Circle, Alaska
{{More citations needed|date=August 2013}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Circle
| native_name = Danzhit Khànląįį
| settlement_type = CDP
| nickname =
| motto =
| image_skyline = Alaska - Circle - NARA - 23937593 (cropped).jpg
| imagesize = 300px
| image_caption = View of Circle in 1941
| image_flag =
| image_seal =
| image_map = AKMap-doton-Circle.PNG
| map_caption = Location of Circle, Alaska
| mapsize = 250x200px
| image_map1 =
| mapsize1 =
| map_caption1 =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Alaska
| subdivision_type2 = Census Area
| subdivision_name2 = Yukon-Koyukuk
| government_footnotes =
| government_type =
| leader_title = State senator
| leader_name = Click Bishop (R)
| leader_title1 = State rep.
| leader_name1 = Mike Cronk (R)
| established_title =
| established_date =
| area_magnitude =
| area_total_km2 = 276.04
| area_land_km2 = 274.64
| area_water_km2 = 1.40
| area_total_sq_mi = 106.58
| area_land_sq_mi = 106.04
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.54
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_footnotes =
| population_total = 91
| timezone = Alaska (AKST)
| utc_offset = -9
| timezone_DST = AKDT
| utc_offset_DST = -8
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| elevation_ft =
| coordinates = {{coord|65|49|31|N|144|03|43|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type = ZIP code
| postal_code = 99733
| area_code = 907
| blank_name = FIPS code
| blank_info = 02-14880
| blank1_name =
| blank1_info =
| website =
| footnotes =
| pop_est_as_of =
| pop_est_footnotes =
| population_est =
| unit_pref = Imperial
| population_density_sq_mi = 0.86
| population_density_km2 = 0.33
}}
File:Mail team leaving Circle City for Ft. Gibson, Alaska, c.1900.jpg team prepares to leave for Fort Gibbon with the mail.]]
Circle (also called Circle City; Gwichʼin: {{Lang|gwi|Danzhit Khànląįį}}){{cite web|title=Alaska Native Place Names - Alaska Native Language Archive|url=http://www.uaf.edu/anla/collections/map/names/}}{{Pronunciation needed|date=July 2023}} is a census-designated place (CDP) in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2020 census the population was 91, down from 104 in 2010.
Circle is {{convert|160|mi|km|abbr=on}} northeast of Fairbanks at the end of the Steese Highway along the Yukon River. Circle was named by miners in the late 19th century who believed that the town was on the Arctic Circle, but the Arctic Circle is about {{convert|50|mi|km|abbr=on}} north of Circle. Circle used to be an active freight hub for many villages along the Yukon.
Every February, Circle City hosts a checkpoint for the long-distance Yukon Quest sled dog race.
There is only one general store, Hutchinson Commercial, which also sells alcohol and houses the only fuel pump in town. The price of fuel is generally 35-40% higher than prices in Fairbanks.
Many of the events in John McPhee's 1976 non-fiction book Coming into the Country occur in Circle.
In Truman Capote's non-fiction book In Cold Blood, Perry Edward Smith mentions spending time with his father in Circle City.
Geography
Circle is located at {{Coord|65|50|4|N|144|4|35|W|type:city}} (65.834464, -144.076392).{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of {{convert|108.2|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|107.7|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.5|sqmi|km2}} (0.50%) is water.
=Climate=
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Circle has a subarctic climate, abbreviated "Dfc" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Circle was {{convert|94|F|C|1}} on July 25, 1955, and June 26, 2004, while the coldest temperature recorded was {{convert|-60|F|C|1}} on December 15, 1946, January 23, 1951, January 19, 1952, December 24, 1961, December 28–20, 1961 and January 18, 1971.
{{Weather box
|location = Circle, Alaska (Circle Hot Springs), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1935–present
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high F = 49
|Feb record high F = 51
|Mar record high F = 53
|Apr record high F = 68
|May record high F = 90
|Jun record high F = 94
|Jul record high F = 94
|Aug record high F = 88
|Sep record high F = 78
|Oct record high F = 71
|Nov record high F = 51
|Dec record high F = 46
|Jan avg record high F = 24.9
|Feb avg record high F = 30.1
|Mar avg record high F = 35.9
|Apr avg record high F = 57.5
|May avg record high F = 75.3
|Jun avg record high F = 83.4
|Jul avg record high F = 83.9
|Aug avg record high F = 78.9
|Sep avg record high F = 67.2
|Oct avg record high F = 48.8
|Nov avg record high F = 26.6
|Dec avg record high F = 24.4
|year avg record high F = 85.9
|Jan high F = -8.6
|Feb high F = 0.5
|Mar high F = 14.7
|Apr high F = 39.5
|May high F = 58.9
|Jun high F = 71.1
|Jul high F = 72.4
|Aug high F = 64.8
|Sep high F = 52.2
|Oct high F = 27.4
|Nov high F = 3.9
|Dec high F = -4.5
|year high F =
|Jan mean F = -15.6
|Feb mean F = -9.2
|Mar mean F = 0.9
|Apr mean F = 25.3
|May mean F = 44.9
|Jun mean F = 56.4
|Jul mean F = 58.9
|Aug mean F = 51.8
|Sep mean F = 40.0
|Oct mean F = 18.8
|Nov mean F = -4.1
|Dec mean F = -12.1
|year mean F =
|Jan low F = -22.6
|Feb low F = -18.9
|Mar low F = -13.0
|Apr low F = 11.0
|May low F = 30.9
|Jun low F = 42.6
|Jul low F = 45.4
|Aug low F = 38.9
|Sep low F = 27.9
|Oct low F = 10.2
|Nov low F = -12.2
|Dec low F = -19.8
|year low F =
|Jan avg record low F = -49.0
|Feb avg record low F = -45.5
|Mar avg record low F = -35.1
|Apr avg record low F = -16.5
|May avg record low F = 16.7
|Jun avg record low F = 30.7
|Jul avg record low F = 32.7
|Aug avg record low F = 24.6
|Sep avg record low F = 13.1
|Oct avg record low F = -7.1
|Nov avg record low F = -31.3
|Dec avg record low F = -39.8
|year avg record low F = -50.6
|Jan record low F = -60
|Feb record low F = -58
|Mar record low F = -44
|Apr record low F = -33
|May record low F = -8
