McCarthy, Alaska

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McCarthy is a census-designated place (CDP) in Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska, U.S.. The population was 42 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 External links

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Geography

Image:AKMap-doton-McCarthy.PNG McCarthy is located at Template:Coor dms (61.432696, -142.910917)Template:GR.

McCarthy is 193 km (120 miles) northeast of Cordova at the foot of Wrangell Mountains. McCarthy is sometimes called Shushanna Junction.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 384.0 km² (148.3 mi²). None of the area is covered with water.

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Demographics

As of the census Template:GR of 2000, there were 42 people, 26 households, and 6 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 0.1/km² (0.3/mi²). There were 47 housing units at an average density of 0.1/km² (0.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 100.00% White.

There were 26 households out of which 15.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 15.4% were married couples living together, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 73.1% were non-families. 53.8% of all households were made up of individuals and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.62 and the average family size was 2.14.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 9.5% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 47.6% from 45 to 64, and 4.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 147.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 153.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $17,188, and the median income for a family was $20,000. Males had a median income of $0 versus $0 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,045. There were no families and 15.2% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.

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History

For centuries, Athabascans fished in the area of McCarthy, but they had no permanent settlement there.

Copper was discovered in Kennecott Mountain near neighboring Kennicott in 1900. The mines and the company town of Kennicott were built by the Kennecott Mining Company quickly after the discovery. Partly because alcoholic beverages and prostitution were forbidden in Kennicott, McCarthy grew as an area to provide services not available in the company town. It grew quickly into a major town with a gymnasium, a hospital, a school, a bar and a brothel. The Copper River and Northwestern Railway reached McCarthy in 1911.

In 1938 the copper deposits in Kennicott Mountain were mostly gone and the town was mostly abandoned. The railroad discontinued service that year. Over its 30-year operation, U.S. $200 million in ore was extracted from the mine, making it the richest concentration of copper ore in the world.

The population of McCarthy and Kennicott fell to zero until the 1970s, when the area began to be developed as a tourist destination and a few people moved to McCarthy to provide tourist services. There was always at least one family living in the McCarthy area from 1953 to the present day.

The old mine buildings, artifacts, and colorful history attract visitors during the summer months. The Kennicott and McCarthy area ranks as one of the United States's most endangered landmarks by the National Trust for Historic Places. Emergency stabilization of the old buildings has been done and more will be required.

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