Revision as of 22:02, 7 September 2004 editNiel Orcutt (talk | contribs)194 edits Add location detail← Previous edit | Revision as of 20:46, 5 October 2004 edit undo67.106.39.251 (talk) Add history sectionNext edit → | ||
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Kenai is located at 60°33'31" North, 151°13'47" West (60.558738, -151.229616)]. | Kenai is located at 60°33'31" North, 151°13'47" West (60.558738, -151.229616)]. | ||
Kenai is located near the outlet of the ] to the ] of the ]. | Kenai is located on the west side of the ] near the outlet of the ] to the ] of the ]. | ||
According to the ], the city has a total area of 92.0 ] (35.5 ]). 77.4 km² (29.9 mi²) of it is land and 14.6 km² (5.6 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 15.85% water. | According to the ], the city has a total area of 92.0 ] (35.5 ]). 77.4 km² (29.9 mi²) of it is land and 14.6 km² (5.6 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 15.85% water. | ||
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The median income for a household in the city is $45,962, and the median income for a family is $56,856. Males have a median income of $48,371 versus $27,112 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,789. 9.8% of the population and 8.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 12.5% are under the age of 18 and 4.2% are 65 or older. | The median income for a household in the city is $45,962, and the median income for a family is $56,856. Males have a median income of $48,371 versus $27,112 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,789. 9.8% of the population and 8.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 12.5% are under the age of 18 and 4.2% are 65 or older. | ||
== History == | |||
''Kenai'' is derived from ''Dena'ina'', the name of the ] people who lived in the area at the time Europeans arrived. | |||
Before the arrival of the Russians, Kenai was a Dena'ina village called ''Shk'ituk't''. When Russian fur traders first arrived in 1741, about 1,000 Dena'ina lived in the village. The traders called the people "Kenaitze," or "Kenai people." | |||
In 1791, a Russian trading post, Fort St. Nicholas, was constructed in the middle of the village for the purposes of fur and fish trading. It was the second permanent Russian settlement in Alaska. In 1849, the Holy Assumption ] Church was built in the village. | |||
In 1869, after the ] the United States Army established a post called Fort Kenay. It was soon abandoned. | |||
Through the 1920s, commercial fishing was the primary activity around Kenai. In 1940, ] were opened in the area. The first dirt road from ] was constructed in 1951. In 1957, oil was discovered at Swanson River, 20 miles northeast of Kenai. This was the first major oil discovery in Alaska. In 1965, offshore oil discoveries in ] caused a period of rapid growth. | |||
{{Alaska}} | {{Alaska}} |
Revision as of 20:46, 5 October 2004
Kenai is a city located in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 6,942.
Geography
Kenai is located at 60°33'31" North, 151°13'47" West (60.558738, -151.229616).
Kenai is located on the west side of the Kenai Peninsula near the outlet of the Kenai River to the Cook Inlet of the Pacific Ocean.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 92.0 km² (35.5 mi²). 77.4 km² (29.9 mi²) of it is land and 14.6 km² (5.6 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 15.85% water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 6,942 people, 2,622 households, and 1,788 families residing in the city. The population density is 89.6/km² (232.2/mi²). There are 3,003 housing units at an average density of 38.8/km² (100.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 82.76% White, 0.49% Black or African American, 8.74% Native American, 1.66% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 1.12% from other races, and 5.00% from two or more races. 3.82% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 2,622 households out of which 40.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% are married couples living together, 12.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% are non-families. 26.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.64 and the average family size is 3.20.
In the city the population is spread out with 32.8% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years. For every 100 females there are 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 96.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $45,962, and the median income for a family is $56,856. Males have a median income of $48,371 versus $27,112 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,789. 9.8% of the population and 8.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 12.5% are under the age of 18 and 4.2% are 65 or older.
History
Kenai is derived from Dena'ina, the name of the Athabascan people who lived in the area at the time Europeans arrived.
Before the arrival of the Russians, Kenai was a Dena'ina village called Shk'ituk't. When Russian fur traders first arrived in 1741, about 1,000 Dena'ina lived in the village. The traders called the people "Kenaitze," or "Kenai people."
In 1791, a Russian trading post, Fort St. Nicholas, was constructed in the middle of the village for the purposes of fur and fish trading. It was the second permanent Russian settlement in Alaska. In 1849, the Holy Assumption Russian Orthodox Church was built in the village.
In 1869, after the Alaska Purchase the United States Army established a post called Fort Kenay. It was soon abandoned.
Through the 1920s, commercial fishing was the primary activity around Kenai. In 1940, homesteads were opened in the area. The first dirt road from Anchorage was constructed in 1951. In 1957, oil was discovered at Swanson River, 20 miles northeast of Kenai. This was the first major oil discovery in Alaska. In 1965, offshore oil discoveries in Cook Inlet caused a period of rapid growth.