|Jun record low F = 19
|Jul record low F = 25
|Aug record low F = 19
|Sep record low F = -5
|Oct record low F = -41
|Nov record low F = -45
|Dec record low F = -60
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.44
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.32
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.17
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.25
|May precipitation inch = 0.71
|Jun precipitation inch = 2.64
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.61
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.80
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.35
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.84
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.44
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.48
|year precipitation inch =
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 7.0
|Feb precipitation days = 4.0
|Mar precipitation days = 3.6
|Apr precipitation days = 2.7
|May precipitation days = 5.7
|Jun precipitation days = 9.2
|Jul precipitation days = 13.0
|Aug precipitation days = 11.9
|Sep precipitation days = 10.3
|Oct precipitation days = 8.4
|Nov precipitation days = 6.2
|Dec precipitation days = 7.1
|Jan snow inch = 8.8
|Feb snow inch = 6.3
|Mar snow inch = 3.5
|Apr snow inch = 2.5
|May snow inch = 2.7
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 1.3
|Oct snow inch = 8.9
|Nov snow inch = 8.0
|Dec snow inch = 7.9
|year snow inch =
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 9.8
|Feb snow days = 6.7
|Mar snow days = 5.5
|Apr snow days = 3.1
|May snow days = 1.2
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 1.2
|Oct snow days = 7.6
|Nov snow days = 9.6
|Dec snow days = 8.7
|Jan snow depth inch = 19.5
|Feb snow depth inch = 20.3
|Mar snow depth inch = 21.3
|Apr snow depth inch = 21.6
|May snow depth inch = 8.4
|Jun snow depth inch = 0.0
|Jul snow depth inch = 0.0
|Aug snow depth inch = 0.0
|Sep snow depth inch = 2.4
|Oct snow depth inch = 8.2
|Nov snow depth inch = 11.5
|Dec snow depth inch = 14.7
|year snow depth inch = 21.6
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00501987&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Circle Hot Springs, AK
|access-date = December 29, 2022
}}
|source 2 = National Weather Service
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=afg
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Fairbanks
|access-date = December 29, 2022
}}
}}
Demographics
{{US Census population
|1900= 242
|1910= 144
|1920= 96
|1930= 50
|1940= 98
|1950= 83
|1960= 41
|1970= 54
|1980= 81
|1990= 73
|2000= 100
|2010= 104
|2020= 91
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=December 30, 2016}}
}}
Circle first appeared on the 1900 U.S. Census as "Circle City," although it was an unincorporated village. Its name was shortened to Circle for the 1910 census. It was made a census-designated place in 1980.
At the 2000 census,{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }} there were 100 people, 34 households and 22 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|0.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 42 housing units at an average density of {{convert|0.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 14.00% White, 76.00% Native American, 1.00% from other races, and 9.00% from two or more races. 4.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 34 households, of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 11.8% were married couples living together, 32.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.48.
29.0% of the population was under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 30.0% from 45 to 64, and 4.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.2 males.
The median household income was $11,667, and the median family income was $11,250. Males had a median income of $0 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $6,426. There were 50.0% of families and 42.0% of the population living below the poverty line, including 57.9% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.
History
Circle was established in 1893 when gold was discovered in Birch Creek;Haycox, Stephen, Alaska: An American Colony (University of Washington Press, 2002), pp. 201-02. it served as an unloading point for supplies shipped up the Yukon River from the Bering Sea. The goods were sent overland to gold mining camps. In 1896, before the Klondike Gold Rush, Circle was the largest mining town on the Yukon River and had a population of 700. It had a store, a few dance halls, an opera house, a library, a school, a hospital, an American Episcopal church, a newspaper, a mill, and several federal officials: United States commissioner, marshal, customs inspector, tax collector and a postmaster.{{Cite web |date=2020-01-22 |title=Circle |url=https://www.tananachiefs.org/about/communities/circle/ |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=Tanana Chiefs Conference |language=en-US}}
Circle lost much of its population after gold discoveries in the Klondike in 1897, and Nome in 1899. A few miners stayed near Circle. Mining in the area has continued into the 21st century. Most of the residents of Circle today are Athabascan.
{{Clear}}
Education
Yukon Flats School District operates the Circle School."[http://www.yukonflats.net/Yukon-Flats-School-Locations.html Mailing Addresses and Contact Information ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220050341/http://www.yukonflats.net/Yukon-Flats-School-Locations.html |date=2016-12-20 }}." Yukon Flats School District. Retrieved on December 4, 2016.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{commons category|Circle, Alaska}}
{{Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Census-designated places in Alaska
Category:Census-designated places in Unorganized Borough, Alaska
Category:Census-designated places in Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska