King Salmon, Alaska
{{short description|Census-designated place in Alaska}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = King Salmon, Alaska
| settlement_type = CDP
| nickname =
| motto =
| image_skyline = Belugas in Naknek River, King Salmon copy (10981702634).jpg
| imagesize =
| image_caption = Naknek River in King Salmon
| image_flag =
| image_seal =
| image_map = AKMap-doton-KingSalmon.PNG
| mapsize = 250px
| map_caption = Location of King Salmon, Alaska
| image_map1 =
| mapsize1 =
| map_caption1 =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Alaska
| subdivision_type2 = Borough
| subdivision_name2 = Bristol Bay
| government_footnotes =
| government_type =
| leader_title = Borough mayor
| leader_name = Karl Anderson{{Cite book|title=2015 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory|location=Juneau|publisher=Alaska Municipal League|year=2015|page=4}}
| leader_title1 = State senator
| leader_name1 = Lyman Hoffman (D)
| leader_title2 = State rep.
| leader_name2 = Bryce Edgmon (I)
| established_title =
| established_date =
| area_magnitude =
| area_total_km2 = 439.41
| area_land_km2 = 435.65
| area_water_km2 = 3.76
| area_total_sq_mi = 169.66
| area_land_sq_mi = 168.20
| area_water_sq_mi = 1.45
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_footnotes =
| population_total = 307
| population_density_km2 = 0.70
| population_density_sq_mi = 1.83
| timezone = Alaska (AKST)
| utc_offset = −9
| timezone_DST = AKDT
| utc_offset_DST = −8
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| elevation_ft =
| coordinates = {{coord|58|41|24|N|156|39|38|W|region:US-AK|display=inline}}
| postal_code_type = ZIP code
| postal_code = 99613
| area_code = 907
| blank_name = FIPS code
| blank_info = 02-39630
| blank1_name =
| blank1_info =
| website =
| footnotes =
| pop_est_as_of =
| pop_est_footnotes =
| population_est =
| unit_pref = Imperial
}}
King Salmon is a census-designated place (CDP) in Bristol Bay Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is {{convert|284|mi|km}} southwest of Anchorage. As of the 2020 census the population was 307, down from 374 in 2010.{{cite web | url = https://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/cen/2020-census-data.html | title = 2020 Census Data - Cities and Census Designated Places | format = Web | publisher = State of Alaska, Department of Labor and Workforce Development | access-date = December 5, 2021}} It is home to Katmai National Park and Preserve.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/katm/index.htm|title=Katmai National Park & Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)}}
King Salmon is the borough seat of neighboring Lake and Peninsula Borough, but does not serve that purpose in its own borough, whose borough seat is in Naknek.
Geography
File:Alaska Peninsula Highway outside King Salmon, AK.png
King Salmon is on the north bank of the Naknek River on the Alaska Peninsula, about {{convert|16|mi|km|abbr=on}} upriver from Naknek, near Naknek Lake. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has an area of {{convert|171.0|sqmi|km2}}, of which, {{convert|169.6|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|1.4|sqmi|km2}} (0.82%) is water.
=Climate=
File:Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020) - King Salmon Area, AK(ThreadEx).svg
King Salmon has a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc) even though it is at 58° North. Temperatures, especially extreme ones, are much less moderate than in the subpolar oceanic climate of the Pacific Ocean side of the Alaska Peninsula; however, average temperatures in winter are still milder than some locations in the coterminous United States, such as Fargo, North Dakota. The town lies just below the southern limit of sporadic permafrost in Alaska, and is strongly sheltered from the extremely wet Aleutian Low which drops most of its moisture on the opposite (eastern) side of the mountains. It is a lot colder than fellow west-coast climates of Europe on the same latitude due to the influence of the Siberian High on Bering Sea surface temperatures. In summer, King Salmon catches up to similar latitudes in the British Isles, where the difference is much stronger in winter. The area remains quite a bit colder year round than around the Baltic Sea in a similar west-facing location.
