Moving to Naknek, Alaska

by btobers · Published June 4, 2019 · Updated November 18, 2024

Naknek, Alaska is situated on the Alaska Peninsula, located near the junction of the Naknek and Alagnak Rivers. It has a subarctic climate with long cold winters and short cool summers. The city has a rich history as one of the oldest settlements in Alaska, having been inhabited by Native Alaskans for centuries before Europeans arrived in the 1700s. In the mid-1800s, Naknek became an important trading post for local fishermen and fur traders.

Politically, Naknek is part of Bristol Bay Borough and is governed by a mayor and four-member city council. The local economy is heavily dependent on fishing; commercial fishing boats operate out of Naknek’s harbor year-round. There are also several small businesses in town that specialize in tourism or provide other services to locals.

Naknek is served by two schools: Naknek Elementary School and Bristol Bay High School. Both schools offer basic educational programs as well as extracurricular activities such as sports teams, music classes, and art classes. The elementary school also provides daycare for families with young children who need childcare while parents are at work or school.

Naknek is home to many interesting landmarks including the historic St. Peter’s Russian Orthodox Church which was built in 1845; it still stands today as a testament to both the town’s history and its religious heritage. There is also an old fish cannery that was used during World War II to process salmon for military rations; it now serves as a museum dedicated to this era of Naknek’s history. Other notable attractions include Bearskin Lake Nature Trail which offers visitors stunning views of nearby mountains and rivers; Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park which features reconstructed buildings from when it was a military fort during World War II; and King Salmon Airport which provides access to nearby towns via air travel year round.

Population: 678
Males: 365 (53.8%), Females: 313 (46.2%)

Zip code: 99633

Demographics

Median resident age: 34.4 years
Median household income: $53,393
Median house value: $141,800

Population by Race

Races in Naknek:

White Non-Hispanic (51.3%)
American Indian (47.1%)
Two or more races (2.4%)
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (0.7%)

Ancestries: German (13.7%), English (8.4%), Norwegian (8.3%), Italian (5.9%), Irish (4.6%), Swedish (3.1%).

Land area: 84.2 square miles

Map of Naknek, AK

Population by Education

Naknek, Alaska is a small town situated on the Alaskan Peninsula. It has a population of just over 500 people, most of whom are of Native American descent. The town was founded in 1895 by Russian fur traders, and has since become an important fishing center. Among the local population, there are many who work in the fishing industry, processing and exporting seafood from the nearby waters. Naknek is located near some of the best salmon fishing grounds in Alaska and this is one of the main sources of income for its residents. In addition to fishing, many people also work in tourism or other services related to tourism such as guiding or chartering boats for visitors. The town also has its own school district with two elementary schools and one high school that serve all students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. The community also boasts a variety of recreational opportunities such as boating, hiking trails, biking paths, camping sites, and hunting areas. There is also a public library which offers access to books and magazines as well as internet access for those who need it.

For population 25 years and over in Naknek

High school or higher: 90.1%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 6.4%
Unemployed: 9.4%
Mean travel time to work: 11.1 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Naknek CDP

Never married: 26.3%
Now married: 57.3%
Separated: 1.7%
Widowed: 2.8%
Divorced: 11.9%

0.3% Foreign born

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Naknek:

BRISTOL BAY AREA HEALTH CORP (about 105 miles; DILLINGHAM, AK)
PROVIDENCE KODIAK ISLAND MEDICAL CENTE (about 316 miles; KODIAK, AK)
YUKON KUSKOKWIM DELTA REG HOSPITAL (about 367 miles; BETHEL, AK)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Naknek:

KING SALMON (about 24 miles; KING SALMON, AK; Abbreviation: AKN)
DILLINGHAM (about 108 miles; DILLINGHAM, AK; Abbreviation: DLG)
ILIAMNA (about 160 miles; ILIAMNA, AK; Abbreviation: ILI)

Other public-use airports nearest to Naknek:

PAF CANNERY (about 4 miles; SOUTH NAKNEK, AK; Abbreviation: 3AK)
SOUTH NAKNEK NR 2 (about 4 miles; SOUTH NAKNEK, AK; Abbreviation: WSN)
NAKNEK (about 4 miles; NAKNEK, AK; Abbreviation: 5NK)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Naknek:

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE (about 524 miles; ANCHORAGE, AK; Full-time enrollment: 9,453)
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS (about 760 miles; FAIRBANKS, AK; Full-time enrollment: 5,034)
PENINSULA COLLEGE (about 2434 miles; PORT ANGELES, WA; Full-time enrollment: 2,374)
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (about 2482 miles; BELLINGHAM, WA; Full-time enrollment: 11,889)
EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE (about 2485 miles; OLYMPIA, WA; Full-time enrollment: 3,749)
SOUTH PUGET SOUND COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 2485 miles; OLYMPIA, WA; Full-time enrollment: 2,908)
WHATCOM COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 2485 miles; BELLINGHAM, WA; Full-time enrollment: 2,656)

Schools

Public high school in Naknek:

BRISTOL BAY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 100; Location: #2 SCHOOL ROAD; Grades: 07 – 12)

Public primary/middle school in Naknek:

NAKNEK ELEMENTARY (Students: 102; Location: #2 SCHOOL ROAD; Grades: PK – 06)

Libraries

Library in Naknek:

MARTIN MONSEN REGIONAL LIBRARY (Operating income: $143,407; Location: 101 MAIN STREET; 15,784 books; 115 audio materials; 1,582 video materials; 11 serial subscriptions)