What is Adak, Alaska?

Adak, Alaska
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Location of Adak, Alaska Location of Adak, Alaska
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Census Area	Aleutians West
Area
- CDP	127.3 sq mi (329.7 km)
- Land	122.4 sq mi (316.9 km)
- Water	4.9 sq mi (12.8 km)
Elevation	164 ft (50 m)
Population (2000)
- CDP	316
Time zone	Hawaii-Aleutian (HST) (UTC-10)
- Summer (DST)	HDT (UTC-9)
Area code(s)	907
FIPS code	02-00065
GNIS feature ID	1418109

Adak (IPA pronunciation: ['eɪdæk]), formerly Adak Station, is a city in Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 316. A State of Alaska demographer in 2004 estimated the population at 69. It is the westernmost town in the United States and the southernmost city in Alaska.^[1] (See Extreme points of the United States.) There are no radio stations in Adak and no stations even 200 Miles away. People must relay on satellite service for ANY radio station.

Location and climate

Adak is located at 51.872° North, 176.636° West (Sec. 10, T096S, R195W, Seward Meridian).^GR1 Adak is located in the Aleutian Islands Recording District, and the 3rd Judicial District.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 329.8 km² (127.3 mi²). 317 km² (122.4 mi²) of it is land and 12.8 km² (4.9 mi²) of it (3.87%) is water.

Adak is located on Kuluk Bay on Adak Island in the Andreanof Islands group of the Aleutian Islands. It lies 1,300 miles southwest of Anchorage and 350 miles west of Dutch Harbor, near the Russian end of the arc that makes up this volcanic island chain. Flight time to Anchorage is four hours or longer depending on weather. Adak is the southern-most community in Alaska and on the same latitude as Vancouver Island in Canada.

Adak lies in the maritime climate zone, characterized by persistently overcast skies, moderated temperatures, high winds, and frequent cyclonic storms. Winter squalls produce wind gusts in excess of 100 knots. During the summer, extensive fog forms over the Bering Sea and North Pacific. Average temperatures range from 20 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, but wind chill factors can be severe. Total precipitation is 64 inches annually, with an average accumulated snowfall of 100 inches, falling primarily on the upper reaches of the volcanoes.

History and culture

The Aleutian Islands were historically occupied by the Unanga more commonly known now as the Aleuts. 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 over 6,000 naval and Coast Guard personnel and their families. In 1994, the base was downsized, and both family housing and schools were closed. The station officially closed on March 31, 1997. The Aleut Corporation purchased Adak's facilities under a land transfer agreement with the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Navy/Department of Defense. This agreement was finalized in March, 2004. About 30 families with children relocated to Adak in September 1998, most of them Aleut Corp. shareholders, and the former high school was reopened at that time as a K-12 institution. The community incorporated as a second-class city in April 2001. Substantially all of the infrastructure and faciltities on Adak are owned by Aleut Corporation, who is currently developing Adak as a commercial center via their subsidiary companies. For example, properties in active use are leased by Adak Commercial Properties, LLC.

Since World War II, the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard developed outstanding facilities and recreation opportunities at Adak. At its peak, Adak had a college, movie theater, roller skating rink, swimming pool, ski lodge, bowling alleys, skeet range, auto hobby shop, photo lab, and racquetball and tennis courts. A new $18-million hospital was built in 1990, just seven years prior to the closure of the station. By March 2003, six years after the closure of the station, most of these facilities had closed. For a time, Adak became a virtual ghost town, with its buildings showing little sign of wear or disuse. In recent years, preventing trespassing in and vandalism of the unoccupied facilities has become an ongoing struggle for the Aleut Corp. The harsh Aleutian wind and weather has also played a part, all but destroying the majority of facilities remaining on Adak that are not in active use.

Former demographics (census 2000)

A State of Alaska demographer in 2004 estimated the population at 69.

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 316 people, 159 households, and 61 families residing in the city. The population density was 1.0/km² (2.6/mi²). There were 884 housing units at an average density of 2.8/km² (7.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 49.68% White, 1.27% Black or African American, 35.13% Native American, 9.81% Asian, 1.90% Pacific Islander, and 2.22% from two or more races. 5.06% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 159 households out of which 18.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.9% were married couples living together, 2.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 61.6% were non-families. 46.5% 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 1.99 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city the population was spread out with 18.7% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 44.3% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 1.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 184.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 188.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $52,727, and the median income for a family was $53,889. Males had a median income of $46,429 versus $35,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $31,747. About 3.3% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, none of whom were under the age of eighteen or over the age of sixty-five.

During the 2000 U.S. Census, total housing units numbered 884, and vacant housing units numbered 725. Vacant housing units used only seasonally numbered 7. 200 residents were shown as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 7.55 percent, although 16.32 percent 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 percent of residents were living below the poverty level.

Utilities, schools and health care

Water is derived from Lake Bonnie Rose, Lake De Marie, and Nurses Creek, stored in seven 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. The permitted landfill, Roberts Landfill, is a Class 2 with balefill. 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. Adak Medical Center is a qualified Emergency Care Center and Primary Health Care facility. 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. Adak is classified as an isolated town/sub-regional center, located in EMS Region 2H in the Aleutian/Pribilof Region. Emergency Services have coastal and airport access to Adak. Auxiliary health care is provided by Adak Volunteer Fire Department/EMS.

