Page Contents for Kaltag, Alaska

Statistics & Facts

Location

Weather & Climate

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Economy

Government

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The Alaska state capital is Juneau.
The population of Kaltag is approximately 211 (2004), 190 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 78 (2000), 70 (2010).
The amount of land area in Kaltag is 56.628 sq. kilometers.
The amount of land area in Kaltag is 23.3 sq. miles.
The amount of surface water is 12.897 sq kilometers.
The distance from Kaltag to Washington DC is 4123 miles.
The distance to the Alaska state capital is 1002 miles. (as the crow flies)
Kaltag is positioned 64.33 degrees north of the equator and 158.68 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Kaltag per capita income is $ 9,361 (2000).
Kaltag median income is $ 29,167 (2000).
Kaltag average annual precipitation is 16 inches peryear.
Kaltag average annual snowfall is 74 inches per year.

Location

75 miles west of Galena and 335 miles west of Fairbanks. It is on the west bank of the Yukon River, west of the Innoko National Wildlife Refuge.
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Climate

cold and continental with great differences in temperature and weather depending on the season of the year. Summer highs average around 70 degrees while winter are quite cold with -40 readings not uncommon. The Yukon River generally remains frozen from mid-October until mid-May.
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History & History Related Items

Kaltag was named by the Rusians for the Yukon Indian named Kaltaga. The small village was located on an old portage trail that led across the mountains to Unalakleet. It was also the site of a cemetery for all the surrounding villages. The ravages of several epidemics decimated the Native population in this area. Around 1900, Kaltag was organized as a gathering point for the survivors of the most recent epidemic. A post office was briefly opened in 1903. Mining operations began in the area in 1919 bringing more people into the area. The post office re-opened and closed several more times over the years. A school opened in 1925 and other businesses followed. The city was incorporated in 1969.
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Attractions

The Stick Dance Festival
A week long festival of potlatches by relatives of their recently deceased to show appreciation to those who helped during their time of mourning.

Kaltag is 87% Native and are mostly Koyukon Athabascans.

Kaltag has had most modern conveniences since the early 1980s with updates being performed regularly. Though classified as an isolated village, it has a medical clinic, washeteria, and a school. There is a 3,900 foot long lighted gravel airstrip that gives Kaltag year-round access to outsides areas. During the winter there are local trails and the ice road (frozen river) along with the 90 miles Old Mail Trail to Unalakleet. All of these trails are used by the local residents for woodcutting and trap lines as well as for transportation.
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Economy & Industry

mainly subsistence. Fish, wildlife and local vegetation such as berries are used as food sources. Most employment is with the tribe, school, local government, the BLM or the fishing industry.
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Kaltag City Government

City of Kaltag
P.O. Box 9
Kaltag, AK 99748
Phone 907-534-2301
Fax 907-534-2236

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Village of Kaltag
P.O. Box 129
Kaltag, AK 99748
Phone 907-534-2224
Fax 907-534-2299 Kaltag

Miscellany

The population of Kaltag was:
1990 - 240
2000 - 223
2004 - 211 (estimate)