Buckland, Alaska Explained

Official Name:Buckland
Native Name:Nunachiam
Native Name Lang:ik
Settlement Type:City
Mapsize:260px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Alaska
Subdivision Type2:Borough
Subdivision Name2:Northwest Arctic
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Patricia Ann Thomas[1]
Leader Title1:State senator
Leader Name1:Donny Olson (D)
Leader Title2:State rep.
Leader Name2:Tom Baker (R)
Established Title:Incorporated
Established Date:June 6, 1966[2]
Area Footnotes:[3]
Area Total Km2:2.59
Area Land Km2:2.21
Area Water Km2:0.39
Area Total Sq Mi:1.00
Area Land Sq Mi:0.85
Area Water Sq Mi:0.15
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:550
Timezone:Alaska (AKST)
Utc Offset:-9
Timezone Dst:AKDT
Utc Offset Dst:-8
Elevation M:4
Elevation Ft:13
Coordinates:65.9847°N -161.1297°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:99727
Area Code:907
Area Code Type:Area code
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:02-09600
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Population Density Sq Mi:645.54
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population Density Km2:249.34

Buckland (Inupiaq: Nunatchiaq) is a city in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 416, up from 406 in 2000. It takes its English name from the Buckland River, which in turn takes its name from Oxford University professor William Buckland.

Geography

Buckland is located at 65.9847°N -161.1297°W (65.984795, -161.129717).[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.4sqmi, of which, 1.2sqmi of it is land and 0.2sqmi of it (13.48%) is water.

Demographics

Buckland first appeared on the 1920 U.S. Census as an unincorporated village.[5] Around 1950, residents relocated temporarily to Elephant Point (AKA Buckland Post Office) on Eschscholtz Bay, and Buckland did not report a population for the 1950 census (108 was reported for Elephant Point).[6] [7] Residents soon returned to Buckland, and it has reported in every successive census since 1960[8] and formally incorporated in 1966.

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 406 people, 84 households, and 75 families residing in the city. The population density was 332.3sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 89 housing units at an average density of 72.8 per square mile (28.2/km). The racial makeup of the city was 3.20% White, 95.81% Native American, and 0.99% from two or more races. 1.23% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 84 households, out of which 66.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% were married couples living together, 20.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 10.7% were non-families. 8.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 1.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.83 and the average family size was 5.19.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 51.2% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 10.1% from 45 to 64, and 3.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 18 years. For every 100 females, there were 116.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,333, and the median income for a family was $40,000. Males had a median income of $31,563 versus $27,500 for females. The per capita income for the city was $9,624. About 7.9% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Buckland School, operated by the Northwest Arctic Borough School District, serves the community. it had 168 students, with Alaska Natives making up 96% of the student body. The current school building opened in 2002.[10]

References

  1. Book: 2023 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory. January 2023. Alaska Municipal League. Juneau. 52. November 12, 2023.
  2. Book: 1996 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory. Juneau. Alaska Municipal League/Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs. January 1996. 35.
  3. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. October 29, 2021.
  4. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. April 23, 2011. February 12, 2011.
  5. Web site: Population of Outlying Possessions by Civil Divisions: 1920 and earlier years . United States Census Bureau . 1920 . 680 & 681.
  6. Web site: Geological Survey Professional Paper. 1949.
  7. Web site: Number of Inhabitants - Alaska . United States Census Bureau . 1950.
  8. Web site: Number of Inhabitants - Alaska . United States Census Bureau . 1960.
  9. Web site: U.S. Census website . . January 31, 2008 .
  10. http://www.nwarctic.org/Domain/9 Home