Coldfoot, Alaska Explained

Official Name:Coldfoot, Alaska
Settlement Type:CDP
Pushpin Map:Alaska
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within the state of Alaska
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Alaska
Subdivision Type2:Census Area
Subdivision Name2:Yukon-Koyukuk
Leader Title:State senator
Leader Name:Click Bishop (R)
Leader Title1:State rep.
Leader Name1:Mike Cronk (R)
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:92.83
Area Land Km2:92.83
Area Water Km2:0.00
Area Total Sq Mi:35.84
Area Land Sq Mi:35.84
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:34
Timezone:Alaska (AKST)
Utc Offset:-9
Timezone Dst:AKDT
Utc Offset Dst:-8
Elevation M:309
Elevation Ft:1014
Coordinates:67.2514°N -150.1761°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:99726[2]
Area Code:907
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:02-16630
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:1412829
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population Density Sq Mi:0.95
Population Density Km2:0.37

Coldfoot is a census-designated place (CDP) in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. The population was 34 at the 2020 census. It is said that the name was derived from travelers getting "cold feet" about making the 240-some-mile journey north to Deadhorse.

Coldfoot primarily serves as a truck stop on the Dalton Highway from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay. North of Coldfoot, there are no services for 240 miles (400 km), until Deadhorse. It has a restaurant and a small number of overnight accommodations (converted pipeline construction camp quarters). Bus tours along the highway typically take two days, with passengers spending the night in Coldfoot. The BLM, USFWS, and NPS jointly staff a small visitor center during the summer. The Coldfoot truck stop was founded by Iditarod champion Dick Mackey, who started his operation by selling hamburgers out of a converted school bus. Truckers helped build the existing truck stop and cafe. The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) has a camp (maintenance station) in Coldfoot.[3]

The town was originally a mining camp named Slate Creek, and around 1900 got its present name when prospectors going up the nearby Middle Fork Koyukuk River would get "cold feet" and turn around. In 1902, Coldfoot had two roadhouses, two stores, seven saloons, and a gambling house. A post office operated from 1902 to 1912, then reopened in 1984.

Coldfoot Airport, on the west side of the Dalton Highway, consists of a 4000foot gravel strip, used for air taxi and general aviation.

Coldfoot has been featured on Ice Road Truckers, a Canadian reality television series airing on the History Channel. The truck stop was first seen during the show's third season.[4]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Coldfoot has a total area of 37sqmi, which is all land.

Climate

Coldfoot belongs to the typical subarctic climate type (Köppen Dfc), characterized by long and extremely cold winters and warm and short summers. Year-round temperature extremes range from to . A low temperature of has been measured at this place before but not officially recognized, otherwise making Coldfoot the coldest place in the United States, not Prospect Creek.[5]

Demographics

Coldfoot first appeared in the 2000 U.S. Census as a census-designated place.

2020

Coldfoot, Alaska – racial and ethnic composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
!Race / Ethnicity!Pop 2000[6] !Pop 2010[7] ![8] !% 2000!% 2010!
White alone (NH)139style='background: #ffffe6; 21100.00%90.00%style='background: #ffffe6; 61.76%
Black or African American alone (NH)00style='background: #ffffe6; 00.00%0.00%style='background: #ffffe6; 0.00%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)01style='background: #ffffe6; 30.00%10.00%style='background: #ffffe6; 8.82%
Asian alone (NH)00style='background: #ffffe6; 00.00%0.00%style='background: #ffffe6; 0.00%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)00style='background: #ffffe6; 00.00%0.00%style='background: #ffffe6; 0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH)00style='background: #ffffe6; 20.00%0.00%style='background: #ffffe6; 5.88%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)00style='background: #ffffe6; 40.00%0.00%style='background: #ffffe6; 11.76%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)00style='background: #ffffe6; 40.00%0.00%style='background: #ffffe6; 11.76%
Total1310style='background: #ffffe6; 34100.00%100.00%style='background: #ffffe6; 100.00%

At the 2000 census, there were thirteen people, six households, and one family residing in the CDP. The population density was 0.4sp=usNaNsp=us. There were twelve housing units at an average density of 0.3sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the CDP was 100% White.[9] There were six households: two had children under the age of eighteen living with them, two were married couples living together, and four were non-families. Three households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.17, and the average family size was 4.

The age distribution was three under the age of 18, one from 18 to 24, five from 25 to 44, and four from 45 to 64. The median age was 40 years. There were four females and nine males, including three females and seven males aged eighteen and over.

The median household income was $61,250, and the per capita income was $42,620. None of the population was living below the poverty line.

Education

The community was previously served by a school of the Yukon–Koyukuk School District.[10]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files . October 29, 2021 . United States Census Bureau.
  2. Web site: 2023 . Coldfoot AK ZIP Code . June 16, 2023 . zipdatamaps.com.
  3. Web site: Northern Region, Statewide M & O, Transportation & Public Facilities, State of Alaska . March 21, 2023 . dot.alaska.gov . Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities.
  4. Web site: Ice Road Truckers Season Three – History.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100209153548/http://www.history.com/content/iceroadtruckers-season-three/ . February 9, 2010 . July 12, 2010.
  5. Web site: May 28, 2023 . This Small Town in Alaska Is One of the Best Places to See the Northern Lights . https://archive.today/20230528023948/https://www.travelandleisure.com/coldfoot-alaska-northern-lights-national-park-6827428 . May 28, 2023 . travelandleisure.com.
  6. Web site: P004 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Coldfoot CDP, Alaska . United States Census Bureau.
  7. Web site: P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Coldfoot CDP, Alaska . United States Census Bureau.
  8. Web site: P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Coldfoot CDP, Alaska . United States Census Bureau.
  9. Web site: U.S. Census website . January 31, 2008 . United States Census Bureau.
  10. Web site: 2013 . Alaska School Map . March 13, 2017 . education.alaska.gov . Alaska Department of Education & Early Development.