Editing Gustavus, Alaska

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Gustavus, Alaska
| native_name              = Wanachích T’aak Héen
| settlement_type          = [[City (Alaska)|City]]
| image_skyline            = 
| image_caption            = 
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = 
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = 
| pushpin_map              = USA Alaska
| pushpin_label            = Gustavus
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location in Alaska
<!-- Coordinates -->| coordinates              = {{coord|58|24|59|N|135|44|44|W|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes    = 
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Alaska]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of boroughs and census areas in Alaska|Census Area]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Unorganized Borough, Alaska|Unorganized Borough in Alaska]]
| established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date         = 2004<ref name="AML">{{Cite book|title=2015 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory|location=Juneau|publisher=Alaska Municipal League|year=2015|page=69}}</ref>
| government_type          = <!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes     = 
| leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name              = Sally McLaughlin [https://cms.gustavus-ak.gov/citycouncil/page/city-council-members]
| leader_title1            = [[Alaska Senate|State senator]]
| leader_name1             = [[Jesse Kiehl]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| leader_title2            = [[Alaska House of Representatives|State rep.]]
| leader_name2             = [[Andi Story]] (D)
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_02.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 29, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 147.53
| area_land_km2            = 94.17
| area_water_km2           = 53.37
<!-- Elevation -->| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 3
| elevation_ft             = 10
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 655
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| population_est           = 
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| population_density_sq_mi = 18.02
<!-- General information -->| timezone                 = [[Alaska Time Zone|Alaska (AKST)]]
| utc_offset               = -9
| timezone_DST             = AKDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -8
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 99826
| area_code                = [[Area code 907|907]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS]] code
| blank_info               = {{FIPS|02|30940}}
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = {{GNIS4|1403078}}, {{GNIS4|2419393}}
| website                  = {{URL|www.gustavus-ak.gov}}
| population_density_km2   = 6.96
| area_total_sq_mi         = 56.96
| area_land_sq_mi          = 36.36
| area_water_sq_mi         = 20.61
}}

'''Gustavus''' ([[Tlingit language|Lingít]]: ''Wanachích T’aak Héen''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://peterwstanton.medium.com/comprehensive-list-of-tlingit-names-for-all-the-present-day-communities-in-ling%C3%ADt-aan%C3%AD-f93b449a9cc|title=Comprehensive List of Tlingit Names for All the Present-Day Communities in Lingít Aaní|first=Peter|last=Stanton|website=Peterwstanton.medium.com|date=August 7, 2018|access-date=January 31, 2022}}</ref>) ({{respell|gus|TAY|vəs}})<ref>
 {{cite web
 |url         = http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/commdb/CIS.cfm?Comm_Boro_name=Gustavus
 |title       = Gustavus
 |publisher   = Division of Community and Regional Affairs, [[Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development]]
 |access-date  = January 24, 2013
|url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20121230030110/http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/commdb/CIS.cfm?Comm_Boro_Name=Gustavus
 |archive-date = December 30, 2012
}}
</ref> is a second-class<ref>
 {{cite web
 |url         = http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/osa/pub/11Taxable.pdf
 |title       = Alaska Taxable 2011: Municipal Taxation - Rates and Policies
 |publisher   = Division of Community and Regional Affairs, [[Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development]]
 |date        = January 2012
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20130425132818/http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/osa/pub/11Taxable.pdf
 |archive-date = April 25, 2013
}}
</ref> [[City (Alaska)|city]]<ref name="2010 Census">
 {{cite web
 | url = http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US0230940
 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20200212111243/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US0230940
 | url-status = dead
 | archive-date = February 12, 2020
| title = Gustavus city, Alaska
 | work = Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
 | publisher = [[United States Census Bureau]]
 | access-date = January 22, 2013
}}
</ref> in [[Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, Alaska|Hoonah-Angoon Census Area]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Alaska]]. According to the 2020 census, its population of 655,<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 2, 2021|title=Alaska 2020 Census Data for Redistricting - Cities and CDPs.xls|url=https://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/sites/default/files/2021-08/Cities%20and%20CDPs_0.xls|website=Live.laborstats.alaska.gov}}</ref> reflects a 48% increase from 442 in the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]],<ref name="2010 Census"/> making it one of the fastest growing communities in Alaska.

