Kupreanof, Alaska Explained

Official Name:Kupreanof
Native Name:Aansadaak’w
Settlement Type:City
Pushpin Map:USA Alaska
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Alaska
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Alaska
Subdivision Type2:Borough
Subdivision Name2:Petersburg
Established Title:Incorporated
Established Date:1975[1]
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Tom Reinarts
Leader Title1:State senator
Leader Name1:Bert Stedman (R)
Leader Title2:State rep.
Leader Name2:Rebecca Himschoot (I)
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[2]
Area Total Km2:12.04
Area Total Sq Mi:4.65
Area Land Km2:7.82
Area Land Sq Mi:3.02
Area Water Km2:4.21
Area Water Sq Mi:1.63
Elevation M:3
Elevation Ft:10
Population Total:21
Population As Of:2020
Population Density Km2:2.68
Population Density Sq Mi:6.95
Timezone:Alaska (AKST)
Utc Offset:-9
Timezone Dst:AKDT
Utc Offset Dst:-8
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:99833[3]
Area Code Type:Area code
Area Code:907
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:,

Kupreanof (Lingít: Aansadaak’w[4]) is a city on the eastern shore of Kupreanof Island in the Petersburg Borough, in the U.S. state of Alaska. The population was 21 as of the 2020 census, down from 27 in 2010.[5] It is the smallest incorporated city in the state as of 2020.[6]

History

Among the incorporators of Kupreanof was former Petersburg Grade School Principal Harold Bergman. Kupreanof was once called West Petersburg and was a thriving community of fur farms and commercial fishermen in the early- to mid-20th century. Gradually most residents moved over to the larger, more metropolitan city of Petersburg.

Kupreanof remained a separate municipality when the Petersburg Borough incorporated, unlike the neighboring city of Petersburg. However, Kupreanof now lies inside the Petersburg Borough, whereas before, it was a home-rule city inside the unorganized Petersburg Census Area.

Robert "Bobby" Dolan was mayor of Kupreanof for over 40 years.

Geography

Kupreanof is located at 56.8225°N -132.9825°W (56.822384, -132.982506).[7] It is across the Wrangell Narrows from Petersburg on Mitkof Island.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.1sqmi, of which, 4sqmi of it is land and 2.1sqmi of it (34.32%) is water.

Demographics

Kupreanof first appeared on the 1930 U.S. Census as the unincorporated village of West Petersburg, appearing under that name until the 1970 census. It formally changed its name to Kupreanof and incorporated as a city in 1975.

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 23 people, 12 households, and 6 families residing in the city. The population density was 5.7sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 26 housing units at an average density of 6.5sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 91.30% White, 4.35% Asian, and 4.35% from two or more races.

There were 12 households, out of which 16.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, and 50.0% were non-families. 50.0% 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 1.92 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the city population was spread out, with 17.4% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 21.7% from 25 to 44, 47.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,833, and the median income for a family was $100,470. Males had a median income of $51,250 versus $0 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,650. None of the population and none of the families were below the poverty line.

Notes and References

  1. Book: 1996 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory. Juneau. Alaska Municipal League/Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs. January 1996. 89.
  2. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. October 29, 2021.
  3. Web site: Kupreanof AK ZIP Code. zipdatamaps.com. 2023. June 16, 2023.
  4. Web site: Comprehensive List of Tlingit Names for All the Present-Day Communities in Lingít Aaní. Peter. Stanton. Peterwstanton.medium.com. August 7, 2018. February 2, 2022.
  5. Web site: 2020 Census Data - Cities and Census Designated Places. Web. State of Alaska, Department of Labor and Workforce Development. October 31, 2021.
  6. Web site: Population of all Alaska cities. Alaska.com. June 18, 2006. September 7, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080907004311/http://www.alaska.com/places/cities/other_cities/story/4565654p-4775767c.html. dead.
  7. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. April 23, 2011. February 12, 2011.
  8. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. January 31, 2008.