Fort Yukon, Alaska

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Fort Yukon, Alaska
Gwichyaa Zheh
City
City of Fort Yukon
Fort Yukon village lies within the boundaries of the Yukon flats.jpg
USA Alaska location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Fort Yukon
Location in Alaska
North America laea location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Fort Yukon
Fort Yukon (North America)
Coordinates: 66°34′3″N145°15′23″W / 66.56750°N 145.25639°W / 66.56750; -145.25639
CountryUnited States
State Alaska
Census Area Yukon-Koyukuk
Incorporated February 17, 1959 [1]
Government
 •  Mayor Richard Carroll, Jr.
 •  State senator Click Bishop (R)
 •  State rep. Mike Cronk (R)
Area
[2]
 • Total6.94 sq mi (17.97 km2)
 • Land6.74 sq mi (17.47 km2)
 • Water0.20 sq mi (0.51 km2)
Elevation
427 ft (130 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total428
 • Density63.46/sq mi (24.50/km2)
Time zone UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-8 (AKDT)
ZIP code
99740
Area code 907
FIPS code 02-26760
GNIS feature ID 1402276

Fort Yukon (Gwichyaa Zheh in Gwich'in) is a city in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska, straddling the Arctic Circle. The population, predominantly Gwich'in Alaska Natives, was 428 at the 2020 census, down from 595 in 2000.

Contents

Fort Yukon was the hometown of the late Alaska Congressman Don Young. Served by Fort Yukon Airport, it is also known for having the record highest temperature in Alaska. [3]

History

This area north of the Arctic Circle was occupied for thousands of years by cultures of indigenous people and in historic times by the Gwich’in people. Gwich'yaa Zhee means "House on the Flats" in Gwichʼin. [4] [5]

What became the village of Fort Yukon developed from a trading post, Fort Yukon, established by Alexander Hunter Murray of the Hudson's Bay Company, on June 25, 1847. Murray drew numerous sketches of fur trade posts and of people and wrote the Journal of the Yukon, 1847–48, which gave valuable insight into the culture of the Gwich’in at the time. While the post was in Russian America, the Hudson's Bay Company continued to trade there until the American traders expelled it in 1869, following the Alaska Purchase when the Alaska Commercial Company took over the post.

During the Klondike Gold Rush, in the winter of 1897–1898, Fort Yukon received two hundred prospectors from Dawson City, which was short of supply. [6] A post office was established on July 12, 1898, with John Hawksly as its first postmaster. The settlement suffered over the following decades as a result of several infectious disease epidemics and a 1949 flood.

During the 1950s, the United States Air Force established a base and radar station at Fort Yukon; the town was officially incorporated in 1959. Since the late 20th century, due in part to its extreme northerly location and its proximity to Fairbanks, it has become a minor tourist destination.

On February 7, 1984, a Terrier Malemute-type sounding rocket, with a maximum altitude of 310 miles (500 km), was launched from Fort Yukon. [7]

Geography

Fort Yukon village street on the Winter Solstice, before sunrise at 11:30 am. Fort Yukon, December.jpeg
Fort Yukon village street on the Winter Solstice, before sunrise at 11:30 am.

Fort Yukon is located on the north bank of the Yukon River at its confluence with the Porcupine River, about 145 miles (233 km) northeast of Fairbanks.

As of 2014, the Arctic Circle passes through the southern portion of the city at 66°33′48.1″N145°15′23″W / 66.563361°N 145.25639°W / 66.563361; -145.25639 . [8] Due to long-term oscillations in the Earth's axis, the Arctic Circle currently shifts northward by about 14.5 metres (48 ft) per year, though varying substantially from year to year due to the complexity of the movement.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Yukon City has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19 km2), of which 7.0 square miles (18 km2) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) of it (5.65%) is water.

Climate

Fort Yukon has a strongly continental subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification: Dfc). In the summer Fort Yukon has midnight sun and in December the sun appears for only a few hours each day.

Summer temperatures are exceptionally high for such a northerly area, being far warmer than the tree line threshold. The highest temperature ever recorded in Alaska occurred in Fort Yukon on June 27, 1915, when it reached 100 °F (37.8 °C). [9] [10] This was also the highest temperature recorded north of the Arctic Circle until June 20, 2020, when it was finally exceeded by a 38 °C (100.4 °F) reading at Verkhoyansk, [11] [12] a location similarly known for its extremely continental climate.

