Venetie, Alaska Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

Venetie, Alaska is a small village located on the south bank of the Chandalar River in the Arctic North Slope Borough. It has a population of approximately 200 people, who are mostly Gwich’in Athabascan Native Americans. The village is situated on flat terrain surrounded by low mountains and hills. Venetie is characterized by its long, cold winters and short, cool summers. The temperature can reach as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter months and as high as 70 degrees Fahrenheit in summertime. The area receives an average of 18 inches of snowfall per year.

The history of Venetie dates back to the 19th century when it was established as a trading post for local Native Americans and fur trappers. In 1971, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act created an organized tribal government for Venetie and other villages in Alaska’s North Slope Borough. This act also gave Venetians more control over their land and resources, including hunting rights and oil revenue distribution rights.

The economy of Venetie is mainly based on subsistence activities such as fishing, trapping, hunting, and gathering wild plants for food or medicine. A few jobs are available in construction or service industries such as tourism or transportation services to nearby villages or cities in Alaska’s Interior region.

Education in Venetie is provided by Gwich’in Tribal Government School which offers classes from pre-K through grade 12 to students living within the village limits or nearby areas. There are no post-secondary educational institutions located within Venetie itself but students can attend college courses at universities located elsewhere in Alaska through distance learning programs.

Some notable landmarks in Venetie include Chandalar Lake which is one of the largest lakes in northern Alaska and is home to several species of fish including Arctic grayling; Gwich’in Tribal Cultural Center which provides educational opportunities about traditional culture; Cenotaph which honors those who have passed away; and Ipiat Lodge where visitors can experience traditional activities such as fishing, trapping, berry picking, etc..

Population: 202
Males: 113 (55.9%), Females: 89 (44.1%)

Zip code: 99781

Demographics

Median resident age: 25.0 years
Median household income: $21,000
Median house value: $55,000

Population by Race

Races in Venetie:

• American Indian (96.5%)
• Two or more races (4.5%)
• White Non-Hispanic (3.5%)

Ancestries: Irish (4.0%), English (1.5%).

Land area: 20.8 square miles

Population by Education

Venetie, Alaska is a small, remote village located in the Northwest Arctic Borough. As of the 2010 census, Venetie had a population of just over 200 people. Most of the population is made up of members of the Native Village of Venetie Tribal Government which is an Alaska Native tribal government representing the Iñupiat Eskimos living in and around Venetie. The majority of residents are descended from the original Iñupiat people who have lived in this area for thousands of years.

The majority of residents still practice subsistence activities such as fishing, hunting and gathering wild plants for food. Many also participate in traditional arts such as carving and beading as well as traditional crafts like skin sewing and basket weaving. The village also offers employment opportunities through its school and community center as well as occasional seasonal work through local businesses. In addition to being home to a significant portion of the local Iñupiat population, Venetie also serves as a hub for regional travel due to its proximity to other villages and access to transportation services such as planes, boats, and snowmobiles.

The community has maintained its cultural identity through language, art, music and dance which are all integral aspects that define Iñupiat culture today. Recent efforts by local educational institutions have provided additional resources for preserving these traditions while providing modern opportunities such as computer literacy classes. The strong sense of community can be seen in daily life with most adults participating in traditional subsistence activities while children attend school on weekdays and participate in recreational activities on weekends or during holidays. This close-knit atmosphere has been instrumental in providing stability for generations despite external pressures from modernization or environmental changes brought on by climate change.

For population 25 years and over in Venetie

• High school or higher: 48.5%
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 3.9%
• Graduate or professional degree: 0.0%
• Unemployed: 36.2%
• Mean travel time to work: 7.1 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Venetie CDP

• Never married: 55.6%
• Now married: 27.8%
• Separated: 2.8%
• Widowed: 11.1%
• Divorced: 2.8%

0.0% Foreign born

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Venetie:

• FAIRBANKS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 178 miles; FAIRBANKS, AK)
• VALDEZ COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 408 miles; VALDEZ, AK)
• VALLEY HOSPITAL (about 417 miles; PALMER, AK)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Venetie:

• EIELSON AFB (about 172 miles; FAIRBANKS, AK; Abbreviation: EIL)
• WAINWRIGHT AAF (about 174 miles; FAIRBANKS/FT WAINWRIGHT, AK; Abbreviation: FBK)
• FAIRBANKS INTL (about 184 miles; FAIRBANKS, AK; Abbreviation: FAI)

Other public-use airports nearest to Venetie:

• VENETIE (about 3 miles; VENETIE, AK; Abbreviation: VEE)
• BIRCH CREEK (about 69 miles; BIRCH CREEK, AK; Abbreviation: Z91)
• BEAVER (about 84 miles; BEAVER, AK; Abbreviation: WBQ)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Venetie:

• UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS (about 180 miles; FAIRBANKS, AK; Full-time enrollment: 5,034)
• UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE (about 466 miles; ANCHORAGE, AK; Full-time enrollment: 9,453)
• PENINSULA COLLEGE (about 2057 miles; PORT ANGELES, WA; Full-time enrollment: 2,374)
• WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (about 2079 miles; BELLINGHAM, WA; Full-time enrollment: 11,889)
• WHATCOM COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 2082 miles; BELLINGHAM, WA; Full-time enrollment: 2,656)
• SKAGIT VALLEY COLLEGE (about 2101 miles; MT VERNON, WA; Full-time enrollment: 3,420)
• OLYMPIC COLLEGE (about 2121 miles; BREMERTON, WA; Full-time enrollment: 3,889)

Public primary/middle school in Venetie:

• JOHN FREDSON SCHOOL (Students: 61; Location: 360 CHANDALAR DRIVE; Grades: PK – 12)