Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska
Census area in Alaska, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kusilvak Census Area, formerly known as Wade Hampton Census Area, is a census area located in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,368,[3] up from 7,459 in 2010.[4] It is part of the Unorganized Borough and therefore has no borough seat. Its largest community is the city of Hooper Bay, on the Bering Sea coast.
Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska | |
|---|---|
Aerial view of Tutakoke Bird Camp, Coast of the Bering Sea just south of Hooper Bay, near Chevak, Alaska. | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Alaska | |
| Coordinates: 62°05′N 163°32′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Alaska |
| Established | 1980[1][2] |
| Named after | Kusilvak Mountains |
| Largest city | Hooper Bay |
| Area | |
• Total | 19,673 sq mi (50,950 km2) |
| • Land | 17,081 sq mi (44,240 km2) |
| • Water | 2,592 sq mi (6,710 km2) 13.2% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 8,368 |
• Estimate (2025) | 7,932  |
| • Density | 0.44/sq mi (0.17/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−9 (Alaska) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−8 (ADT) |
| Congressional district | At-large |
The census area's per capita income makes it the fourth-poorest county-equivalent in the United States.[citation needed] In 2014, it had the highest percentage of unemployed people of any county or census area in the United States, at 23.7 percent.[5]
Additionally the area has the largest percentage of indigenous people with 96.9% of the population belonging to an indigenous group.
History
The census area was originally named for Wade Hampton III, a South Carolina politician whose son-in-law, John Randolph Tucker, a territorial judge in Nome, posthumously named a mining district in western Alaska for him in 1913. The district eventually became the census area, retaining its name. Over the next century, the name became increasingly controversial, with Native residents and others arguing Hampton's name did not represent Alaska and that his personal history as a slave-holding Civil War general was a blemish on the region.[6] In July 2015, Alaska Governor Bill Walker formally notified the U.S. Census Bureau that the census area was being renamed after the Kusilvak Mountains, its highest range.[7]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the census area has a total area of 19,673 square miles (50,950 km2), of which 17,081 square miles (44,240 km2) is land and 2,592 square miles (6,710 km2) (13.2%) is water.[8]
Adjacent boroughs and census areas
- Nome Census Area, Alaska – north
- Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska – east
- Bethel Census Area, Alaska – south
National protected area
- Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- Andreafsky Wilderness (part)
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 8,368. The median age was 23.7 years; 40.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 6.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 109.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 108.5 males age 18 and over.[14]
The racial makeup of the county was 2.1% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 95.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.2% from some other race, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 0.2% of the population.[15]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[16]
There were 1,943 households in the county, of which 63.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 17.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]
There were 2,342 housing units, of which 17.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.6% were owner-occupied and 28.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.3%.[14]
Racial and ethnic composition
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[17] | Pop 1990[18] | Pop 2000[19] | Pop 2010[20] | Pop 2020[21] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 286 | 342 | 330 | 199 | 173 | 6.13% | 5.91% | 4.70% | 2.67% | 2.07% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 3 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 0.06% | 0.21% | 0.06% | 0.01% | 0.19% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 4,347 | 5,397 | 6,486 | 7,082 | 7,946 | 93.18% | 93.20% | 92.29% | 94.95% | 94.96% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 8 | 22 | 7 | 17 | 23 | 0.17% | 0.38% | 0.10% | 0.23% | 0.27% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [22] | x [23] | 1 | 0 | 0 | x | x | 0.01% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 11 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 0.24% | 0.02% | 0.01% | 0.04% | 0.17% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [24] | x [25] | 176 | 150 | 182 | x | x | 2.50% | 2.01% | 2.17% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 10 | 17 | 23 | 7 | 14 | 0.21% | 0.29% | 0.33% | 0.09% | 0.17% |
| Total | 4,665 | 5,791 | 7,028 | 7,459 | 8,368 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
The most reported detailed ancestries were:[26]
- Native Village of Hooper Bay (Naparyarmiut) (14.3%)
- Yup'ik (Yup'ik Eskimo) (10.4%)
- Village of Alakanuk (7.9%)
- Asa'carsarmiut Tribe (7%)
- Chevak Native Village (6.6%)
- Emmonak Village (4.8%)
- Iqugmuit Traditional Council (4.4%)
- Village of Kotlik (4.3%)
- Algaaciq Native Village (St. Mary's) (3.7%)
- Native Village of Marshall (Fortuna Ledge) (3.4%)
2000 census
As of the 2000 census,[27] there were 7,028 people, 1,602 households, and 1,296 families residing in the census area. The population density was 0.35 people per square mile (0.14 people/km2). There were 2,063 housing units at an average density of /sq mi (0/km2). The racial makeup of the census area was 92.53% Native American, 4.74% White, 0.06% Black or African American, 0.10% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.03% from other races, and 2.52% from two or more races. 0.33% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 50.00% of the population reported speaking English at home, while 49.75% spoke Central Alaskan Yup'ik.[28]
There were 1,602 households, out of which 59.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.40% were married couples living together, 20.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.10% were non-families. Sixteen percent of all households were made up of individuals, and 1.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.38 and the average family size was 4.95.
In the census area 46.60% of the population was under the age of 18 (the highest such percentage among county equivalents in the United States), 9.70% was from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 13.10% from 45 to 64, and 5.00% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 20 years, making the Census Area the youngest county in the United States.[29] For every 100 females, there were 109.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.70 males.
The census area's per capita income makes it one of the poorest places in the United States.
2006 American Community Survey
In the 2006 American community survey, the Kusilvak Census Area had the largest increase in Hispanic population since 2000 with a 1572.73% increase.[30]
Communities
Cities
- Alakanuk
- Chevak
- Emmonak
- Hooper Bay
- Kotlik
- Marshall
- Mountain Village
- Nunam Iqua (formerly Sheldon Point)
- Pilot Station
- Russian Mission
- Scammon Bay
- St. Mary's
Census-designated place
Unincorporated communities
- Bill Moore's Slough[31]
- Chuloonawick
- Hamilton[32]
- Ohogamiut
Politics
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1980 | 366 | 26.41% | 866 | 62.48% | 154 | 11.11% |
| 1984 | 847 | 47.83% | 850 | 48.00% | 74 | 4.18% |
| 1988 | 817 | 52.30% | 681 | 43.60% | 64 | 4.10% |
| 1992 | 759 | 42.78% | 700 | 39.46% | 315 | 17.76% |
| 1996 | 578 | 31.71% | 1,001 | 54.91% | 244 | 13.38% |
| 2000 | 960 | 48.90% | 831 | 42.33% | 172 | 8.76% |
| 2004 | 842 | 49.62% | 753 | 44.37% | 102 | 6.01% |
| 2008 | 906 | 39.89% | 1,269 | 55.88% | 96 | 4.23% |
| 2012 | 390 | 17.50% | 1,715 | 76.97% | 123 | 5.52% |
| 2016 | 405 | 19.71% | 1,215 | 59.12% | 435 | 21.17% |
| 2020 | 569 | 29.18% | 1,209 | 62.00% | 172 | 8.82% |
| 2024 | 579 | 36.88% | 820 | 52.23% | 171 | 10.89% |
Kusilvak Census Area, as with other Native-majority counties, is strongly Democratic. It has backed a Republican only four times in presidential elections, and exactly twice in gubernatorial elections.