==History==
Gustavus, formerly known as "Strawberry Point," lies on the [[outwash plain]] formed by the [[glacier]]s that once filled [[Glacier Bay]]. Two hundred years ago, the area was primarily a single large "beach" utilized by the native [[Tlingit]] people and others for [[fishing]], [[berry]] picking, and other similar uses. The first settlers arrived in 1914 but left shortly afterward. The first permanent homestead was established in 1917, when Abraham Lincoln Parker moved his family to Strawberry Point. Many Gustavus residents are descendants and relatives of the original Parker homesteaders.

In 1925, the name "Gustavus," was adopted when the U.S. Post Office required a change for its new post office, although locals continued calling it "Strawberry Point" long afterwards. The new name came from Point Gustavus at the mouth of Glacier Bay.

In 1793, [[George Vancouver]] named Point Adolphus (at the northern tip of [[Chichagof Island]], and today a well-known [[humpback whale]] feeding area) after [[Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge|Adolphus Frederick]], the seventh son of [[George III of the United Kingdom|King George III]]. In 1878, during a coastal survey, [[William Healey Dall|W. H. Dall]] saw "Adolphus" on the map and assumed it was for [[Sweden|Swedish]] king [[Gustavus Adolphus]]. The point across [[Icy Strait]] from Point Adolphus at the mouth of Glacier Bay was not named on the map, so Dall called it "Gustavus". Another possibility is that Dall named Gustavus for Gustavus C. Hanus,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bahr|first=David B.|title=The Kayaker's Companion to Glacier Bay, Volume 2: East Arm and East Side|publisher=Glacier Bear Press|year=2020|isbn=978-1-7345530-1-7|pages=13}}</ref> a [[U.S. Naval Academy]] graduate who had extensive experience throughout southeast Alaska, and both Dall and Hanus served with the Coast Survey in Alaska. Hanus laid out the first streets in [[Juneau, Alaska|Juneau]] and helped quell the trouble in [[Klukwan, Alaska|Klukwan]] in 1881.

There is still a large beach at Gustavus, with many strawberries. It is surrounded on three sides by [[Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve]] and bordered by water on the fourth. The area is a [[temperate rain forest]]; [[spruce]] and [[Tsuga|hemlock]] trees reach heights of {{convert|60|m|ft}}, and [[alder]]s, [[balsam poplar]], [[fern]], [[moss]]es, [[fireweed]], [[lupin]]e, and other plants are common. Gustavus's coastal location gives it a relatively mild winter. Summer temperatures range from {{convert|11|to|17|C|F}}, while winter temperatures range from {{convert|-3|to|4|C|F}}.

==Geography==
Gustavus is located at {{coord|58|24|59|N|135|44|44|W|type:city_region:US}} (58.416327, -135.745549).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|95.7|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|85.0|sqkm|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|10.7|sqkm|order=flip}}, or 11.16%, are water.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US0230940| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Gustavus city, Alaska| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American Factfinder| access-date=April 17, 2017}} {{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Gustavus is split by the Salmon River, a small waterway crossed by a bridge for the paved road running out to [[Glacier Bay National Park]]. [[Coho salmon]], [[Dolly Varden trout|Dolly Varden]], and other fish are commonly caught in this river. Within the city limits, the river is affected by tides.

==Climate==
Gustavus has a wet, maritime [[subarctic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] Dfc) with short, mild summers and long, cold winters.

