Adak, Alaska History,
Culture and Demographics
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The Aleutian Islands were historically occupied by the
Unangas. The once heavily-populated island was eventually
abandoned in the early 1800s as the Aleutian Island hunters
followed the Russian fur trade eastward, and famine set
in on the Andreanof Island group. However, they continued
to actively hunt and fish around the island over the years,
until World War II broke out. Adak Army installations allowed
U.S. forces to mount a successful offensive against the
Japanese-held islands of Kiska and Attu. After the War,
Adak was developed as a Naval Air Station, playing an important
role during the Cold War as a submarine surveillance center.
Large earthquakes rocked the Island in 1957, 1964 and 1977.
At its peak, the station housed 6,000 naval personnel and
their families. In 1994, severe cut-backs occurred, and
family housing and schools were closed. The station officially
closed on March 31, 1997, and currently houses civilians.
The Aleut Corporation acquired Adak's facilities under
a land transfer agreement, pending with the Department
of the Interior and the U.S. Navy/Department of Defense.
Properties are currently under lease. About 30 families
with children relocated to Adak in September 1998, most
of them Aleut Corp. shareholders, and a school was reopened.
Aleut Corp. is currently developing Adak as a commercial
center. The community formed a Second Class City government
in April 2001.
37.3% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native. Since World War
II, the U.S. Navy developed outstanding facilities and recreation opportunities
at Adak. A movie theater, roller skating rink, swimming pools, ski lodge,
bowling alleys, skeet range, auto hobby shop, photo lab, racquetball and
tennis courts were developed. A new $18-million hospital was built in 1990.
As of March 2003, all of these facilities are closed except. The Aleut
Corporation will be the facility's new owner, and the City operates existing
facilities.
During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 884 total housing units, and
725 were vacant. 7 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally.
200 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 7.55%,
although 16.32% of all adults were not in the work force. The median
household income was $52,727, per capita income was $31,747, and 4.66%
of residents were living below the poverty level.
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Adak, Alaska History,
Culture and Demographics |
The Aleutian Islands were historically occupied by the
Unangas. The once heavily-populated island was eventually
abandoned in the early 1800s as the Aleutian Island hunters
followed the Russian fur trade eastward, and famine set
in on the Andreanof Island group. However, they continued
to actively hunt and fish around the island over the years,
until World War II broke out. Adak Army installations allowed
U.S. forces to mount a successful offensive against the
Japanese-held islands of Kiska and Attu. After the War,
Adak was developed as a Naval Air Station, playing an important
role during the Cold War as a submarine surveillance center.
Large earthquakes rocked the Island in 1957, 1964 and 1977.
At its peak, the station housed 6,000 naval personnel and
their families. In 1994, severe cut-backs occurred, and
family housing and schools were closed. The station officially
closed on March 31, 1997, and currently houses civilians.
The Aleut Corporation acquired Adak's facilities under a
land transfer agreement, pending with the Department of
the Interior and the U.S. Navy/Department of Defense. Properties
are currently under lease. About 30 families with children
relocated to Adak in September 1998, most of them Aleut
Corp. shareholders, and a school was reopened. Aleut Corp.
is currently developing Adak as a commercial center. The
community formed a Second Class City government in April
2001.
37.3% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native.
Since World War II, the U.S. Navy developed outstanding
facilities and recreation opportunities at Adak. A movie
theater, roller skating rink, swimming pools, ski lodge,
bowling alleys, skeet range, auto hobby shop, photo lab,
racquetball and tennis courts were developed. A new $18-million
hospital was built in 1990. As of March 2003, all of these
facilities are closed except. The Aleut Corporation will
be the facility's new owner, and the City operates existing
facilities.
During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 884 total housing
units, and 725 were vacant. 7 of these vacant housing
units are used only seasonally. 200 residents were employed.
The unemployment rate at that time was 7.55%, although
16.32% of all adults were not in the work force. The median
household income was $52,727, per capita income was $31,747,
and 4.66% of residents were living below the poverty level.
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Adak, Alaska Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
Water is derived from Lake Bonnie Rose, Lake De Marie
and Nurses Creek, stored in any 7 water tanks throughout
the community, and piped to facilities and housing units.
