McGrath (Tochak’[4] in Upper Kuskokwim, Digenegh[5] in Deg Xinag) is a city[6][7] and village on the Kuskokwim River in Alaska, United States. The population was 301 at the 2020 census.[8] Despite its small population, the village is an important transportation and economic hub for the area.
McGrath
Tochak’, Digenegh | |
|---|---|
 McGrath Post Office, September 1914 | |
  McGrath Location in Alaska | |
| Coordinates: 62°57′07″N 155°34′38″W / 62.95194°N 155.57722°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Census Area | Yukon-Koyukuk |
| Incorporated | June 3, 1975[1] |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Mike Tierney[2] |
| • State senator | Click Bishop (R) |
| • State rep. | Mike Cronk (R) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 47.94 sq mi (124.17 km2) |
| • Land | 42.33 sq mi (109.64 km2) |
| • Water | 5.61 sq mi (14.53 km2) |
| Elevation | 331 ft (101 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 301 |
| • Density | 7.11/sq mi (2.75/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−9 (Alaska (AKST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−8 (AKDT) |
| ZIP code | 99627 |
| Area code | 907 |
| FIPS code | 02-46010 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1406131, 2419425 |
History
edit
The Old Town McGrath site, across the river from present-day McGrath, was a meeting and trading place for Big River, Nikolai, Telida, and Lake Minchumina villagers.[9]
In 1904, Abraham Appel established a trading post in Old Town. In 1906, gold was discovered in the Innoko District, and in 1907, and at Ganes Creek. Since McGrath was the northernmost point on the Kuskokwim River accessible by large riverboats, it became a regional supply center. A town was established at the site of Old McGrath in 1907, and was named for Peter McGrath, a local United States Marshal.[9] The Iditarod Trail also contributed to McGrath's role as a supply center. From 1911 to 1920, hundreds of people walked and mushed over the trail on their way to the Ophir gold districts. Mining sharply declined after 1925.
After a major flood in 1933, some residents moved across the river. Changes in the course of the river eventually left the old site on a slough, making it useless as a river stop. In 1940, an airstrip was cleared, the United States Federal Aviation Administration built a communications complex, and a school was opened. McGrath became an important refueling stop for Lend-Lease equipment during World War II.[9]
Geography
editMcGrath is located in Interior Alaska, 221 miles northwest of Anchorage and 269 miles southwest of Fairbanks. It is situated along the convergence of the Takotna River and the south bank of the Kuskokwim River.[9]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 54.6 square miles (141 km2), of which, 48.9 square miles (127 km2) of it is land and 5.7 square miles (15 km2) of it (10.48%) is water.
Climate
editMcGrath has a continental subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc).
| Climate data for McGrath Airport, Alaska (1991–2020 normals,[a] extremes 1939–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 54 (12) |
55 (13) |
55 (13) |
68 (20) |
86 (30) |
94 (34) |
90 (32) |
89 (32) |
76 (24) |
67 (19) |
50 (10) |
49 (9) |
94 (34) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 33.2 (0.7) |
40.2 (4.6) |
43.4 (6.3) |
58.3 (14.6) |
75.4 (24.1) |
81.8 (27.7) |
82.6 (28.1) |
77.4 (25.2) |
66.0 (18.9) |
52.7 (11.5) |
35.3 (1.8) |
32.9 (0.5) |
85.3 (29.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 2.6 (−16.3) |
14.7 (−9.6) |
24.5 (−4.2) |
42.9 (6.1) |
58.9 (14.9) |
68.8 (20.4) |
69.5 (20.8) |
64.0 (17.8) |
53.9 (12.2) |
34.5 (1.4) |
14.9 (−9.5) |
5.5 (−14.7) |
37.9 (3.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | −5.8 (−21.0) |
4.5 (−15.3) |
11.9 (−11.2) |
32.2 (0.1) |
48.4 (9.1) |
58.7 (14.8) |
60.8 (16.0) |
55.9 (13.3) |
46.0 (7.8) |
28.4 (−2.0) |
8.0 (−13.3) |
−2.3 (−19.1) |
28.9 (−1.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | −14.1 (−25.6) |
−5.6 (−20.9) |
−0.7 (−18.2) |
21.5 (−5.8) |
38.0 (3.3) |
48.6 (9.2) |
52.1 (11.2) |
47.8 (8.8) |
38.0 (3.3) |
22.4 (−5.3) |
1.1 (−17.2) |
−10.0 (−23.3) |
19.9 (−6.7) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −46.6 (−43.7) |
−38.7 (−39.3) |
−27.7 (−33.2) |
−4.7 (−20.4) |
23.7 (−4.6) |
36.8 (2.7) |
42.8 (6.0) |
34.1 (1.2) |
22.2 (−5.4) |
0.1 (−17.7) |
−26.4 (−32.4) |
−39.0 (−39.4) |
