commercial fishing permits to be able to participate in the fisheries.
Business & Shopping
The AC Store (Alaska Commercial CompanyAlaska Commercial Company
The Alaska Commercial Company is a company that operated retail stores in Alaska during the early period of Alaska's ownership by the United States. From 1901 to 1992, it was known as the Northern Commercial Company . In 1992, it resumed business as the Alaska Commercial Company under the...
) provides groceries, apparel, motorized vehicles such as ATVs, and toiletries. Small local stores provide goods like hardware, toys, groceries, and electronics. There is a small selection of restaurants in the town. Alcohol can be purchased at two locations. A Bed & Breakfast is located near the Trident bunkhouses. Cut R' Loose Coffee provides Espresso and other specialty drinks to the local community.