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Source: Alaska
Department of Community and Economic Development
Bethel, AK
| Current Population: |
5,888 (2004 State Demographer estimate) |
| Incorporation Type: |
2nd Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
Unorganized |
| Taxes: |
Sales: 5%, Property: None, Special: 5%
Alcohol Tax; 3% Hotel/B&B Tax; 6% Gaming Tax; Fuel Tax; Vehicle
Registration Tax |
| Location
and Climate |
| Bethel is
located at the mouth of the Kuskokwim River, 40 miles inland from the
Bering Sea. It lies in the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, 400 air
miles west of Anchorage. The community lies at approximately 60.792220°
North Latitude and -161.75583° (West) Longitude. (Sec. 09, T008N,
R071W, Seward Meridian.) Bethel is located in the Bethel Recording
District. The area encompasses 43.8 sq. miles of land and 5.1 sq. miles
of water. Precipitation averages 16 inches a year in this area and
snowfall averages 50 inches per year. Summer temperatures range from 42
to 62 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter temperatures range from -2 to 19
degrees Fahrenheit. |
| History, Culture and
Demographics |
| Bethel was first established by
Yup'ik Eskimos who called the village "Mumtrekhlogamute," meaning
"Smokehouse People," named for the nearby fish smokehouse. There were 41
people in Bethel during the 1880 U.S. Census. At that time, it was an
Alaska Commercial Company Trading Post. The Moravian Church established
a mission in the area in 1884. The community was moved to its present
location due to erosion at the prior site. A post office was opened in
1905. Before long, Bethel was serving as a trading, transportation and
distribution center for the region, which attracted Natives from
surrounding villages. The City was incorporated in 1957. Over time,
federal and state agencies established regional offices in Bethel.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the
Orutsararmuit Native Council. The population of the community consists
of 68% Alaska Native or part Native. The
region is fortunate in that rapid development did not occur before the
importance of protecting the Native culture was realized. The
traditional Yup'ik Eskimo practices and language remain predominant in
the area. Subsistence activities and commercial fishing are major
contributors to residents' livelihoods. The sale of alcohol is banned in
the community, although importation or possession is allowed.
During the 2000 U.S. Census, total housing
units numbered 1,990, and vacant housing units numbered 249. Vacant
housing units used only seasonally numbered 61. U.S. Census data for
Year 2000 showed 2,459 residents as employed. The unemployment rate at
that time was 8.95 percent, although 33.49 percent of all adults were
not in the work force. The median household income was $57,321, per
capita income was $20,267, and 11.18 percent of residents were living
below the poverty level. |
|
Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Some residents are connected to the
central piped water and sewer system. Approximately 75% of households
have water delivered and sewage hauled by truck. Several facilities in
Bethel have individual wells and septic tanks. For health reasons the
City ruled that residents can no longer use honeybuckets. Extensions of
the piped systems to the City Subdivision and Old Town are under
construction. Water Treatment Plant improvements have been completed in
Bethel Heights. Additional funding has been requested to connect 105
homes to the piped system. Electricity is provided by Bethel Utilities
Corporation. There are 6 schools located in the community, attended by
1,328 students. Local hospitals or health clinics include Yukon-Kuskokwim
Delta Regional Hospital (907-543-6511); Bethel Family Health Clinic
(907-543-3773). The hospital is a qualified Acute Care facility, and
the clinic is a qualified Emergency Care Center and a Primary Health
Care facility. Specialized Care: YKHC Phillips Alcohol Program
(City-operated health care, lodging, rehabilitation); YKHC Outpatient
Services (Calista-operated health care, information); Bethel Community
Services' Malon. Bethel is classified as a large town/Regional Center,
it is found in EMS Region 7A in the Yukon/Kuskokwim Region. Emergency
Services have limited highway, river, floatplane and airport access.
Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service, volunteers and a
health aide Auxiliary health care is provided by Bethel Fire Dept. &
Ambulance Service (543-2131); Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corp. Ambulance &
Aeromed Int'l. Medevac (677-7501/888-283-7220). |
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Economy and Transportation |
Bethel serves as the regional center for
56 villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Food, fuel, transportation,
medical care, and other services for the region are provided by Bethel.
50% of the jobs in Bethel are in government positions. Commercial
fishing is an important source of income; 200 residents hold commercial
fishing permits, primarily for salmon and herring roe net fisheries.
Subsistence activities contribute substantially to villager's diets,
particularly salmon, freshwater fish, game birds and berries. Poor fish
returns since 1997 have significantly affected the community.
The State-owned Bethel Airport is the regional transportation center,
and is served by a number of passenger airlines, cargo carriers, and
numerous air taxi services. Bethel is the third busiest airport in
Alaska. It offers a 6,398' long by 150' wide asphalt runway and 1,850'
long by 75' wide gravel crosswind runway, and is currently undergoing a
$7 million renovation and expansion. Two float plane bases are nearby,
Hangar Lake and H Marker Lake. The Port of Bethel includes a small boat
harbor, dry land storage, and up to 5,000 feet of transient moorage on
the seawall. River travel is the primary means of local transportation
in the summer, and it becomes a 150-mile ice road to surrounding
villages in the winter. A barge service based in Bethel provides goods
to the Kuskokwim villages. There are 16 miles of graded dirt roads
maintained by the City and 22 miles of paved roads maintained by the
State DOT. Winter trails are marked to Napakiak (1.1 mi.) and Akiachak
(19 mi.) |
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