The kayak is a traditional way
of travel.
(Check the Newspaper tab under News and Updates for an article about Port Heiden's role during World War II/Cold War)
A short community profile from the Lake and Peninsula Borough website:
Port Heiden is 424 miles southwest of Anchorage, at the mouth of the Meshik River on the north side of the Alaska Peninsula. It lies near the Aniakchak National Preserve and Monument. A State-owned airport consists of a lighted gravel 5,000' long by 100' wide runway and a 4,000' long by 100' wide lighted gravel crosswind runway.
The old village of Meshik was located at the current site of Port Heiden. Influenza epidemics during the early 1900s forced residents to relocate to other villages. During World War II, Fort Morrow was built nearby, and 5,000 personnel were stationed at the base. The Fort was closed after the war. A school was established in the early 1950s, which attracted people from surrounding villages. Today, Port Heiden is a traditional Alutiiq community, with a commercial fishing and subsistence lifestyle.
The Alaska Peninsula Wildlife Refuge is accessible from Port Heiden by small aircraft, boat or rugged cross-country hiking. Popular activities in this area include sport fishing and hunting, flightseeing, wildlife viewing, hiking, backpacking, boating and camping. Bird watchers can easily add to their life list since more than 200 species of birds have been observed in this area, of which 15-20 species of game birds, shorebirds, songbirds, and raptors are year-round residents.
Several bed and breakfasts are open here year-round to accommodate visitors.
A short community profile from the Lake and Peninsula Borough website:
Port Heiden is 424 miles southwest of Anchorage, at the mouth of the Meshik River on the north side of the Alaska Peninsula. It lies near the Aniakchak National Preserve and Monument. A State-owned airport consists of a lighted gravel 5,000' long by 100' wide runway and a 4,000' long by 100' wide lighted gravel crosswind runway.
The old village of Meshik was located at the current site of Port Heiden. Influenza epidemics during the early 1900s forced residents to relocate to other villages. During World War II, Fort Morrow was built nearby, and 5,000 personnel were stationed at the base. The Fort was closed after the war. A school was established in the early 1950s, which attracted people from surrounding villages. Today, Port Heiden is a traditional Alutiiq community, with a commercial fishing and subsistence lifestyle.
The Alaska Peninsula Wildlife Refuge is accessible from Port Heiden by small aircraft, boat or rugged cross-country hiking. Popular activities in this area include sport fishing and hunting, flightseeing, wildlife viewing, hiking, backpacking, boating and camping. Bird watchers can easily add to their life list since more than 200 species of birds have been observed in this area, of which 15-20 species of game birds, shorebirds, songbirds, and raptors are year-round residents.
Several bed and breakfasts are open here year-round to accommodate visitors.
A man about to harvest a whale.
Census and statistical information - sourced from Wikipedia:
"Port Heiden is a city in Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city is 102.
Geography [edit]Port Heiden is located at 56°56′56″N 158°39′21″W (56.948949, -158.655745)[2].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 51.4 square miles (133 km2), of which, 50.7 square miles (131 km2) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) of it (1.28%) is water.
Demographics [edit]As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 119 people, 41 households, and 23 families residing in the city. The population density was 2.3 people per square mile (0.9/km²). There were 56 housing units at an average density of 1.1 per square mile (0.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 19.33% White, 65.55% Native American, 2.52% from other races, and 12.61% from two or more races. 2.52% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 41 households out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 2.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.5% were non-families. 39.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.79.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 39.5% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 5.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 105.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 125.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,875, and the median income for a family was $70,000. Males had a median income of $53,750 versus $21,667 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,532. There were no families and 5.6% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 25.0% of those over 64.
References [edit]
"Port Heiden is a city in Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city is 102.
Geography [edit]Port Heiden is located at 56°56′56″N 158°39′21″W (56.948949, -158.655745)[2].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 51.4 square miles (133 km2), of which, 50.7 square miles (131 km2) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) of it (1.28%) is water.
Demographics [edit]As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 119 people, 41 households, and 23 families residing in the city. The population density was 2.3 people per square mile (0.9/km²). There were 56 housing units at an average density of 1.1 per square mile (0.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 19.33% White, 65.55% Native American, 2.52% from other races, and 12.61% from two or more races. 2.52% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 41 households out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 2.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.5% were non-families. 39.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.79.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 39.5% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 5.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 105.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 125.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,875, and the median income for a family was $70,000. Males had a median income of $53,750 versus $21,667 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,532. There were no families and 5.6% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 25.0% of those over 64.
References [edit]
- ^ "2013 ACoM Members". Online Resource Center, Alaska Conference of Mayors. Juneau: Alaska Municipal League. 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31."
Online Publications from National Parks Service about our History:
Ringsmuth, K. J. 2007. Beyond the Moon Crater Myth: A New History of the Aniakchak Landscape. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Interior, Government Printing Office.
http://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/ania/hrs/intro.htm
Morseth, M. 2001. Puyulek pu’irtuq!: the people of the people of the volcanoes. Anchorage: National Park Service. http://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/ania/people.pdf
http://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/ania/hrs/intro.htm
Morseth, M. 2001. Puyulek pu’irtuq!: the people of the people of the volcanoes. Anchorage: National Park Service. http://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/ania/people.pdf