Evansville, Alaska Explained

Official Name:Evansville, Alaska
Settlement Type:CDP
Mapsize:250x200px
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 Km2:60.01
Area Land Km2:59.51
Area Water Km2:0.50
Area Total Sq Mi:23.17
Area Land Sq Mi:22.98
Area Water Sq Mi:0.20
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:12
Timezone:Alaska (AKST)
Utc Offset:-9
Timezone Dst:AKDT
Utc Offset Dst:-8
Coordinates:66.9031°N -151.4992°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:99726
Area Code:907
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:02-23790
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population Density Sq Mi:0.52
Population Density Km2:0.20

Evansville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. The population was 15 at the 2010 census, down from 28 in 2000. The community is adjacent to Bettles. The community is named after Wilford Evans, Sr,[2] who took part in the founding of Bettles Lodge.[3]

Geography

Evansville is located on the southeast bank of the Koyukuk River at 66.9031°N -151.4992°W (66.902950, -151.499190).[4] The community is on the former Hickel Highway,[5] that now connects to the Dalton Highway as a winter ice road only and crosses the Jim River.[6] Evansville is 35miles north of the Arctic Circle, just south of the Brooks Range, home of the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 22.4sqmi, of which, 22.2sqmi of it is land and 0.2sqmi of it (0.85%) is water.

Climate

As with much of Interior Alaska, Evansville experiences a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc) with very long, frigid winters and short, warm summers, and is located in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 1,[7] indicating the coldest temperature of the year is typically at or below NaN°F. Temperatures usually remain consistently below freezing from late October to late March, and the majority of the year's snow occurs from October to April, with lighter amounts in May and September; the average annual snowfall stands at 91inches. In summer, temperatures reach 70°F on 37 days and 80°F on 6.4, with an average of 1 night not falling below 60°F. The first frost of the season usually begins in late August, but sometimes it can happen during the first half of that month. A majority of the annual precipitation of 14.9inches occurs during summer as well. Extreme temperatures have ranged from NaN°F, recorded on January 4, 1975, up to 93°F, set on July 6, 1986.

Notes:

Demographics

Evansville first appeared on the 1970 U.S. Census as an unincorporated village. In 1980, it was made a census-designated place (CDP).

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 28 people, 12 households, and 6 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1.3sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 30 housing units at an average density of 1.4sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the CDP was 46.43% White, 50.00% Native American, and 3.57% from two or more races.

There were 12 households, out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.7% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.0% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 3.33.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 28.6% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 14.3% from 45 to 64, and 25.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 115.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $53,750, and the median income for a family was $54,583. Males had a median income of $30,833 versus $0 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $15,746. There were no families and 4.3% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.

Transportation

Bettles Airport's commercial and freight airline service is provided by Wright Air Service, with daily service to and from Fairbanks and other communities.[9] The Vor Lake Waterlane seaplane base is located in the community.[10]

Education

The community was previously served by the Bettles Field School of the Yukon–Koyukuk School District.[11] The school, however was closed in the 2002-03 school year due to insufficient enrollment.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. October 29, 2021.
  2. Web site: Evansville. Tanana Chiefs Conference. November 2, 2022.
  3. Web site: NATIONAL REGISTER DIGITAL ASSETS (Bettles Lodge). National Register of Historic Places. November 2, 2022.
  4. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. April 23, 2011. February 12, 2011.
  5. Web site: Ni Yachen . Ni's Jia: Hickel's Highway . Niyachen.blogspot.com . May 23, 2007 . November 2, 2022.
  6. Web site: Revised ITB 2517N015; Ground Transportation of E-1 Aggregate to the Bettles Airport; Federally Funded. State of Alaska. November 2, 2022.
  7. Web site: facebook-circle . Arborday.org . November 2, 2022 .
  8. Web site: U.S. Census website . . January 31, 2008 .
  9. Web site: Destinations. Wright Air Service. November 2, 2022.
  10. Web site: SEAPLANE BASE - VOR LAKE WATERLANE (2A4) . www.lakemartin.com . November 2, 2022.
  11. https://web.archive.org/web/20020330225958/http://szbettles.bettles.yksd.schoolzone.net/ Home
  12. Web site: Evansville. Tanana Chiefs Conference. November 2, 2022.