Hooper Bay, Alaska

"Hooper Bay" redirects here. For the album by Scottish electronica duo Boards of Canada, see Hooper Bay (album).

Hooper Bay Naparyaarmiut
City
Hooper Bay with wind turbines in background. Hooper Bay with wind turbines in background.
Hooper Bay Location in Alaska
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Census Area	Kusilvak
Incorporated	February 7, 1966
Government
• Mayor	Joseph Bell
• State senator	Donald Olson (D)
• State rep.	Neal Foster (D)
Area
• Total	8.8 sq mi (22.7 km2)
• Land	8.7 sq mi (22.5 km2)
• Water	0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2)
Elevation	26 ft (8 m)
Population (2000)
• Total	1,014
• Density	116.8/sq mi (45.1/km2)
Time zone	Alaska (AKST) (UTC-9)
• Summer (DST)	AKDT (UTC-8)
ZIP code	99604
Area code	907
FIPS code	02-33470
GNIS feature ID	1403493

Hooper Bay youth, 1930

Hooper Bay or Naparyarmiut (Naparyaarmiut in Central Yup'ik) is a city in Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,014. The Boards of Canada EP Hooper Bay was named after the city.

Geography

Hooper Bay is located at (61.528980, -166.096196). Hooper Bay is located 20 miles (32 km) south of Cape Romanzof, 25 miles (40 km) south of Scammon Bay in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. The city is separated into two sections: a heavily built-up townsite located on gently rolling hills, and a newer section in the lowlands.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.8 square miles (23 km²), of which, 8.7 square miles (23 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) of it (0.91%) is water. The climate in Hooper Bay is maritime. The mean annual snowfall is 75 inches (1,900 mm), with a total precipitation of 16 inches (410 mm). Temperatures range between -25° and 79°F.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1930	209		—
1940	299		43.1%
1950	307		2.7%
1960	460		49.8%
1970	490		6.5%
1980	627		28.0%
1990	845		34.8%
2000	1,014		20.0%
2010	1,093		7.8%
Est. 2014	1,173		7.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,014 people, 227 households, and 187 families residing in the city. The population density was 116.8 people per square mile (45.1/km²). There were 239 housing units at an average density of 27.5 per square mile (10.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 4.24% White, 93.69% Native American, and 2.07% from two or more races. 0.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 227 households out of which 61.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.4% were married couples living together, 30.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.6% were non-families. 15.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 0.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.47 and the average family size was 4.97.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 49.2% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 11.5% from 45 to 64, and 5.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 18 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,667, and the median income for a family was $27,500. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $32,083 for females. The per capita income for the city was $7,841. About 28.4% of families and 27.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.1% of those under age 18 and 31.6% of those age 65 or over.

2006 fire

On August 3, 2006, a fire destroyed approximately fifteen acres of the city before being extinguished. Destroyed in the blaze were thirty-five structures, including twelve homes, an elementary school, a middle school, a high school, a teacher housing complex, stores, offices and storage shelters. The fire left 70 people homeless, most of whom have stayed in Hooper Bay with friends and family. Before the time of the fire occurred, a new school for K-12 was being build at the time on the other side of town. The school is two stories high with a commons area and a huge gymnasium. While the school was being built, students went to school in a few of the public places (church, Sea Lion offices, bingo/dance building known as the octagon) that were turned into small classrooms for students to attend a school for a few months. The school opened in December 2006. Samaritan's Purse went to Hooper Bay shortly after the fire to build 5 homes for families. 2 homes were on top of the hill where the fire occurred, 3 homes were on the other side of town. Families that didn't have a home, continued to stay with family members until "temporary" homes were brought to Hooper Bay for all the families that lost a home to stay in. The local covenant church in Hooper Bay, donated snow machines to families that had lost their vehicles in the fire.

2015 Suicides

On Saturday October 10, 2015, Carl Dominic Robert Joe, became the 4th suicide victim in the town of Hooper Bay, Alaska in a 1 month period since September 2015. The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp. has sent counselors to the village, and other agencies are gearing up to help. Experts on suicide say to be on the lookout for changes in behavior including mood swings, extreme rage, withdrawal from others, increased drinking and sleeping too much or too little.

Further reading

• Gillham, Charles E., and Chanimun. Medicine Men of Hooper Bay: Or, The Eskimo's Arabian Nights. London: Batchworth Press, 1955.