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Population:
88
Location: On the east bank of the
Gulkana (Kulkana) River at its confluence
with the Copper River, at Mile 127 of the
Richardson Highway, 14 miles north of
Glennallen.
Description:
Primarily an Alaska Native community (74
percent of the population), where
residents depend somewhat on subsistence
hunting, fishing, trapping and gathering.
There are no businesses in the village;
employment is limited to the village
council and seasonal construction.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and
Preserve provides some federal employment.
The sale, importation and possession of
alcohol are prohibited.
During the April
2000 U.S. Census, there were 43 total
housing units, 10 of them vacant, with
four of these vacant units usedseasonally. Water is derived from a well,treated and stored in a 100,000-gallon
tank. Due to iron and magnesium levels, a
new infiltration gallery on the Gulkana
River and water treatment improvements
are under construction. A piped water and
sewer system serves most homes.
History:
The Ahtna people have
occupied this area for 5,000 to 7,000
years. Gulkana was originally
established in 1903 as a telegraph
station and was named ''Kulkana'' after
the river. The Gulkana Roadhouse was
built in the early 1900s by C.L. Hoyt, a
fur dealer who ran the roadhouse until
1916. A store, post office and stage
station were located nearby.
Gulkana was
originally located across the river from
its present site; it was cut in half
during construction of the Richardson
Highway during World War II. In the early
1950s, the first house was built at the
new site. Chief Ewan and his family were
the first Native residents, and
eventually all of the villagers relocated.
Source:
Alaska
Department of Community and Economic
Development
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