Belkofski (''Taxtamax̂'' in
Aleut
The Aleuts ( ; russian: Алеуты, Aleuty) are the indigenous people of the Aleutian Islands, which are located between the North Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea. Both the Aleut people and the islands are politically divided between the ...
; russian: Белкофски) is an
unincorporated community
An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...
and Alaska Native Village Statistical Area (ANVSA) in the
Aleutians East Borough in
Alaska
Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S. ...
. It has been uninhabited since the 1980s, reporting a population of zero in 1990, 2000 and 2010.
Location
Belkofski is on a point at the eastern end of the
Alaska Peninsula, 12 miles southeast of
King Cove.
History
Russians originally invaded
Aleut
The Aleuts ( ; russian: Алеуты, Aleuty) are the indigenous people of the Aleutian Islands, which are located between the North Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea. Both the Aleut people and the islands are politically divided between the ...
s at Belkofski in 1823 to harvest
sea otters in the area; at its height, it was the area's most important village. It was called "S(elo) Belkovskoe" from "belka," meaning "squirrel." In the 1880s, three stores were constructed, which were stocked with goods from San Francisco. There was a
Russian Orthodox
Russian Orthodoxy (russian: Русское православие) is the body of several churches within the larger communion of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, whose liturgy is or was traditionally conducted in Church Slavonic language. Most ...
Holy Resurrection church built at that time as well. When the sea otter population diminished, so did the population. The economy switched to trapping wild game, and many of Belkofski’s inhabitants would move to the neighboring communities of
Sand Point, Alaska
Sand Point, also known as Popof Island, is a city in Aleutians East Borough, Alaska, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 976, up from 952 in 2000, but by the 2020 Census this had reduced to 578. It is on northwestern Popof ...
and King Cove. The final few inhabitants vacated Belkofski for King Cove in the 1980s, bringing everything with them and establishing a new Orthodox Church.
The village’s abandoned buildings reportedly burned down in 2013.
Demographics
Belkofski first appeared on the 1880 U.S. Census as the unincorporated village of Belkovsky with 268 residents (making it the 25th largest community in the Alaska Territory). It appeared as "Belkovsky" in 1890, as Belkofski Village in 1900, it did not report in 1910, and as Belkofski from 1920-1970, with the exception of 1940 when it was erroneously reported as "Balkofski." Beginning in 1980, it was classified as an "Alaska Native Village" and from 1990 through 2010
[https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-1-3.pdf ] censuses as an Alaska Native Village Statistical Area (ANVSA), but on the last three censuses has reported a population of zero.
Climate
The area is in a maritime climate zone. Temperatures range from . Average snowfall is , with an annual precipitation of a year.
Elevation
Generally above sea level.
References
External links
www.alaska.hometownlocator.comwww.awrta.org
{{authority control
1823 establishments in North America
Populated coastal places in Alaska on the Pacific Ocean
Populated places established in 1823
Road-inaccessible communities of Alaska
Unincorporated communities in Alaska
Unincorporated communities in Aleutians East Borough, Alaska
Ghost towns in Alaska
Ghost towns in the United States
Ghost towns in North America
Towns in the United States