Belkofski, Alaska

Belkofski
Alaska Native Village
Exterior of Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church
Belkofski Location in Alaska
Coordinates: 55°05′20″N 162°01′50″W
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Borough	Aleutians East
Elevation	102 ft (31 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	0
Time zone	UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-8 (AKDT)
ZIP code	99571
Area code	907 (local prefix: 532)
FIPS code	02-05970
GNIS feature ID	1418210

Belkofoski is an unincorporated community and Alaska Native Village Statistical Area (ANVSA) in the Aleutians East Borough in Alaska. 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 Aleuts 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 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 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

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	268		—
1890	185		−31.0%
1900	147		−20.5%
1920	129		—
1930	123		−4.7%
1940	140		13.8%
1950	119		−15.0%
1960	57		−52.1%
1970	59		3.5%
1980	10		−83.1%
1990	0		−100.0%
2000	0		—
2010	0		—
U.S. Decennial Census

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 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 −13 to 78 °F (−25 to 26 °C). Average snowfall is 56 inches (1,400 mm), with an annual precipitation of 33 inches (840 mm) a year.

Elevation

Generally 85 feet (26 m) above sea level.

External links

• www.alaska.hometownlocator.com
• www.awrta.org
• Pictures from Belkofski, Alaska by Eubank, William R.