Adak, Alaska

Adak (IPA pronunciation: ), formerly Adak Station, is a city in Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 316. A State of Alaska demographer in 2004 estimates the population at 69. Other than Attu Station it is the westernmost town in the United States (see Extreme points of the United States), and the southernmost city in Alaska.

Location and Climate

Adak is located at 51.8725° North, -176.62861° West (Sec. 10, T096S, R195W, Seward Meridian). Adak is located in the Aleutian Islands Recording District, and the 3rd Judicial District.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 329.8 km² (127.3 mi²). 317 km² (122.4 mi²) of it is land and 12.8 km² (4.9 mi²) of it (3.87%) is water.

Adak is located on Kuluk Bay on Adak Island in the Andreanof Islands group of the Aleutian Islands. It lies 1,300 miles southwest of Anchorage and 350 miles west of Unalaska/Dutch Harbor, in the Aleutian Island Chain. Flight time to Anchorage is three hours. Adak is the southern-most community in Alaska, on the latitude of Vancouver Island in Canada.

Adak lies in the maritime climate zone, characterized by persistently overcast skies, high winds, and frequent cyclonic storms. Winter squalls produce wind gusts in excess of 100 knots. During the summer, extensive fog forms over the Bering Sea and North Pacific. Average temperatures range from 20 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, but wind chill factors can be severe. Total precipitation is 64 inches annually, with an average accumulated snowfall of 100 inches, primarily in the mountains.

History and Culture

The Aleutian Islands were historically occupied by the Unanga. The once heavily-populated island was eventually abandoned in the early 1800s as the Aleutian Island hunters followed the Russian fur trade eastward, and famine set in on the Andreanof Island group. However, they continued to actively hunt and fish around the island over the years, until World War II broke out. Adak Army installations allowed U.S. forces to mount a successful offensive against the Japanese-held islands of Kiska and Attu. After the war, Adak was developed as a naval air station, playing an important role during the Cold War as a submarine surveillance center. Large earthquakes rocked the island in 1957, 1964 and 1977. At its peak, the station housed 6,000 naval personnel and their families. In 1994, family housing and schools were closed after severe cutbacks. The station officially closed on March 31, 1997, and currently houses civilians. The Aleut Corporation acquired Adak's facilities under a land transfer agreement, pending with the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Navy/Department of Defense. Properties are currently under lease. About 30 families with children relocated to Adak in September 1998, most of them Aleut Corp. shareholders, and a school was reopened. Aleut Corp. is currently developing Adak as a commercial center. The community incorporated as a second-class city in April 2001.

Since World War II, the U.S. Navy developed outstanding facilities and recreation opportunities at Adak. A movie theater, roller skating rink, swimming pools, ski lodge, bowling alleys, skeet range, auto hobby shop, photo lab, racquetball and tennis courts were developed. A new $18-million hospital was built in 1990. As of March 2003, most of these facilities are closed.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 316 people, 159 households, and 61 families residing in the city. The population density was 1.0/km² (2.6/mi²). There were 884 housing units at an average density of 2.8/km² (7.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 49.68% White, 1.27% Black or African American, 35.13% Native American, 9.81% Asian, 1.90% Pacific Islander, and 2.22% from two or more races. 5.06% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 159 households out of which 18.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.9% were married couples living together, 2.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 61.6% were non-families. 46.5% of all households were made up of individuals and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.99 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city the population was spread out with 18.7% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 44.3% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 1.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 184.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 188.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $52,727, and the median income for a family was $53,889. Males had a median income of $46,429 versus $35,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $31,747. About 3.3% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen or sixty-five or over.

During the 2000 U.S. Census, total housing units numbered 884, and vacant housing units numbered 725. Vacant housing units used only seasonally numbered 7. 200 residents were shown as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 7.55 percent, although 16.32 percent of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $52,727, per capita income was $31,747, and 4.66 percent of residents were living below the poverty level.

Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care

Water is derived from Lake Bonnie Rose, Lake De Marie and Nurses Creek, stored in any 7 water tanks throughout the community, and piped to facilities and housing units. The wastewater treatment system discharges through a marine outfall line to Kuluk Bay. There is a permitted landfill - Roberts Landfill is a Class 2 with balefill. Electricity is provided by City of Adak. There is one school located in the community, attended by 18 students. Local hospitals or health clinics include Adak Medical Clinic (907-592-8383). Adak Medical Center is a qualified Emergency Care Center and Primary Health Care facility. The clinic is staffed by a physician's assistant and provides emergency care, family practice and referral services. Lab, pharmacy, and public health services are available. Adak is classified as an isolated town/sub-regional center, located in EMS Region 2H in the Aleutian/Pribilof Region. Emergency Services have coastal and airport access to Adak. Auxiliary health care is provided by Adak Volunteer Fire Dept./EMS (907-592-4145).

Economy and Transportation

A land exchange between Aleut Corp., the U.S. Navy, and the Department of the Interior has transferred most of the naval facilities to the Aleut Corp. A portion of the island remains within the National Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Adak currently provides a fueling port and crew transfer facility for foreign fishing fleets -- an airport, docks, housing facilities, restaurant, grocery and ship supply store are available. Contractors are performing an environmental clean-up. Norquest-Adak Seafood Co. processes Pacific cod, pollock, mackerel, halibut, albacore and brown king crab. Four residents hold commercial fishing permits, primarily for groundfish.

Adak Airport has a control tower and two asphalt paved runways, one measures 7,790' long by 200' wide, the other runway measures 7,605' by 200'wide. Both are an eleavtion of 19'. Alaska Airlines operates passenger and cargo jet service. There are three deep water docks and fueling facilities. The City has requested funds to greatly expand the Sweeper Cove small boat harbor, including new breakwaters, a 315-ft. dock and new moorage floats. There are approximately 16 miles of paved roads, and other gravel and dirt roads.

Taxes: Sales: 3%, Property: None, Special: $.02/gallon Fuel Transfer Tax

Regional Organizations

City - City of Adak
P.O. Box 2011
Adak, AK 99546
Phone 907-592-4513
Fax 907-592-4262
E-mail adakcity@corecom.net

School District - Alaska Gateway School District
P.O. Box 226
Tok, AK 99780
Phone 907- 883-5151
Fax 907- 883-4356
E-mail rbolding@tok.schoolaccess.net
http://tok.schoolaccess.net

Regional Native Corporation - Aleut Corporation
4000 Old Seward Hwy., Suite 300
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone 907-561-4300
Fax 907-563-4328
E-mail info@aleutcorp.com
http://www.aleutcorp.com

Regional Development - Southwest Alaska Muni. Conf.
3300 Arctic Blvd. #203
Anchorage, 99503
Phone 907-562-7380
Fax 907-562-0438
E-mail wayers@swamc.org
http://www.southwestalaska.com

Education

Adak is served by the Aleutian Region Schools.

The Adak School serves grades K-12.

External links and references

Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska | Cities in Alaska

Adak | Adak

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