Nelchina (''Xaz Ghae Na’'' in Ahtna) is a

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the count ...

(CDP) in

Copper River Census Area, Alaska Copper River Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska, United States. It is part of the Unorganized Borough and therefore has no borough seat. On January 2, 2019, it was split from the Valdez–Cordova Census Area, along w ...

, United States. The population was 45 at the 2020 census, down from 59 in 2010.

Geography

Nelchina appears on the Valdez D-8 on the U.S.Geological Survey Map. The elevation is 2,402 feet. Nelchina is located between Milepost 137.5 and 150.5 of the Glenn Highway, at the junction of the Little Nelchina River and Crooked Creek. It is about 30 miles west of Glennallen and Mendeltna, just east of Mat-Su Borough Boundary. Nelchina is located at the Chitina Recording Districet. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...

, the CDP has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it (1.48%) is water.

Climate

Nelchina is located at the continental climate zone. Temperature extremes range from -74 to 96. Snowfall averages 39 inches, with total precipitation of 9 inches per year.

History

Nelchina is an Ahtna Athabascan name. Gold in the creeks draining from the

Chugach Mountains The Chugach Mountains of southern Alaska are the northernmost of the several mountain ranges that make up the Pacific Coast Ranges of the western edge of North America. The range is about long and wide, and extends from the Knik and Turnagai ...

brought prospectors to this area in the late 1800s. The Nelchina area offered several trails into the mountains. Nelchina was a mining settlement established in 1913. It was first reported by Theodore Chaplin in a 1915 USGS publication.

Demographics

Nelchina first appeared on the 2000 U.S. Census as a census-designated place (CDP). As of the census of 2000, there were 71 people, 27 households, and 20 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1.5 people per square mile (0.6/km²). There were 33 housing units at an average density of 0.7/sq mi (0.3/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.14%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...

, 4.23% Native American, and 5.63% from two or more races. Of the 27 households, 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% were married couples living together, and 25.9% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.15. In the CDP, the age distribution of the population shows 28.2% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 19.7% from 25 to 44, 32.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 153.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 131.8 males. The median income for a household in the CDP was $40,625, and the median income for a family was $40,625. Males had a median income of $37,917 versus $18,750 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the CDP was $10,742. There were 19.0% of families and 17.8% of the population living below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 10.0% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.

Education

The

Copper River School District Copper River School District (CRSD) is a school district headquartered in Glennallen, Alaska. CRSD is known for being made up of several schools. The schools at times collaborate to achieve new educational opportunities. This is done primarily by ...

previously operated the Lottie Sparks School in Nelchina.students_-_5000_series.pdf
." ''CRSD Policy Manual 04/98''.

. PDF p. 41/210. Retrieved on February 14, 2017. "Lottie Sparks (Nelchina) School:"

References

{{Authority control Census-designated places in Alaska Census-designated places in Copper River Census Area, Alaska Census-designated places in Unorganized Borough, Alaska Ahtna