Voznesenka (Russian: ''Вознесенка'', ) is a small
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 ...
in the
Kenai Peninsula Borough
Kenai Peninsula Borough is a borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,799, up from 55,400 in 2010.
The borough seat is Soldotna, the largest city is Kenai, and the most populated community is the ce ...
23 miles northeast of
Homer
Homer (; grc, Ὅμηρος , ''Hómēros'') (born ) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the ...
,
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. ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
.
Brief overlook
Located on the
Kenai Peninsula
The Kenai Peninsula ( Dena'ina: ''Yaghenen'') is a large peninsula jutting from the coast of Southcentral Alaska. The name Kenai (, ) is derived from the word "Kenaitze" or "Kenaitze Indian Tribe", the name of the Native Athabascan Alaskan trib ...
, about east of
Homer
Homer (; grc, Ὅμηρος , ''Hómēros'') (born ) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the ...
, Voznesenka is one of several villages founded by Russian
Old Believers in the
Fox River area. The village was founded in 1985 by residents who decided to leave
Nikolaevsk and begin new settlements in the
Kachemak Bay
Kachemak Bay ( Dena'ina: ''Tika Kaq’'') is a 40-mi-long (64 km) arm of Cook Inlet in the U.S. state of Alaska, located on the southwest side of the Kenai Peninsula. The communities of Homer, Halibut Cove, Seldovia, Nanwalek, Port Graha ...
area. The name in
Russian
Russian(s) refers to anything related to Russia, including:
*Russians (, ''russkiye''), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries
*Rossiyane (), Russian language term for all citizens and peo ...
means ''Ascension'' (вознестись, voznestis' – to ascend) referring to the holiday of the
Ascension. The village is situated on a bluff over Kachemak Bay, and is at the end of the maintained road system on the western Kenai Peninsula. A switchback trail leads about down to the beach; it can be traveled by foot or 4-wheel drive vehicle except at the highest tides to reach the neighboring village of
Kachemak Selo. There are more than 40 families living in Voznesenka. Although unincorporated, the community has a mayor, a community council, and a water-utility board. There is also a community church and a public school in the village. the school maintains a student population of roughly 115 students. The community also had a wrestling and football team which lasted through 2018. Emergency services are provided by Kachemak Emergency Services Area Fire and EMS. The community is accessible by gravel road, the paved access road from Homer ending where the village begins. In 2009 the
Mile 17 fire threatened the village.
There are two more villages that Russian Old Believers live in. Those villages are
Razdolna and
Kachemak Selo.
References
1985 establishments in Alaska
Old Believer communities in the United States
Populated coastal places in Alaska on the Pacific Ocean
Populated places established in 1985
Russian-American culture in Alaska
Russian communities in the United States
Unincorporated communities in Alaska
Unincorporated communities in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska
{{KenaiPeninsulaAK-geo-stub