(KAL-skag)
Location and Climate
Lower Kalskag is located on the north bank of the Kuskokwim
River, 2 miles downriver from Kalskag. It lies 26 miles west of Aniak,
89 miles northeast of Bethel, and 350 miles west of Anchorage. The
community lies at approximately 61.512220 degrees North Latitude and
-160.358060 degrees West Longitude. (Sec. 02, T016N, R062W, Seward
Meridian.) Lower Kalskag is located in the Kuskokwim Recording District.
The area encompasses 1.3 square miles of land and 0.4 square miles of
water. The climate is semi-arctic with maritime influences from the
Bering Sea. Precipitation averages 19 inches, with 60 inches of
snowfall. Temperatures range between -55 and 87. The Kuskokwim River is
ice-free from mid-June through October.
History, Culture and Demographics
The site was originally used as a fish camp for families of
Kalskag, two miles to the northeast. In 1930, people began to establish
year-round homes. The Russian Orthodox residents of Kalskag, a
predominantly Roman Catholic village, moved to Lower Kalskag in the
1930s because of religious differences. The Russian Orthodox Chapel of
St. Seraphim was built in 1940. A school was built in 1959, followed by a
post office in 1962, a sawmill in 1965 and a power plant in 1969. A new
church was built in the late 1970s. The city of Lower Kalskag was
incorporated in 1969. A federally recognized tribe is located in the
community, the Village of Lower Kalskag. According to the 2010 Census,
the population of the community consists of 282 people, with 92.20
percent of the population Alaska Native, or part Native. The people of
Lower Kalskag are predominantly from the Yup’ik Eskimo village of
Russian Orthodox practitioners who relocated from Kalskag in the 1930s.
Subsistence activities provide food sources. The sale or importation of
alcohol is banned in the village. During the 2000 U.S. Census, total
housing units numbered 79, and vacant housing units numbered 13. Vacant
housing units used only seasonally numbered 8. U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 51 residents as employed. The unemployment rate at that
time was 42.05 percent, although 69.46 percent of all adults were not in
the work force. The median household income was $25,625, per capita
income was $7,654 and 40.63 percent of residents were living below the
poverty level.
Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care
An 85-foot well provides water, which is treated and piped to
most homes and the school. The school, clinic and over 40 of the homes
use individual septic tanks and have complete plumbing. A 10,000-gallon
community septic tank allows for piped sewage collection to part of the
village. Funds have been requested to connect the 20 remaining homes
using septic tanks to the piped sewer system, due to effluent ponding.
The community also needs a washeteria and watering point. Refuse is
burned or buried at a new landfill located between Kalskag and Lower
Kalskag. Electricity is provided by AVEC. There are 2 schools located in
the community, attended by 142 students. Local hospitals or health
clinics include Lower Kalskag Health Clinic (907-471-2294) or Clara
Morgan Sub-Regional Clinic (907-675-4556) in Aniak. Lower Kalskag is
classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 7A in the
Yukon Kuskokwim Region. Emergency services, provided by a health aide,
have river and air access.
Current Population: 275 (2017 DCCED Certified Population)
Incorporation Type: 2nd Class City
Borough Located In: Unorganized
Sales: None
Property: None
Special: None
Contact Information
Village of Lower Kalskag
P.O. Box 27
Lower Kalskag, AK 99626
Phone: 907-471-2379
Fax: 907-471-2378
