|
Seward | Moose
Pass | Girdwood
| Eagle River
| Eklutna |
| Knik | Skwentna
| Tolovana Roadhouse | Rainy
Pass | Takotna |
| Iditarod | Kaltag
| Galena | Unalakleet
| Golovin | Solomon
| Nome |
Eklutna History
Eklutna is located
at the head of the Knik Arm of Cook Inlet, at the mouth of the Eklutna
River, 25 miles northeast of Anchorage. The area encompasses 6 sq.
miles of land and 4 sq. miles of water.
Eklutna
Russian Orthodox church |
The Eklutna area
was the site of many Athabascan Indian villages as long as 800 years
ago. Today's residents are descendants of the Tanaina tribe. A railroad
station was built in 1918, and Russian Orthodox missionaries arrived
in the 1840s. Brightly colored "spirit houses" in the Russian
Slavic style now lend character to Eklutna. The Eklutna Power House
supplies hydroelectric power to Anchorage.
12.6% of the
population are Alaska Natives. A federally recognized tribe is located
in the community. It is an Athabascan village with a subsistence
lifestyle. The Russian Orthodox religion is prevalent.
During the April
1990 U.S. Census, there were 139 total housing units, and 16 of
these were vacant. 195 jobs were estimated to be in the community.
The official unemployment rate at that time was 3.5%. 29.1% of all
adults were not in the work force. The median household income was
$66,946, and 8% of residents were living below the poverty level.
The majority
of homes are fully plumbed, with a community well water system and
individual septic tanks. Chugach Electric Association purchases
power from the federally owned Eklutna Hydro Facility.
Eklutna residents
are employed in a variety of occupations in Anchorage, Eagle River,
and the Mat-Su valley. They are actively developing tourism opportunities.
The Alaska Railroad
has a siding here which is one of the few that is accessible by
road.
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