Gakona, Alaska

Gakona Ggax Kuna’
CDP
Side view of the Gakona Roadhouse, a major community building
Location of Gakona, Alaska
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Census Area	Valdez-Cordova
Area
• Total	61.3 sq mi (158.9 km2)
• Land	61.3 sq mi (158.9 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Population  (2000)
• Total	215
Time zone	UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-8 (AKDT)
Area code	907
FIPS code	02-27420

Gakona (/ɡəˈkoʊnə/) (Ggax Kuna’ in Ahtna) is a census-designated place (CDP) in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2000 census, the population of the CDP was 215.

Geography and climate

Gakona is located at 62°18′17″N 145°16′24″W (62.301940, -145.30194)Template:GR (Sec. 18, T006N, R001E, Copper River Meridian). Gakona is located in the Chitina Recording District. Gakona is located in the center of Copper Valley, surrounded by mountains and the famous Copper River.

Gakona is at the confluence of the Copper and Gakona Rivers, 15 miles northeast of Glennallen. It lies at mile 2 on the Tok Cut-Off to the Glenn Highway, just east of the Richardson Highway. Gakona is located in the continental climate zone, with long, cold winters and relatively warm summers. Temperature extremes have been recorded from -62 to 91. Snowfall averages 61 inches, with total precipitation of 13 inches per year.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 61.3 square miles (158.9 km²), all of it land.

History and culture

Ahtna Athabascans have lived in the Copper River basin for 5,000 to 7,000 years. Gakona served as a wood and fish camp, and later became a permanent village. A federally recognised tribe, the Native Village of Gakona, is located in the community.

In 1904 Doyle's Roadhouse was constructed at the junction of the Valdez-Eagle and Valdez-Fairbanks Trails, and became an essential stopping point for travelers. There was also a post office, stagecoach station and blacksmith shop here. Some buildings are still standing. Gakona Lodge was built in 1929 and is on the National Register of Historical Places. The lodge contains 10 rooms in the lodge, 4 cabins, and restaurant and tavern. It is presently a popular destination for sports fishing particularly King and Sockeye Salmon. [1]

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 215 people, 84 households, and 60 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3.5 people per square mile (1.4/km²). There were 90 housing units at an average density of 1.5/sq mi (0.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 75.35% White, 12.09% Native American, 1.86% from other races, and 10.70% from two or more races. 1.40% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 84 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples living together, 3.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 31.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 133.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 131.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $33,750, and the median income for a family was $44,375. Males had a median income of $41,250 versus $46,875 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,143. About 9.4% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under the age of eighteen and 10.5% of those sixty five or over.

Public services

Groceries, limited hardware, local clothing, limited sporting goods, and ice are available at the trading post. Salmon fishing and river rafting are popular recreational activities.

All residences have individual wells and septic systems and complete plumbing. The school uses its own well water system . Funds have been requested to construct a new water well and storage tank for a HUD housing complex. Refuse collection services are available from Copper Basin Sanitation, which hauls waste to the Glennallen landfill. Electricity is provided by Copper Valley Electric Assoc. There is one school located in the community, attended by 17 students (as of 2008 Gakona school was shut down due to lack of students). Local hospitals or health clinics include Gakona Health Clinic and the Cross Road Medical Center in Glennallen (about 30 miles away). Gakona is classified as an isolated village; it is found in EMS Region 2E in the Copper River Region. Emergency Services have highway and air access, and are within 30 minutes of a higher-level satellite health care facility. Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service and volunteers, while auxiliary health care is provided by Copper River EMS, Gulkana Clinic, and the Cross Road Medical Center in Glennallen.

Economy and transportation

Gakona depends upon local businesses and seasonal tourist travel. There is a Historic Lodge (National Register of Historic Places) called Gakona Lodge and Trading Post that has rooms, a restaurant, cabins and tavern. Gakona sawmill and dog sled maker. Summers provide income for local fishing and hunting guides, rafting operations and outfitters. Three residents currently hold commercial fishing permits. River Wrangellers was the first of these companies to obtain a commercial fishing permit and was a pioneer in the Gakona Rafting Industry. It provided the necessary publicity for the burgeoning rafting industry and brought many tourists to the area. River Wrangellers was founded by Kevin and Suzanne McCarthy and named after the Wrangell–St. Elias National Park (the largest National Park in North America). Suzanne McCarthy is the local geologist guru of the Copper River Basin and currently runs Prince William Sound Community College. Suzanne's geological expertise allowed River Wrangellers to provide not only a world class rafting experience but also a unique insight into the local geology, ecosystems and history. River Wrangellers was sold in 2006 but still operates in the Gakona region. Gakona is located adjacent the Copper, Gakona and Gulkana Rivers allowing access to world class King Salmon, Sockeye Salmon and Rainbow Trout fishing. Some residents rely on subsistence activities and trapping. Recording equipment for the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) is located near Gakona.

The Glenn Highway/Tok Cut-Off and Richardson Highway provide access to the Anchorage, Fairbanks and the Lower 48. A 5,000' paved runway is available at nearby Gulkana.