The wastewater treatment system discharges through a marine
outfall line to Kuluk Bay. There are two permitted landfills
- Roberts Landfill is a Class 2 with balefill, and the Husky
Road Landfill is a Class 3. As of March 2003 it is closed.
Electricity is provided by City of Adak.
There is one school located in the community, attended
by 18 students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Adak Medical
Clinic (592-8383). Adak Medical Center is a qualified
Emergency Care Center. The clinic is staffed by a physician's
assistant and provides emergency care, family practice
and referral services. Lab, pharmacy, and public health
services are available. Auxiliary health care is provided
by Adak Volunteer Fire Dept./EMS (592-4145). |
Adak, Alaska Economy
and Transportation |
A land exchange between Aleut Corp., the U.S. Navy, and
the Department of the Interior will transfe most of the
naval facilities to the Aleut Corp. A portion of the Island
remains within the National Maritime National Wildlife Refuge,
managed by U.S. Fish & Wildlife. Adak currently provides
a fueling port and crew transfer facility for foreign fishing
fleets -- an airport, docks, housing facilities, restaurant,
grocery and ship supply store are available. Contractors
are performing an environmental clean-up. Norquest-Adak
Seafood Co. processes Pacific cod, pollock, mackerel, halibut,
albacore and brown king crab. Four residents hold commercial
fishing permits, primarily for groundfish.
Mitchell Field has two 7,800' paved runways at 19' elevation,
and a control tower. Alaska Airlines operates passenger
and cargo jet service on Tuesdays and Sundays. There are
three deep water docks and fueling facilities. The City
has requested funds to greatly expand the Sweeper Cove small
boat harbor, including new breakwaters, a 315-ft. dock and
new moorage floats. There are approximately 16 miles of
paved roads, and other gravel and dirt roads. |
Adak, Alaska Organizations
with Local Offices |
City - City of Adak, P.O. Box 2011, Adak, AK 99546, Phone
907-592-4500, Fax 907-592-4262, E-mail: adakcity@corecom.net,
adakfinance@yahoo.com, chuckluckpac@yahoo.com
School District - Aleutian Region Schools, 5402 W. Dimond
Blvd., Apt. #3, Anchorage, AK 99515, Phone 907-245-2648,
Fax 907-245-2647, E-mail: aleutianregion@acsalaska.net |
Adak, Alaska Regional
Organizations |
School District - Aleutian Region Schools, 5402 W. Dimond
Blvd., Apt. #3, Anchorage, AK 99515, Phone 907-245-2648,
Fax 907-245-2647, E-mail: aleutianregion@acsalaska.net
Regional Native Corporation - Aleut Corporation, 4000 Old
Seward Hwy. #300, Anchorage, AK 99503, Phone 907-561-4300,
Fax 907-563-4328, E-mail: aleut@alaska.net,
Web: http://www.aleutcorp.com/
Regional Native Health Corporation - Aleutian/Pribilof Islands
Assoc., 201 E. Third Ave., Anchorage, AK 99501, Phone 907-276-2700,
Fax 907-279-4351
Regional Development - Southwest Alaska Muni. Conf., 3300
Arctic Blvd. #203, Anchorage, AK 99503, Phone 907-562-7380,
Fax 907-562-0438, E-mail: wayers@swamc.org,
Web: http://www.southwestalaska.com |
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Adak, Alaska Station
History |
| Located in Aleutians, about halfway between tip of Alaska
Peninsula and westernmost Alaska. Airport is 4-6 miles SE
of Mt Moffett, a Pleistocene volcanic cone, in an area where
the E-W width of the island is of the order of 5 miles..
Current coordinates 51 degrees 53' N, 176 degrees 39' W,
elevation 17 feet, AAG p 141. Station begun by US Navy at
15' elevation 10/1/42, run through present. No information
on instrument heights prior to 1950, when temperature ht
was 5 feet. Station moved 0.2 miles N and 2 feet up 6/13/59;
instruments raised to 11 feet at that time. Move 0.1 mile
SW 8/18/1960 and temperature returned to 5 feet. Hygro added
at that time. Max-min thermometers removed 1/11/71; hygro
presumably source of data from some time in sixties. |
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