Chenega, Alaska

Chenega (/tʃɪˈniːɡə/; Alutiiq: Caniqaq) is a census-designated place (CDP) on Evans Island in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. Located in Prince William Sound, the CDP consists of the Chugach Alutiiq village of Chenega Bay, which was established only after the Good Friday earthquake destroyed the original community on Chenega Island to the north. As of the 2010 census, the population of the CDP was 76, largely Alaska Natives. As of 2021, the population of Chenega is 41. Chenega Bay is in the Chugach School District and has one school, Chenega Bay Community School, serving approximately 16 students from preschool through high school.

Chenega, Alaska Caniqaq
CDP
Aerial of Chenega Bay Village and boat harbor - Chenega Bay, Evans Island, 1989
Location of Chenega, Alaska
Coordinates: 60°3′59″N 148°0′40″W
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Census Area	Valdez-Cordova
Government
• State senator	Gary Stevens (R)
• State rep.	Louise Stutes (R)
Area
• Total	29.1 sq mi (75.5 km^2)
• Land	28.8 sq mi (74.6 km^2)
• Water	0.3 sq mi (0.9 km^2)
Population  (2010)
• Total	76
Time zone	UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-8 (AKDT)
Area code(s)	907
FIPS code	02-12970

History

The original village of Chenega, located on Chenega Island, was destroyed in 1964 by a tsunami from the Good Friday earthquake, which killed a third of the 68 people who then lived there. A post office operated here from 1946-1964.[1] Some residents moved into a refugee camp; others moved to other towns. In 1982, one family moved to Evans Island and between 1984-1991 about 26 other families migrated to the new location, now called Chenega Bay.

Former and current Chenega residents gathered each Good Friday to remember the dead of Chenega. On the 25th Good Friday after the earthquake, in 1989, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound, causing an oil spill that again devastated Chenega and other places around the area economically.

Geography

Chenega is located at 60°3′59″N 148°0′40″W (60.066327, -148.010991).[2]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 29.1 square miles (75 km²), of which, 28.8 square miles (75 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km²) of it (1.17%) is water.

(Old) Chenega (1880-1964)

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	80		—
1890	73		−8.7%
1900	140		91.8%
1930	90		—
1940	95		5.6%
1950	91		−4.2%
1960	61		−33.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[3]

The original Chenega, then located on the south end of Chenega Island at 60°16′47″N 148°04′36″W,[4] first appeared on the 1880 U.S. Census as an unincorporated Sugpiaq village (all 80 residents were Sugpiaq/Alutiiq).[5] It reported on the 1890 census as "Ingamatsha."[6] 71 of the residents were Native Alaskans and 2 were "Creole" (mixed Russian/Caucasian and Native Alaskan). It returned again in 1900 as Chenega.[7] It did not appear on the 1910 & 1920 censuses. It appeared as "Chanega" in 1930[8] & 1940[9] and lastly as Chenega in 1950[10] and 1960.[11] It was largely destroyed in the Good Friday Earthquake of 1964 and its residents relocated. The old village has not reported on the census since. Some buildings still remain as of 2019.

(New) Chenega or Chenega Bay (1990-)

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1990	94		—
2000	86		−8.5%
2010	76		−11.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[3]

The (new) Chenega (or Chenega Bay) first appeared on the 1990 U.S. Census as a census-designated place (CDP).[12] It was founded in 1982 by former residents from the Old Chenega and is located on the east side of Evans Island, named for the old village and island.[13]

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 86 people, 22 households, and 17 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3.0 people per square mile (1.2/km²). There were 27 housing units at an average density of 0.9/sq mi (0.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 22.09% White, 73.26% Native American, and 4.65% from two or more races.

Of the 22 households, 40.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.6% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.2% were non-families. 13.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.55 and the average family size was 3.83.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 33.7% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 5.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 132.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 119.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $53,750, and the median income for a family was $58,750. Males had a median income of $75,938 versus $32,500 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $13,382. There were 16.7% of families and 15.6% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.

Distant aerial view of Chenega, Alaska, 1989

References

• Chenega CDP, Alaska United States Census Bureau

1. "Geological Survey Professional Paper". U.S. Government Printing Office. Aug 27, 1949. Retrieved Aug 27, 2020 – via Google Books.
2. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
3. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
4. "GNIS Detail - Chenega (historical)". geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved Aug 27, 2020.
5. http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1880a_v1-17.pdf
6. http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1890a_v8-01.pdf
7. http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/33405927v1ch07.pdf
8. https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/00476569ch2.pdf
9. https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/33973538v1ch11.pdf
10. https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/41601749v2p51-54ch2.pdf
11. https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/37721577v1p3ch2.pdf
12. https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph5/cph-5-3.pdf
13. "GNIS Detail - Chenega Census Designated Place". geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved Aug 27, 2020.
14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.