Belkofski, Alaska
{{Short description| Unincorporated community in the state of Alaska, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Belkofski
|native_name = Taxtamax̂
|settlement_type = Alaska Native Village
|nickname =
|motto =
|image_skyline = Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church, Belkofski, Alaska.jpeg
|image_caption = Exterior of Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church
|imagesize = 250px
|pushpin_map = Alaska
|pushpin_map_caption = Location in Alaska
|image_map =
|mapsize =
|map_caption =
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = Alaska
|subdivision_type2 = Borough
|subdivision_name2 = Aleutians East
|population_as_of = 2010
|population_total = 0
|timezone = Alaska (AKST)
|utc_offset = -9
|timezone_DST = AKDT
|utc_offset_DST = -8
|elevation_footnotes =
|elevation_m = 31
|elevation_ft = 102
|coordinates = {{coord|55|05|20|N|162|01|50|W|region:US-AK|display=inline}}
|postal_code_type = ZIP code
|postal_code = 99571
|area_code_type = Area code
|area_code = 907 (local prefix: 532)
|blank_name = FIPS code
|blank_info = 02-05970
|blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
|blank1_info = {{GNIS4|1418210}}
}}
Belkofski ({{langx|ale|Taxtamax̂}}; {{langx|ru|Белкофский}}) is an unincorporated community and Alaska Native Village Statistical Area (ANVSA) in the Aleutians East Borough in Alaska. It has been uninhabited since the 1980s, reporting a population of 0 in 1990, 2000 and 2010.
Location
Belkofski is on a point at the eastern end of the Alaska Peninsula, 12 miles southeast of King Cove.
History
Russians originally invaded Aleuts at Belkofski in 1823 to harvest sea otters in the area; at its height, it was the area's most important village. It was called "S(elo) Belkovskoe" from "belka," meaning "squirrel."{{Cite web|url=https://geonames.usgs.gov/apex/f?p=138:3:0::NO:3:P3_FID,P3_TITLE:1418210,Belkofski|title = Domestic Names}} In the 1880s, three stores were constructed, which were stocked with goods from San Francisco. There was a Russian Orthodox Holy Resurrection church built at that time as well. When the sea otter population diminished, so did the population. The economy switched to trapping wild game, and many of Belkofski’s inhabitants would move to the neighboring communities of Sand Point, Alaska and King Cove. The final few inhabitants vacated Belkofski for King Cove in the 1980s, bringing everything with them and establishing a new Orthodox Church.
The village’s abandoned buildings reportedly burned down in 2013.{{Cite web |last=Belkofski |first=Ak |date=2013-05-01 |title=Historic Alaskan village destroyed by fire |url=https://www.oca.org/news/headline-news/historic-alaskan-village-destroyed-by-fire |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=OCA.org}}
Demographics
{{US Census population|align=left
|1880= 268
|1890= 185
|1900= 147
|1920= 129
|1930= 123
|1940= 140
|1950= 119
|1960= 57
|1970= 59
|1980= 10
|1990= 0
|2000= 0
|2010= 0
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 6, 2013}}
}}
Belkofski first appeared on the 1880 U.S. Census as the unincorporated village of Belkovsky with 268 residents (making it the 25th largest community in the Alaska Territory).{{cite web |title=Statistics of the Population of Alaska |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1880a_v1-17.pdf |website=United States Census Bureau |date=1880}} It appeared as "Belkovsky" in 1890,{{cite web |title=Report on Population and Resources of Alaska at the Eleventh Census: 1890 |url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1890a_v8-01.pdf |website=United States Census Bureau |publisher=Government Printing Office}} as Belkofski Village in 1900,{{cite web |title=Statistics of Population - Populations of States and Territories by Minor Civil Divisions: 1890 and 1900 |url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/33405927v1ch07.pdf |page=426 |date=1900}} it did not report in 1910,{{cite web |title=Supplement for Alaska - Population, Agriculture, Manufactures, Mines, and Quarries |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/41033927n358-359ch10.pdf |website=United States Census Bureau |date=1910}} and as Belkofski from 1920{{cite web |title=Population of Outlying Possessions by Civil Divisions: 1920 and earlier years |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/41084484v1ch5.pdf |website=United States Census Bureau |date=1920 |pages=680 & 681}}-1970,{{cite web |author1=Bureau of the Census |title=1970 Census of Population - Characteristics of the Population - Alaska |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ak-01.pdf |date=January 1973}} with the exception of 1940{{cite web |title=Alaska - Number of Inhabitants |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/33973538v1ch11.pdf |website=United States Census Bureau |date=1940}} when it was erroneously reported as "Balkofski." Beginning in 1980,{{cite web |title=Characteristics of the Populations - Number of Inhabitants - Alaska |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_akABCD-01.pdf |website=United States Census Bureau |date=May 1982}} it was classified as an "Alaska Native Village" and from 1990{{cite web |title=1990 Census of Population and Housing - Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics - Alaska |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph5/cph-5-3.pdf |website=United States Census Bureau |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223233331/https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph5/cph-5-3.pdf |archive-date=February 23, 2014 |url-status=dead}} through 2010{{cite web |author1=U.S. Census Bureau |title=2010 Census of Population and Housing - Alaska |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-1-3.pdf |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224134536/https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-1-3.pdf |archive-date=February 24, 2014 |date=June 2012 |url-status=dead}} censuses as an Alaska Native Village Statistical Area (ANVSA), but on the last three censuses has reported a population of zero.
Climate
The area is in a maritime climate zone. Temperatures range from {{convert|-13|to|78|F|C}}. Average snowfall is {{convert|56|in}}, with an annual precipitation of {{convert|33|in}} a year.
Elevation
Generally {{convert|85|ft}} above sea level.
References
External links
{{Portal|Alaska}}
- [http://www.alaska.hometownlocator.com/ak/alutians-east/belkofski.cfm www.alaska.hometownlocator.com]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100714002906/http://www.awrta.org/comminfo/communities.cfm?city=Belkofski www.awrta.org]
- [http://www.eubank-web.com/William/Alaska/ak-bel.htm Pictures from Belkofski, Alaska by Eubank, William R.]
{{Aleutians East Borough, Alaska}}
{{coord|55|05|20|N|162|01|50|W|type:city_region:US-AK_source:GNIS-enwiki|display=title}}
{{authority control}}
Category:1823 establishments in North America
Category:Populated coastal places in Alaska on the Pacific Ocean
Category:Populated places established in 1823
Category:Road-inaccessible communities of Alaska
Category:Unincorporated communities in Aleutians East Borough, Alaska