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'Chefornak' is a city in Bethel Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 394.

Contents

Geography

Demographics

Village life

The People

Village Buildings

Transportation

External links

Geography

Chefornak is located at (60.159070, -164.269437).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.8 km² (6.5 mi²). 14.8 km² (5.7 mi²) of it is land and 2.0 km² (0.8 mi²) of it (11.71%) is water.
An extinct volcano, Tern Mountain, is visible in the distance. Large, blocky, igneous rocks are a common site in the village and the surrounding tundra.

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there were 394 people, 75 households, and 63 families residing in the city. The population density was 26.5/km² (68.8/mi²). There were 82 housing units at an average density of 5.5/km² (14.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 2.03% White, 93.40% Native American, and 4.57% from two or more races.
There were 75 households out of which 60.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.0% were non-families. 14.7% of all households were made up of individuals and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 5.25 and the average family size was 5.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 45.2% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 16.5% from 45 to 64, and 4.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 21 years. For every 100 females there were 106.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,556, and the median income for a family was $36,042. Males had a median income of $15,000 versus $20,833 for females. The per capita income for the city was $8,474. About 21.3% of families and 25.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.0% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Village life

Chefornak is a quiet and peaceful village. The transportation in and around the village during the summer is mostly 4-wheel, biking, boating and walking. It is also one of the great place to go fishing during the summer, three of the top fishing activities are Halibut, Salmon, and Herring. They pick berries during the berry picking season which usually starts in August - berries like Salmon berries, Black berries (crowberries), and Blue berries. It has mountains or hills around the village. Eskimo dancing is one of the villages favorite activities and they have Eskimo dance gathering usually in the month of April which some villages around it come together for Eskimo dance.

The People

In the village you will find primarily people of the language group known as Yup'ik. The school in the village is considered a "Yupik first language" school, and students complete their education until third grade in their native language. At this point their education is transitioned into English, however a strong Yup'ik program continues throughout the rest of their education. Aside from the teachers, there are a handful of Kass'aqs (white people), most of whom are teachers.

Village Buildings

Beside houses, there are only a handful of buildings in the village:

★ The Corp Store

★ Avugiak's Store

★ The Post Office

★ The Town Hall/Bingo Hall

★ The School

★ The Old School (formerly B.I.A. school)

★ St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church

★ The Power Plant

Transportation

Transportation into the village of Chefornak occurs primarily by small aircraft, although in the winter the village can be reached by snow machine as well. Goods and mail are brought into the village by plane, and during the summer months are brought up the Kinia River by barge. Chefornak's airport is in the process of being moved further from the village due to concerns with its proximity to the school. The new airstrip has been constructed, but the gravel must settle for several years before being the airstrip is useable.

External links

Chaputnguak School
Information about the village, intended for prospective teachers
Alaska Community Database