Shungnak, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Shungnak is a city in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska
, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 256.
, settled in 1899 and situated about 10 miles upstream, was largely abandoned due to flooding. A few residents remain at Kobuk. The name "Shungnak" is derived from the Eskimo term "issingnak", which means jade, a stone found in the surrounding area.
The first postmaster at Shungnak was Martin F. Moran, appointed September 24, 1903.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 9.6 square miles (24.9 km²), of which 8.4 square miles (21.8 km²) of it is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²) of it (13.10%) is water.
The town is located about 150 miles east of Kotzebue
.
of 2000, there were 256 people, 56 households, and 51 families residing in the city. The population density was 30.6 people per square mile (11.8/km²). There were 64 housing units at an average density of 7.7 per square mile (3.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 5.47% White
and 94.53% Alaska Native
.
There were 56 households out of which 66.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 8.9% were non-families. 7.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.57 and the average family size was 4.53.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 48.4% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 12.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 19 years. For every 100 females there were 103.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,375, and the median income for a family was $41,000. Males had a median income of $25,750 versus $33,750 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $10,377. About 21.7% of families and 35.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.2% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five or over.
The source of municipal water is from a reservoir intermittently filled from the Kobuk River. Previously, there was a water infiltration gallery
that was destroyed by ice. Groundwater wells have proven unsuccessful.
The town has a 3,400-ft gravel runway owned by the state of Alaska. In the summer of 2006, only part of a fuel shipment was able to be delivered by barge and the remainder of the town's fuel needs had to be supplied by air. This resulted in the price of gasoline rising to $8.10 per gallon at the town's only filling station in 2006-07.
Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska
-National protected areas:* Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge ** Chamisso Wilderness* Bering Land Bridge National Preserve * Cape Krusenstern National Monument* Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve...
, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 256.
History
The village of Kochuk, later renamed Shungnak, was settled in the 1920s. The original village of KobukKobuk, Alaska
Kobuk is a city in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 109.-Geography:Kobuk is located at ....
, settled in 1899 and situated about 10 miles upstream, was largely abandoned due to flooding. A few residents remain at Kobuk. The name "Shungnak" is derived from the Eskimo term "issingnak", which means jade, a stone found in the surrounding area.
The first postmaster at Shungnak was Martin F. Moran, appointed September 24, 1903.
Geography
Shungnak is located at 66.885846°N 157.137458°WAccording 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 9.6 square miles (24.9 km²), of which 8.4 square miles (21.8 km²) of it is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²) of it (13.10%) is water.
The town is located about 150 miles east of Kotzebue
Kotzebue, Alaska
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,082 people, 889 households, and 656 families residing in the city. The population density was 114.1 people per square mile . There were 1,007 housing units at an average density of 37.3 per square mile...
.
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 256 people, 56 households, and 51 families residing in the city. The population density was 30.6 people per square mile (11.8/km²). There were 64 housing units at an average density of 7.7 per square mile (3.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 5.47% 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 94.53% 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...
.
There were 56 households out of which 66.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 8.9% were non-families. 7.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.57 and the average family size was 4.53.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 48.4% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 12.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 19 years. For every 100 females there were 103.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,375, and the median income for a family was $41,000. Males had a median income of $25,750 versus $33,750 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 $10,377. About 21.7% of families and 35.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.2% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five or over.
Facilities
There is one school with 76 students.The source of municipal water is from a reservoir intermittently filled from the Kobuk River. Previously, there was a water infiltration gallery
Infiltration gallery
An infiltration gallery is a structure including perforated conduits in gravel to expedite transfer of water to or from a soil aquifer.-Storm water disposal:...
that was destroyed by ice. Groundwater wells have proven unsuccessful.
The town has a 3,400-ft gravel runway owned by the state of Alaska. In the summer of 2006, only part of a fuel shipment was able to be delivered by barge and the remainder of the town's fuel needs had to be supplied by air. This resulted in the price of gasoline rising to $8.10 per gallon at the town's only filling station in 2006-07.