Belkofski, Alaska

Belkofski (Taxtamax̂ in Aleut; Russian: Белкофски) is an unincorporated community and Alaska Native Village Statistical Area (ANVSA)[1] in the Aleutians East Borough in Alaska. It has been uninhabited since the 1980s, reporting a population of zero in 1990, 2000 and 2010.

Belkofski
Taxtamax̂
Alaska Native Village
Exterior of Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church
Exterior of Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church
Belkofski is located in Alaska
Belkofski
Belkofski
Location in Alaska
Coordinates: 55°05′20″N 162°01′50″W
CountryUnited States
StateAlaska
BoroughAleutians East
Elevation
102 ft (31 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total0
Time zoneUTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-8 (AKDT)
ZIP code
99571
Area code907 (local prefix: 532)
FIPS code02-05970
GNIS feature ID1418210

Location

Belkofski is on a point at the eastern end of the Alaska Peninsula, 12 miles southeast of King Cove.

History

Russians originally invaded Aleuts at Belkofski in 1823 to harvest sea otters in the area; at its height, it was the area's most important village. It was called "S(elo) Belkovskoe" from "belka," meaning "squirrel."[2] In the 1880s, three stores were constructed, which were stocked with goods from San Francisco. There was a Russian Orthodox Holy Resurrection church built at that time as well. When the sea otter population diminished, so did the population. The economy switched to trapping wild game, and many of Belkofski’s inhabitants would move to the neighboring communities of Sand Point, Alaska and King Cove. The final few inhabitants vacated Belkofski for King Cove in the 1980s, bringing everything with them and establishing a new Orthodox Church.

The village’s abandoned buildings reportedly burned down in 2013.[3]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880268—
1890185−31.0%
1900147−20.5%
1920129—
1930123−4.7%
194014013.8%
1950119−15.0%
196057−52.1%
1970593.5%
198010−83.1%
19900−100.0%
20000—
20100—
U.S. Decennial Census[4]

Belkofski first appeared on the 1880 U.S. Census as the unincorporated village of Belkovsky with 268 residents (making it the 25th largest community in the Alaska Territory).[5] It appeared as "Belkovsky" in 1890,[6] as Belkofski Village in 1900,[7] it did not report in 1910,[8] and as Belkofski from 1920[9]-1970,[10] with the exception of 1940[11] when it was erroneously reported as "Balkofski." Beginning in 1980,[12] it was classified as an "Alaska Native Village" and from 1990[13] through 2010[1] censuses as an Alaska Native Village Statistical Area (ANVSA), but on the last three censuses has reported a population of zero.

Climate

The area is in a maritime climate zone. Temperatures range from −13 to 78 °F (−25 to 26 °C). Average snowfall is 56 inches (1,400 mm), with an annual precipitation of 33 inches (840 mm) a year.

Elevation

Generally 85 feet (26 m) above sea level.

References
  1. U.S. Census Bureau (June 2012). "2010 Census of Population and Housing - Alaska" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 24, 2014.
  2. "Domestic Names".
  3. "Historic Alaskan village destroyed by fire".
  4. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  5. "Statistics of the Population of Alaska" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
  6. "Report on Population and Resources of Alaska at the Eleventh Census: 1890" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Government Printing Office.
  7. "Statistics of Population - Populations of States and Territories by Minor Civil Divisions: 1890 and 1900" (PDF). 1900. p. 426.
  8. "Supplement for Alaska - Population, Agriculture, Manufactures, Mines, and Quarries" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910.
  9. "Population of Outlying Possessions by Civil Divisions: 1920 and earlier years" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1920. pp. 680 & 681.
  10. Bureau of the Census (January 1973). "1970 Census of Population - Characteristics of the Population - Alaska" (PDF).
  11. "Alaska - Number of Inhabitants" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
  12. "Characteristics of the Populations - Number of Inhabitants - Alaska" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. May 1982.
  13. "1990 Census of Population and Housing - Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics - Alaska" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 23, 2014.

55°05′20″N 162°01′50″W

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