−49.0 (−45.0) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −75 (−59) |
−64 (−53) |
−51 (−46) |
−40 (−40) |
−2 (−19) |
27 (−3) |
31 (−1) |
25 (−4) |
2 (−17) |
−28 (−33) |
−53 (−47) |
−67 (−55) |
−75 (−59) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.15 (29) |
0.87 (22) |
0.68 (17) |
0.74 (19) |
0.91 (23) |
1.66 (42) |
2.50 (64) |
2.91 (74) |
2.53 (64) |
1.46 (37) |
1.43 (36) |
1.21 (31) |
18.05 (458) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 14.7 (37) |
12.7 (32) |
9.2 (23) |
4.4 (11) |
0.6 (1.5) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.4 (3.6) |
7.4 (19) |
18.2 (46) |
17.9 (45) |
86.5 (218.1) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 inch) | 10.4 | 9.2 | 7.8 | 6.7 | 9.3 | 13.1 | 15.1 | 16.3 | 14.0 | 11.9 | 11.3 | 12.0 | 137.1 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 inch) | 11.3 | 10.2 | 8.4 | 4.8 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 7.5 | 12.4 | 13.9 | 70.4 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 72.2 | 68.7 | 64.3 | 62.1 | 59.5 | 63.2 | 69.7 | 75.2 | 74.0 | 77.9 | 76.7 | 74.0 | 69.8 |
| Average dew point °F (°C) | −13.7 (−25.4) |
−9.6 (−23.1) |
0.9 (−17.3) |
15.3 (−9.3) |
30.0 (−1.1) |
41.7 (5.4) |
47.7 (8.7) |
45.5 (7.5) |
35.2 (1.8) |
18.7 (−7.4) |
−0.6 (−18.1) |
−11.6 (−24.2) |
16.6 (−8.5) |
| Source: NOAA[10][11][12] | |||||||||||||
- Notes
- ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 90 | — | |
| 1930 | 112 | 24.4% | |
| 1940 | 138 | 23.2% | |
| 1950 | 175 | 26.8% | |
| 1960 | 241 | 37.7% | |
| 1970 | 279 | 15.8% | |
| 1980 | 355 | 27.2% | |
| 1990 | 528 | 48.7% | |
| 2000 | 401 | −24.1% | |
| 2010 | 346 | −13.7% | |
| 2020 | 301 | −13.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[13] | |||
McGrath first appeared on the 1920 U.S. Census as an unincorporated village. It formally incorporated in 1975.
As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 401 people, 145 households, and 99 families residing in the city. The population density was 8.2 inhabitants per square mile (3.2/km2). There were 213 housing units at an average density of 4.4 per square mile (1.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 42.64% White, 43.89% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.75% from other races, and 11.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.00% of the population.
Of the 145 household 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.34.
In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 35.9% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 5.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $43,056, and the median income for a family was $44,167. Males had a median income of $41,875 versus $41,389 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,553. About 8.7% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 17.4% of those age 65 or over.
Education
editThe Iditarod Area School District operates the McGrath School.[15]
Media
editKSKO is a non-commercial NPR affiliate at 89.5 FM. KSKO simulcasts to the villages of Grayling (KGYA), Shageluk (KNKO), Holy Cross (KLOP), Nikolai (KNIB), Sleetmute (KSKP), Crooked Creek (KSKC), and Anvik (KMGS). KSKO celebrated its 40th anniversary on July 1, 2021.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ 1996 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory. Juneau: Alaska Municipal League/Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs. January 1996. p. 95.
- ^ "McGrath, Alaska - City Council".
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
- ^ UAF: Alaska Native Place Names
- ^ ankn.uaf.edu: Deg Xinag Ałixi Ni’elyoy / Deg Xinag Learners' Dictionary (2007)
- ^ "McGrath city, Alaska". Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
- ^ "Alaska Taxable 2011: Municipal Taxation - Rates and Policies" (PDF). Division of Community and Regional Affairs, Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. January 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 25, 2013.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
- ^ a b c d "McGrath". Tanana Chiefs Conference. January 24, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
- ^ "NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: McGrath AP, AK". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
- ^ "WMO Climate Normals for MC GRATH/ARPT AK 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "McGrath School." Iditarod Area School District. Retrieved on March 28, 2017.