Fort Yukon is also subject to severe winters, being less influenced by chinook winds than areas to the west—the winter season absolute maximum being 13 °F (7.2 °C) colder than in Fairbanks. Until 1971, Fort Yukon held the all-time lowest temperature record for Alaska and the United States at −78 °F (−61.1 °C), and it still holds the record for the lowest mean monthly temperature when the notoriously cold month of December 1917 had an average daily temperature of −48.3 °F (−44.6 °C) and the minimum averaged −58 °F (−50.0 °C). [13]

The city is among the best places in the world for observing the Aurora Borealis. [ citation needed ]

Climate data for Fort Yukon, Alaska (2006–2020 normals, extremes 2002–present)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)44
(7)		35
(2)		51
(11)		69
(21)		83
(28)		90
(32)		90
(32)		89
(32)		71
(22)		75
(24)		35
(2)		40
(4)		90
(32)
Mean maximum °F (°C)21.5
(−5.8)		27.5
(−2.5)		37.7
(3.2)		55.6
(13.1)		75.7
(24.3)		82.8
(28.2)		84.2
(29.0)		77.8
(25.4)		66.3
(19.1)		47.4
(8.6)		24.4
(−4.2)		24.1
(−4.4)		85.6
(29.8)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)−8.6
(−22.6)		1.3
(−17.1)		17.5
(−8.1)		39.0
(3.9)		60.0
(15.6)		70.8
(21.6)		72.3
(22.4)		64.5
(18.1)		51.7
(10.9)		29.7
(−1.3)		3.9
(−15.6)		−4.6
(−20.3)		33.1
(0.6)
Daily mean °F (°C)−16.4
(−26.9)		−9.7
(−23.2)		3.7
(−15.7)		27.3
(−2.6)		48.6
(9.2)		60.0
(15.6)		62.2
(16.8)		54.8
(12.7)		42.9
(6.1)		22.8
(−5.1)		−4.0
(−20.0)		−12.6
(−24.8)		23.3
(−4.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)−24.2
(−31.2)		−20.7
(−29.3)		−10.1
(−23.4)		15.7
(−9.1)		37.0
(2.8)		49.1
(9.5)		52.2
(11.2)		45.2
(7.3)		34.1
(1.2)		15.9
(−8.9)		−11.8
(−24.3)		−20.5
(−29.2)		13.5
(−10.3)
Mean minimum °F (°C)−53.5
(−47.5)		−47.9
(−44.4)		−37.0
(−38.3)		−8.9
(−22.7)		23.4
(−4.8)		37.5
(3.1)		43.7
(6.5)		33.3
(0.7)		20.5
(−6.4)		−9.0
(−22.8)		−37.3
(−38.5)		−46.5
(−43.6)		−56.3
(−49.1)
Record low °F (°C)−63
(−53)		−62
(−52)		−52
(−47)		−36
(−38)		6
(−14)		29
(−2)		35
(2)		26
(−3)		3
(−16)		−32
(−36)		−48
(−44)		−61
(−52)		−63
(−53)
Average precipitation inches (mm)0.46
(12)		0.51
(13)		0.37
(9.4)		0.30
(7.6)		0.36
(9.1)		0.76
(19)		1.44
(37)		1.38
(35)		0.87
(22)		0.93
(24)		0.61
(15)		0.64
(16)		8.63
(219)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)3.53.63.12.12.13.86.47.06.36.64.33.952.7
Source: NOAA (precipitation 1991–2020) [14] [15]
Climate data for Fort Yukon (1961–1990 normals, extremes 1889–1990)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)40
(4)		41
(5)		50
(10)		65
(18)		85
(29)		100
(38)		97
(36)		88
(31)		79
(26)		61
(16)		51
(11)		37
(3)		100
(38)
Mean maximum °F (°C)16.6
(−8.6)		22.3
(−5.4)		35.5
(1.9)		51.9
(11.1)		72.1
(22.3)		83.6
(28.7)		84.9
(29.4)		78.7
(25.9)		64.0
(17.8)		44.1
(6.7)		18.6
(−7.4)		17.8
(−7.9)		87.0
(30.6)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)−9.9
(−23.3)		−2.9
(−19.4)		14.9
(−9.5)		34.2
(1.2)		56.2
(13.4)		71.5
(21.9)		73.2
(22.9)		65.7
(18.7)		50.7
(10.4)		25.1
(−3.8)		−0.5
(−18.1)		−6.3
(−21.3)		31.1
(−0.5)
Daily mean °F (°C)−18.2
(−27.9)		−13.4
(−25.2)		3.1
(−16.1)		21.4
(−5.9)		45.0
(7.2)		60.6
(15.9)		63.1
(17.3)		56.3
(13.5)		41.2
(5.1)		18.5
(−7.5)		−8.2
(−22.3)		−14.8
(−26.0)		21.2
(−6.0)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)−26.0
(−32.2)		−22.1
(−30.1)		−10.2
(−23.4)		9.8
(−12.3)		33.2
(0.7)		48.9
(9.4)		52.0
(11.1)		45.7
(7.6)		32.5
(0.3)		11.5
(−11.4)		−14.0
(−25.6)		−22.2
(−30.1)		11.7
(−11.3)
Mean minimum °F (°C)−51.5
(−46.4)		−48.5
(−44.7)		−33.3
(−36.3)		−15.5
(−26.4)		19.0
(−7.2)		36.0
(2.2)		41.7
(5.4)		31.7
(−0.2)		18.5
(−7.5)		−10.8
(−23.8)		−41.9
(−41.1)		−48.1
(−44.5)		−58.5
(−50.3)
Record low °F (°C)−78
(−61)		−70
(−57)		−62
(−52)		−42
(−41)		−3
(−19)		25
(−4)		25
(−4)		21
(−6)		0
(−18)		−40
(−40)		−61
(−52)		−71
(−57)		−78
(−61)
Average precipitation inches (mm)0.46
(12)		0.35
(8.9)		0.25
(6.4)		0.25
(6.4)		0.34
(8.6)		0.81
(21)		0.94
(24)		1.06
(27)		0.67
(17)		0.56
(14)		0.30
(7.6)		0.53
(13)		6.51
(165)
Average snowfall inches (cm)4.8
(12)		4.1
(10)		2.2
(5.6)		1.6
(4.1)		0.2
(0.51)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.1
(0.25)		0.5
(1.3)		4.4
(11)		3.5
(8.9)		5.8
(15)		27.2
(69)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)5.04.73.42.93.45.86.68.85.27.85.56.966.0
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 inch)5.84.73.53.20.30.00.00.10.45.04.46.533.9
Source 1: WRCC [16]
Source 2: XMACIS (snowfall) [17]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880 109—
1900 156—
1910 321105.8%
1920 319−0.6%
1930 304−4.7%
1940 274−9.9%
1950 44662.8%
1960 70157.2%
1970 448−36.1%
1980 61938.2%
1990 580−6.3%
2000 5952.6%
2010 583−2.0%
2020 428−26.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [18]