The warmest temperature recorded is {{convert|89|F|C}} in July 2019 and the coldest is {{convert|-48|F|C}} in January 1989. Winter days are sometimes very cold due to winds from the interior during cold waves. The coldest daily maximum measured was {{convert|-34|F|C}}, also in January 1989. During the 1991–2020 normals, the coldest daily maximum averaged {{convert|-12|F|C}}. Warm summer nights are a rarity, although {{convert|65|F|C}} was recorded in August 1919. The warmest low in a regular year averages a modest {{convert|55|F|C}}.
{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = King Salmon, Alaska (King Salmon Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1917–present
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 53
|Feb record high F = 57
|Mar record high F = 59
|Apr record high F = 69
|May record high F = 85
|Jun record high F = 88
|Jul record high F = 89
|Aug record high F = 84
|Sep record high F = 76
|Oct record high F = 67
|Nov record high F = 56
|Dec record high F = 54
|year record high F =
|Jan avg record high F = 44.2
|Feb avg record high F = 44.8
|Mar avg record high F = 46.7
|Apr avg record high F = 57.4
|May avg record high F = 70.3
|Jun avg record high F = 75.5
|Jul avg record high F = 77.9
|Aug avg record high F = 74.6
|Sep avg record high F = 65.9
|Oct avg record high F = 56.6
|Nov avg record high F = 47.6
|Dec avg record high F = 44.4
|year avg record high F = 79.6
|Jan high F = 23.5
|Feb high F = 29.5
|Mar high F = 31.8
|Apr high F = 44.5
|May high F = 55.2
|Jun high F = 62.1
|Jul high F = 64.6
|Aug high F = 63.3
|Sep high F = 56.3
|Oct high F = 43.8
|Nov high F = 31.9
|Dec high F = 25.7
|year high F = 44.3
|Jan mean F = 16.6
|Feb mean F = 22.1
|Mar mean F = 23.5
|Apr mean F = 36.0
|May mean F = 45.6
|Jun mean F = 52.8
|Jul mean F = 56.7
|Aug mean F = 55.7
|Sep mean F = 48.7
|Oct mean F = 36.4
|Nov mean F = 25.0
|Dec mean F = 18.6
|year mean F = 36.5
|Jan low F = 9.8
|Feb low F = 14.7
|Mar low F = 15.2
|Apr low F = 27.6
|May low F = 36.1
|Jun low F = 43.5
|Jul low F = 48.9
|Aug low F = 48.0
|Sep low F = 41.0
|Oct low F = 29.0
|Nov low F = 18.2
|Dec low F = 11.4
|year low F = 28.6
|Jan avg record low F = -22.5
|Feb avg record low F = -17.6
|Mar avg record low F = -10.8
|Apr avg record low F = 8.4
|May avg record low F = 24.9
|Jun avg record low F = 32.3
|Jul avg record low F = 38.7
|Aug avg record low F = 34.5
|Sep avg record low F = 24.6
|Oct avg record low F = 8.9
|Nov avg record low F = -7.6
|Dec avg record low F = -18.8
|year avg record low F = -29.5
|Jan record low F = -48
|Feb record low F = -43
|Mar record low F = -42
|Apr record low F = -19
|May record low F = 4
|Jun record low F = 27
|Jul record low F = 31
|Aug record low F = 25
|Sep record low F = 15
|Oct record low F = -12
|Nov record low F = -28
|Dec record low F = -38
|year record low F =
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.93
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.91
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.76
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.04
|May precipitation inch = 1.44
|Jun precipitation inch = 1.83
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.46
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.26
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.40
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.31
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.72
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.38
|year precipitation inch = 21.44
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 10.0
|Feb precipitation days = 10.1
|Mar precipitation days = 9.2
|Apr precipitation days = 10.8
|May precipitation days = 12.3
|Jun precipitation days = 14.4
|Jul precipitation days = 16.2
|Aug precipitation days = 17.1
|Sep precipitation days = 18.0
|Oct precipitation days = 14.7
|Nov precipitation days = 13.2
|Dec precipitation days = 12.9
|year precipitation days = 158.9
|Jan snow inch = 8.6
|Feb snow inch = 7.2
|Mar snow inch = 7.2
|Apr snow inch = 4.4
|May snow inch = 0.6
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 2.5
|Nov snow inch = 6.7
|Dec snow inch = 10.2
|year snow inch = 47.4
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 8.2
|Feb snow days = 8.3
|Mar snow days = 8.1
|Apr snow days = 4.8
|May snow days = 0.7
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.1
|Oct snow days = 2.7
|Nov snow days = 7.4
|Dec snow days = 9.9
|year snow days = 50.2
|humidity colour = green
|Jan humidity = 75.9
|Feb humidity = 72.8
|Mar humidity = 72.8
|Apr humidity = 71.8
|May humidity = 70.2
|Jun humidity = 73.5
|Jul humidity = 77.5
|Aug humidity = 79.7
|Sep humidity = 78.8
|Oct humidity = 79.3
|Nov humidity = 81.0
|Dec humidity = 76.7
|year humidity = 75.8
|Jan dew point C = -12.7
|Feb dew point C = -13.4
|Mar dew point C = -9.4
|Apr dew point C = -5.2
|May dew point C = 0.2