{{Weather box
| collapsed =
| location = Gustavus, Alaska (1991–2020 normals,<ref>Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.</ref> extremes 1923–present)
| single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 54
|Feb record high F = 57
|Mar record high F = 60
|Apr record high F = 70
|May record high F = 81
|Jun record high F = 88
|Jul record high F = 87
|Aug record high F = 87
|Sep record high F = 75
|Oct record high F = 65
|Nov record high F = 58
|Dec record high F = 56
| Jan avg record high F = 41.7
| Feb avg record high F = 43.6
| Mar avg record high F = 47.5
| Apr avg record high F = 59.6
| May avg record high F = 69.8
| Jun avg record high F = 76.6
| Jul avg record high F = 74.7
| Aug avg record high F = 74.5
| Sep avg record high F = 65.4
| Oct avg record high F = 56.4
| Nov avg record high F = 46.2
| Dec avg record high F = 42.5
|year avg record high F = 80.2
|Jan high F = 32.1
|Feb high F = 35.7
|Mar high F = 39.9
|Apr high F = 48.7
|May high F = 56.5
|Jun high F = 61.4
|Jul high F = 62.9
|Aug high F = 62.7
|Sep high F = 56.5
|Oct high F = 47.1
|Nov high F = 37.8
|Dec high F = 33.8
|year high F= 47.9
|Jan mean F = 26.4
|Feb mean F = 28.4
|Mar mean F = 31.4
|Apr mean F = 38.8
|May mean F = 46.0
|Jun mean F = 51.9
|Jul mean F = 54.8
|Aug mean F = 54.3
|Sep mean F = 48.4
|Oct mean F = 40.1
|Nov mean F = 31.9
|Dec mean F = 28.7
|year mean F= 40.1
|Jan low F = 20.6
|Feb low F = 21.2
|Mar low F = 22.8
|Apr low F = 28.9
|May low F = 35.4
|Jun low F = 42.4
|Jul low F = 46.6
|Aug low F = 45.9
|Sep low F = 40.3
|Oct low F = 33.0
|Nov low F = 26.0
|Dec low F = 23.7
|year low F= 32.2
| Jan avg record low F = -0.3
| Feb avg record low F = 4.8
| Mar avg record low F = 5.8
| Apr avg record low F = 19.0
| May avg record low F = 26.9
| Jun avg record low F = 34.3
| Jul avg record low F = 39.0
| Aug avg record low F = 37.5
| Sep avg record low F = 28.7
| Oct avg record low F = 21.0
| Nov avg record low F = 9.5
| Dec avg record low F = 6.2
|year avg record low F = -6.8
|Jan record low F = -25
|Feb record low F = -16
|Mar record low F = -13
|Apr record low F = 4
|May record low F = 17
|Jun record low F = 25
|Jul record low F = 24
|Aug record low F = 25
|Sep record low F = 22
|Oct record low F = 2
|Nov record low F = -15
|Dec record low F = -21
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 5.94
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.76
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.17
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.01
|May precipitation inch = 2.98
|Jun precipitation inch = 2.90
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.41
|Aug precipitation inch = 5.44
|Sep precipitation inch = 8.21
|Oct precipitation inch = 8.43
|Nov precipitation inch = 6.79
|Dec precipitation inch = 7.25
|year precipitation inch= 62.29
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.5
|Nov snow inch = 10.8
|Dec snow inch = 18.0
|Jan snow inch = 18.1
|Feb snow inch = 11.4
|Mar snow inch = 11.7
|Apr snow inch = 1.8
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|year snow inch= 
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 20.2
|Feb precipitation days = 16.7
|Mar precipitation days = 16.9
|Apr precipitation days = 17.9
|May precipitation days = 15.9
|Jun precipitation days = 16.2
|Jul precipitation days = 17.8 
|Aug precipitation days = 19.4
|Sep precipitation days = 21.5
|Oct precipitation days = 23.1
|Nov precipitation days = 21.0
|Dec precipitation days = 20.8
|year precipitation days=
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.4
| Nov snow days = 5.6
| Dec snow days = 8.2
| Jan snow days = 8.7
| Feb snow days = 6.0
| Mar snow days = 5.9
| Apr snow days = 1.4
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
|year snow days =
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00025322&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Gustavus, AK
|access-date = March 7, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=ajk
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Juneau
|access-date = March 7, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1940= 27
|1950= 82
|1960= 107
|1970= 64
|1980= 98
|1990= 258
|2000= 429
|2010= 442
|2020= 655
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|website=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
Gustavus first appeared on the 1940 U.S. Census as "Strawberry Point,"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/33973538v1ch11.pdf|title=Alaska|website=2.census.gov|access-date=January 31, 2022}}</ref> an unincorporated village. In 1950, it returned as Gustavus and was made a census-designated place (CDP) in 1980. Its status was changed to an incorporated city in 2004.