Fort Yukon first appeared on the 1880 U.S. Census as an unincorporated village of 109 residents. Of those, 107 were members of the Tinneh Tribe and 2 were Whites. [19] It did not appear on the 1890 census, but has returned in every successive census since 1900. It formally incorporated in 1959, the year Alaska became a state.

As of the census [20] of 2000, there were 595 people, 225 households, and 137 families residing in the city. The population density was 85.0 inhabitants per square mile (32.8/km2). There were 317 housing units at an average density of 45.3 per square mile (17.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.05% Native American, 10.76% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.17% Asian, and 0.17% from other races, and 2.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.34% of the population.

There were 225 households, out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.8% were married couples living together, 23.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.37.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 33.4% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 6.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,375, and the median income for a family was $32,083. Males had a median income of $25,000 versus $27,813 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,360. About 18.0% of families and 18.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.3% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Yukon Flats School District operates the Fort Yukon School, serving Fort Yukon. [21]

The University of Alaska (Fairbanks) operates a rural campus facility called the Yukon Flats Center. [22]

Notable people

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References

  1. ↑ 1996 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory. Juneau: Alaska Municipal League/Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs. January 1996. p. 57.
  2. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Alaska State Almanac - General information about Alaska from NETSTATE.COM". Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Alaska Native Place Names - Alaska Native Language Archive". Archived from the original on November 2, 2013.
  5. ↑ D'Orso, Michael (2007). Eagle Blue: A Team, a Tribe, and a High School Basketball Season in Arctic Alaska. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 93. ISBN   978-1-59691-115-4.
  6. ↑ "1897 - Yukon Nuggets - Yukon History". Archived from the original on October 7, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Fort Yukon" Archived December 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine . Encyclopedia Astronautica . astronautix.com. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Obliquity of the Ecliptic (Eps Mean)". Neoprogrammics.com. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  9. ↑ "NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards Information - Alaska Weather Interesting Facts and Records" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 29, 2006. Retrieved January 3, 2007.
  10. ↑ "State Extremes". Western Regional Climate Center, Desert Research Institute. Archived from the original on May 13, 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2007.
  11. ↑ Sinclare, Terry (June 22, 2020). "A small town in Siberia has likely broken the Arctic high temperature record". Webcenter11. Gray Television, Inc. Archived from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Arctic Temperatures Hit Record High in Russia Amid Heat Wave". The Moscow Times. June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  13. ↑ Day, Preston C. "Extreme Cold in the Yukon Region : The Cold Winter of 1917–18". Monthly Weather Review . 46 (12): 571–572.
  14. ↑ "NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  16. ↑ "1961-1990 Monthly Climate Summary, FT YUKON, ALASKA (503175)". Western Regional Climate Center. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  17. ↑ XMACIS
  18. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on August 17, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  20. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  21. ↑ "Mailing Addresses and Contact Information Archived 2016-12-20 at the Wayback Machine ." Yukon Flats School District. Retrieved on December 4, 2016.
  22. ↑ Yukon Center
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