Tanana, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Tanana (Hohudodetlaatl Denh in Koyukon
) is a city in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area
in the U.S. state of Alaska
. At the 2000 census
the population was 308. It is formerly known as Clachotin. Jetté (1910) records the Koyukon Athabascan
name for the village as Hohudodetlaatl Denh, literally, ‘where the area has been chopped’.
s 65°10′14"N 152°4′33"W (65.170544, -152.075883).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 15.6 square miles (40.4 km²), of which, 11.6 square miles (30 km²) of it is land and 4 square miles (10.4 km²) of it (25.80%) is water.
, 79.87% Native American
, and 2.27% from two or more races. 0.65% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 121 households out of which 41.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.4% were married couples living together, 20.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.0% were non-families. 37.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.43.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 34.7% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 131.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 128.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,750, and the median income for a family was $34,028. Males had a median income of $30,781 versus $23,500 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,077. About 16.4% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five or over.
, an Alaskan politician, was born and raised in Tanana. After he died in the crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261
, his body was buried in Tanana. Jules Louis Prevost
, an early missionary and linguist in the area, was the first postmaster.
Koyukon language
Koyukon is an Athabaskan language spoken along the Koyukuk and middle Yukon River in western interior Alaska. It has about 300 speakers - generally older adults bilingual in English - from an ethnic population of 2,300....
) is a city in the 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 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...
. 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...
the population was 308. It is formerly known as Clachotin. Jetté (1910) records the Koyukon Athabascan
Koyukon language
Koyukon is an Athabaskan language spoken along the Koyukuk and middle Yukon River in western interior Alaska. It has about 300 speakers - generally older adults bilingual in English - from an ethnic population of 2,300....
name for the village as Hohudodetlaatl Denh, literally, ‘where the area has been chopped’.
Geography
Tanana is located at the confluence of the Tanana and Yukon RiverYukon River
The Yukon River is a major watercourse of northwestern North America. The source of the river is located in British Columbia, Canada. The next portion lies in, and gives its name to Yukon Territory. The lower half of the river lies in the U.S. state of Alaska. The river is long and empties into...
s 65°10′14"N 152°4′33"W (65.170544, -152.075883).
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 15.6 square miles (40.4 km²), of which, 11.6 square miles (30 km²) of it is land and 4 square miles (10.4 km²) of it (25.80%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 308 people, 121 households, and 68 families residing in the city. The population density was 26.6 people per square mile (10.3/km²). There were 166 housing units at an average density of 14.4 per square mile (5.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 17.86% 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...
, 79.87% 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...
, and 2.27% from two or more races. 0.65% 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 121 households out of which 41.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.4% were married couples living together, 20.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.0% were non-families. 37.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.43.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 34.7% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 131.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 128.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,750, and the median income for a family was $34,028. Males had a median income of $30,781 versus $23,500 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 $12,077. About 16.4% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five or over.
Famous residents
Morris ThompsonMorris Thompson
Morris Thompson was an Alaska Native leader, American businessman and political appointee working on matters related to Alaska Natives.-Early life and career:...
, an Alaskan politician, was born and raised in Tanana. After he died in the crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261
Alaska Airlines Flight 261
Alaska Airlines Flight 261, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft, experienced a fatal accident on January 31, 2000 at the Pacific Ocean about 2.7 miles north of Anacapa Island, California. The two pilots, three cabin crewmembers, and 83 passengers on board were killed and the aircraft was destroyed...
, his body was buried in Tanana. Jules Louis Prevost
Jules Louis Prevost
Jules Louis Prevost was an American Episcopal missionary to Alaska, a linguist and translator, and a professor of the history of medicine at the Temple University School of Medicine....
, an early missionary and linguist in the area, was the first postmaster.