Facilities, economy and transportation

A land exchange between Aleut Corp., the U.S. Navy, and the Department of the Interior transferred most of the former naval facilities to the Aleut Corp in March of 2004. A portion of the island remains within the National Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The U.S Navy retains part of the north end of Adak Island (Parcel 4) and does annual sweeps of the Lake Andrew Seawall for unexploded ordnance. Their website lists the Institutional Controls in place for all of Adak as part of the land exchange or Interim Conveyance. The Navy provides the trail maps as part of the ordnance awareness information required to be shown to all Adak residents and visitors. Adak currently provides a fueling port and crew transfer facility for a combination of Seattle and Alaskan based fishing fleet — an airport, docks, housing facilities, restaurant, grocery, and ship supply store are available. Adak Fisheries, LLC., an employer of a large seasonal staff, processes Pacific cod, pollock, mackerel, halibut, snow and king crabs. Four residents hold commercial fishing permits, primarily for groundfish. However, commercial fishing vessels based out of Seattle and other parts of Alaska provide most of the work for the fish plant by regularly offloading their catch in Adak.

Because of its naval aviation past, Adak has an unusually large and sophisticated airport for the Aleutian Islands. The airport is currently operated by the State of Alaska Department of Transportation. Complete with an Instrument Landing System, Adak Airport has a control tower and two 200' wide asphalt paved runways at 19' elevation. One runway measures 7,790' long while the other runway measures 7,605'. Alaska Airlines operates twice weekly passenger and cargo jet service from Anchorage, usually with a stopover in King Salmon. At present, flights operate each Sunday and Thursday (weather permitting). Occasionally, extra seasonal flights are operated to meet the demand of the fishing season. Other facilities in Adak include 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-foot dock and new moorage floats (Attribution needed). There are approximately 16 miles of paved and primitive roads on Adak, all privately owned by the Aleut Corporation.

Tourism

Land use permits are required for all non-residents visiting Aleut Corporation land. Permits can be obtained from the Aleut Enterprise LLC office in Anchorage, or from the Harbormaster at the Port of Adak.

Aleutian Housing Authority (AHA) is the only provider of lodging on Adak, and offers both long-term and short-term accommodations in former Naval officer housing. Housing units are heated, furnished, and include local telephone and cable TV service. It is advisable to make reservations in advance.

The cabins once maintained within the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge have fallen into disrepair and are unsafe to occupy. The cabin at Three Arm Bay sits on an archaeological site that was transferred to the Aleut Corporation, and is no longer available for rental to the general public.

Camping is possible without a permit on Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge lands, but is generally not recommended due to the harsh climate. The wind on Adak is highly variable and often unpredictable. Gusts can exceed 100 knots or more (the record speed is unknown because the wind ripped the ananometer off of the tower). During the calmer summer months, sustained wind speeds average in the low double digits gusting to 50 knots or more.

Adak offers 16 miles of paved and gravel roads. These can be explored on foot, by bicycle, or by renting a truck. There is only one vehicle rental business on Adak; ask for Will at the airport when you arrive and he'll rent you a pickup truck.

Hunting and fishing are bountiful sports in Adak. Hunters particularly prize Adak caribou, the largest of which can exceed 700 pounds. There is no bag limit for cows, but in 2007, the Board of Game passed new regulations for bulls. If you want to get to the South end of the island where the majority of the caribou are there is currently only one licensed local boat charter service - Homeward Bound Charters. Anglers can find large to enormous halibut in the Kagalaska Straits. Hunters must possess an Alaska state hunting license and a harvest ticket for each animal taken. Non-residents of Alaska must also possess the appropriate big game tag. Anglers require a sport fishing license. All areas of the island with roads are owned by the Aleut Corporation, and a special permit is required for all non-residents accessing this private property. No ATVs are permitted within the wildlife refuge and the Aleut Corporation only allows ATVs on the roads and trails - not on the tundra. Under Alaska state law, wastage is illegal. Before taking any fish or game, please have a solid plan to either use the meat, ship it home, or give it away.

Audubon enthusiasts generally do not consider Adak as exciting as Attu. That being said, the high winds are a blessing for birders; many vagrants from Asia and elsewhere can be spotted. Indigenous (but often rare) shore birds abound, and eagles are ubiquitous. Visitors not insistent upon scoring "First North America" sightings will find plenty of variety to enjoy.

Developed trails are limited and most are not maintained. It is possible to hike on the tundra, but visitors are advised both to prepare for frequent weather changes and to never hike alone.

Nightlife and dining opportunities are not abundant on Adak. The Aleutian Sports Bar and Grill (aka ASBAG) is located in the former VFW hall. In addition to a fully licensed bar, ASBAG offers pub fare. Across town, libations are also available from the well-stocked liquor store. Bake and Tackle is located in the former high school cafeteria. They sell hot coffee, hot meals, pizzas and box lunches along with groceries and sundries. A larger grocery store operates out of the former Housing Community Center. In August, 2006 the bowling alley was being renovated in preparation for re-opening, although the current status of this project is unknown.

Education

Adak is served by the Aleutian Region Schools.

The Adak School serves grades K-12.

Sources and notes

• State of Alaska, Division of Community Advocacy, Community Information Summary
• Aleut Corporation's official Adak page
• Adak Maps
• Community Photos
• Fish and Wildlife Service information for Adak hunters
• US Navy site documenting Adak environmental hazards

External links

• Article and pictures of visit to Adak July 2006 by retired Navy veteran
• Narrative travelogue of Adak trip taken August, 2006
• Pictures of Adak taken August, 2006
• Marine Barracks Adak

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