|Jun dew point C = 4.9
|Jul dew point C = 8.2
|Aug dew point C = 8.3
|Sep dew point C = 4.7
|Oct dew point C = -3.0
|Nov dew point C = -7.9
|Dec dew point C = -12.1
|source 1 = NOAA (relative humidity and dew point 1961–1990){{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=afg
|title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|accessdate = June 17, 2021
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00025503&format=pdf
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|accessdate = June 17, 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230903224148/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00025503&format=pdf
|archive-date = September 3, 2023
|url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP1/70326.TXT
|title = WMO Climate Normals for KING SALMON, AK 1961–1990
|access-date = September 3, 2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230903154600/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP1/70326.TXT
|archive-date = September 3, 2023}}}}
Demographics
{{US Census population
|1960= 227
|1970= 202
|1980= 545
|1990= 696
|2000= 442
|2010= 374
|2020= 307
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 6, 2013}}
}}
King Salmon first appeared on the 1960 U.S. Census as an unincorporated village. It was made a census-designated place (CDP) as of the 1980 census.
As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 442 people, 196 households, and 105 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|2.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 343 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2.0|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 66.29% White, 1.13% Black or African American, 28.96% Native American, 0.23% Asian (i.e. 1 person), 0.23% from other races, and 3.17% from two or more races. 0.45% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 196 households, out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 4.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.4% were non-families. 41.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 1.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 26.2% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 35.7% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 2.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 122.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 131.2 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $54,375, and the median income for a family was $64,375. Males had a median income of $45,000 versus $35,500 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $26,755. About 8.8% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Parks
History
In the 1930s, the U.S. government built an air navigation silo at the site of present-day King Salmon. At the beginning of World War II, the U.S. Army Air Forces built an air base around the silo. It was maintained by the Civil Aeronautics Administration throughout the war.
In the 1940s and 1950s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed a {{convert|25|km|mi|abbr=on}} long road from King Salmon to Naknek. Other government agencies, such as the National Park Service, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and the United States Weather Bureau, built facilities at King Salmon. The King Salmon Inn opened in 1956.
King Salmon is now a government, transportation, and service and shipment center for the commercial red salmon and sport fishing industries.
The Air Force base closed in 1994, and is kept in caretaker status (mothballed) by Anchorage-based Chugach Federal Solutions, Inc. King Salmon Airport is now a public access airport.
King Salmon is one of the sites of Super Dual Auroral Radar Network.
In 2010, a local National Weather Service employee and his wife were involved in a domestic terrorism plot that had proceeded to the operational phase. A hit list of 20 people that included media and military personnel was found.[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jul-23-la-na-adv-alaska-terrorists-20100723-1-story.html "Terrorism case baffles remote Alaska town. The FBI says the weatherman in tiny King Salmon, aided by his wife, had an assassination list and was an adherent of Islamic extremism". Los Angeles Times July 23, 2010][https://web.archive.org/web/20100820102939/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iUWS4S_tNEuhTRTdKZCFEnYU2QdQD9HKUSD80 Feds: Alaska couple had 20 names on hit list AP August 16, 2010]
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline}}
{{Coord|58.686039|-156.655083|display=title}}
{{Bristol Bay Borough, Alaska}}
{{Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska}}
{{Alaska}}
{{Alaska borough seats}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Borough seats in Alaska
Category:Census-designated places in Alaska
Category:Census-designated places in Bristol Bay Borough, Alaska