[[File:GustavusDock.jpg|thumb|The original Gustavus dock, which has since been replaced.]]
As of the 2000 [[census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|access-date=January 31, 2008|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> there were 429 people, 199 households, and 114 families in the city. The population density was {{convert|11.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 345 housing units at an average density of {{convert|9.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The city racial makeup was 89% white, 0% Black or African American, 4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 2% from other races, and 4% from two or more races. 1.4% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

Of the 199 households, 28% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47% were married couples living together, 6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43% were non-families. 38% of all households comprise individuals, and 6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.2 and the average family size was 2.9.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26% under the age of 18, 3% from 18 to 24, 30% from 25 to 44, 36% from 45 to 64, and 5% who were 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 130 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 135 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $34,800, and the median income for a family was $51,800. Males had a median income of $41,800 versus $29,400 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,100. 15% of the population and 10% of families were below the poverty line. 13% of those under the age of 18 and 14% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

==Economy==
The Gustavus economy<ref>{{cite web |last1=Crockett |first1=Zachary |title=The man feeding a remote Alaska town with a Costco card and a ship |url=https://thehustle.co/the-man-feeding-a-remote-alaska-town-with-a-costco-card-and-a-ship/ |website=The Hustle |access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref> is strongly linked to the surrounding natural resources; tourism and [[commercial fishing]] are mainstays. However, the importance of commercial fishing is in decline, as the [[Dungeness crab]] fishery in Glacier Bay National Park was closed in the early 2000s and the fishing for Dungeness outside of the national park has become poor. [[Salmon]] and [[halibut]] remain the primary catch of the commercial fishing done out of Gustavus. Those not involved in tourism or seafood typically work for the government at the public school, the post office, the [[National Park Service]], or the City of Gustavus.

The hardware and grocery store is called ToshCo, named after its owner and most of its inventory is from [[Costco]] in Juneau.<ref name="hsieh20190329">{{Cite news |last=Hsieh |first=Jeremy |date=March 29, 2019 |title=Does Juneau really have the smallest Costco in the world? |language=en-US |publisher=KTOO |url=https://www.ktoo.org/2019/03/28/does-juneau-really-have-the-smallest-costco-in-the-world/ |access-date=October 31, 2022}}</ref>

==Transportation==
Gustavus is not connected to the contiguous highway system. [[Gustavus Airport]] and the [[Alaska Marine Highway]] provide access between Gustavus and the outside world. During the [[COVID-19 pandemic|2020 coronavirus pandemic]], the ferry system shut down and Gustavus became even more isolated, relying on private boats for grocery shipments.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bowman |first1=Emma |title=14 Hours And A Costco Card: How A Grocer In Alaska Feeds His Town In A Pandemic |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/13/855096128/alaskan-grocer-takes-longer-to-stock-supplies-because-of-covid-19-restrictions |access-date=May 18, 2020 |publisher=National Public Radio |date=May 13, 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Alaska}}
* [http://www.gustavus-ak.gov City of Gustavus official website]
* [http://www.gustavusak.com Gustavus Visitor's Association]
* [http://www.gustavushistory.org Gustavus Historical Archives & Antiquities]

{{Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, Alaska}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:1917 establishments in Alaska]]
[[Category:Cities in Alaska]]
[[Category:Cities in Hoonah–Angoon Census Area, Alaska]]
[[Category:Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Alaska on the Pacific Ocean]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1917]]