Wales, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Wales is a town in the Nome Census Area, Alaska
, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 152. It is the westernmost town (or settlement of any sort) on the American mainland.
Wales is located on the westernmost point of the American mainland
, Cape Prince of Wales
, on the western tip of the Seward Peninsula
. It is 111 miles (178.6 km) northwest of Nome
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), all of it land.
, 9% (13 people) White
, 7% (10 people) from two or more races, 1% (1 person) Black
or African American
, 1% (1 person) Hispanic
or Latino
, and one person registered as other
.
There were 50 households out of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38% were married couples living together, 8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44% were non-families. 40% of all households were made up of individuals and 6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.04 and the average family size was 4.43.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 38.2% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 3.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 111.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 141.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,333, and the median income for a family was $39,583. Males had a median income of $29,375 versus $22,188 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,877. About 17.2% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.2% of those under the age of eighteen and 50.0% of those sixty five or over.
(A.D. 500 to 900) was discovered near Wales and is now a National Landmark.
In 1827, a Russian Navy report listed the Inupiat villages of "Eidamoo" near the coast and "King-a-ghe" inland in the area.
In 1890, the American Missionary Association established a mission at the site of present-day Wales. In the 1890s, reindeer
(domesticated caribou) were brought to the area and in 1894 a reindeer station was established. Wales became an important whaling center due to its location along whale
migratory routes, and it was the region's largest and most prosperous village, with more than 500 residents. Wales is named after the principality in the United Kingdom.
The influenza
epidemic from 1918 to 1919 decimated the population and economy of Wales.
In 2002 a wind-diesel system became operational.
On November 9, 2011, the city experienced the 2011 Bering Sea superstorm
. Wind gusts of 89 mph were recorded in Wales.
. Wales School serves grades Pre-K through 12.
Nome Census Area, Alaska
Nome Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 9,196. It is part of the unorganized borough and therefore has no borough seat. Its largest community by far is the city of Nome....
, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 152. It is the westernmost town (or settlement of any sort) on the American mainland.
Geography
Wales is located at 65°36′44"N 168°5′21"W (65.612116, -168.089285).Wales is located on the westernmost point of the American mainland
Extreme points of North America
This is a list of the extreme points of North America: the points that are highest and lowest, and farther north, south, east or west than any other location on the continent. Some of these points are debatable, given the varying definitions of North America....
, Cape Prince of Wales
Cape Prince of Wales
Cape Prince of Wales is the westernmost point on the mainland of the Americas.Located on the Seward Peninsula of the U.S. state of Alaska near the city of Wales, Cape Prince of Wales is the terminus of the Continental Divide, marking the division between the Pacific and Arctic coasts, as well as...
, on the western tip of the Seward Peninsula
Seward Peninsula
The Seward Peninsula is a large peninsula on the western coast of the U.S. state of Alaska. It projects about into the Bering Sea between Norton Sound, the Bering Strait, the Chukchi Sea, and Kotzebue Sound, just below the Arctic Circle...
. It is 111 miles (178.6 km) northwest of Nome
Nome, Alaska
Nome is a city in the Nome Census Area in the Unorganized Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska, located on the southern Seward Peninsula coast on Norton Sound of the Bering Sea. According to the 2010 Census, the city population was 3,598. Nome was incorporated on April 9, 1901, and was once the...
.
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 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 152 people, 50 households, and 28 families residing in the city. The population density was 53.9 people per square mile (20.8/km²). There were 59 housing units at an average density of 20.9 per square mile (8.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84% (127 people) Native AmericanRace (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...
, 9% (13 people) 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...
, 7% (10 people) from two or more races, 1% (1 person) 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...
, 1% (1 person) 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...
, and one person registered as other
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 50 households out of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38% were married couples living together, 8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44% were non-families. 40% of all households were made up of individuals and 6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.04 and the average family size was 4.43.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 38.2% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 3.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 111.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 141.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,333, and the median income for a family was $39,583. Males had a median income of $29,375 versus $22,188 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 $14,877. About 17.2% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.2% of those under the age of eighteen and 50.0% of those sixty five or over.
History
A burial mound from the Birnirk cultureBirnirk culture
The Birnirk culture is a prehistoric Inuit civilization of the north coast of Alaska, dating from 500 AD to 900 AD and disappearing around 1000 AD. It succeeded the Punuk and Old Bering Sea/Okvik cultures and is distinguished from those cultures due to different art and harpoon styles. It preceded...
(A.D. 500 to 900) was discovered near Wales and is now a National Landmark.
In 1827, a Russian Navy report listed the Inupiat villages of "Eidamoo" near the coast and "King-a-ghe" inland in the area.
In 1890, the American Missionary Association established a mission at the site of present-day Wales. In the 1890s, reindeer
Reindeer
The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...
(domesticated caribou) were brought to the area and in 1894 a reindeer station was established. Wales became an important whaling center due to its location along whale
Whale
Whale is the common name for various marine mammals of the order Cetacea. The term whale sometimes refers to all cetaceans, but more often it excludes dolphins and porpoises, which belong to suborder Odontoceti . This suborder also includes the sperm whale, killer whale, pilot whale, and beluga...
migratory routes, and it was the region's largest and most prosperous village, with more than 500 residents. Wales is named after the principality in the United Kingdom.
The influenza
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
epidemic from 1918 to 1919 decimated the population and economy of Wales.
In 2002 a wind-diesel system became operational.
On November 9, 2011, the city experienced the 2011 Bering Sea superstorm
2011 Bering Sea superstorm
The 2011 Bering Sea superstorm was an extratropical cyclone that affected western Alaska. On November 8, the National Weather Service began issuing severe weather warnings, saying that this was a near record storm in the Bering Sea. It rapidly deepened from to in just 24 hours before bottoming...
. Wind gusts of 89 mph were recorded in Wales.
Education
Wales is served by the Bering Strait School DistrictBering Strait School District
Bering Strait School District is a school district in northwestern Alaska, United States, serving approximately 1,700 students in grades K-12 in fifteen isolated villages...
. Wales School serves grades Pre-K through 12.
External links
- http://www.city-data.com/city/Wales-Alaska.html
- http://www.citytowninfo.com/places/alaska/wales
- http://www.topix.com/city/wales-ak
- http://www.alaskool.org/native_ed/historicdocs/Wales/walesind.htm
- http://www.rolfnagelsfotos.de