Editing Knik River, Alaska

{{For|the river|Knik River}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Knik River, Alaska
| settlement_type    = [[Census-designated place|CDP]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = 
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = Matanuska-Susitna Borough Alaska incorporated and unincorporated areas Knik River highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 260px
| map_caption        = Location in [[Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska|Matanuska-Susitna Borough]] and the state of [[Alaska]]
| pushpin_map        = Alaska
| pushpin_label_position = left <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the state of Alaska
| pushpin_mapsize    = <!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Alaska]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of boroughs and census areas in Alaska|Borough]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska|Matanuska-Susitna]]
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Borough [[mayor]]
| leader_name        = [[Edna DeVries]]
| leader_title1      = [[Alaska Senate|State senator]]
| leader_name1       = [[Shelley Hughes]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
| leader_title2      = [[Alaska House of Representatives|State rep.]]
| leader_name2       = [[DeLena Johnson]] (R)
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = <!-- Area -->
| 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|accessdate=October 29, 2021}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 237.44
| area_land_km2      = 211.65
| area_water_km2     = 25.79
| area_total_sq_mi   = 91.68
| area_land_sq_mi    = 81.72
| area_water_sq_mi   = 9.96

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 792
| population_density_km2 = 3.74
| population_density_sq_mi = 9.69

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[Alaska Time Zone|Alaska (AKST)]]
| utc_offset         = -9
| timezone_DST       = AKDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -8
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 
| elevation_ft       = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|61|30|28|N|149|0|13|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = 
| postal_code        = 
| area_code          = [[Area code 907|907]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 02-40670
| blank1_name        = 
| blank1_info        = 
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
}}

'''Knik River''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|n|ɪ|k}} is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska|Matanuska-Susitna Borough]] in the U.S. state of [[Alaska]]. Located 15 miles southeast from [[Palmer, Alaska|Palmer]] along the [[Knik River]], it is part of the [[Anchorage, Alaska]] [[Anchorage metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. The population was 792 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], up from 744 in 2010.<ref name="2020 Census Data">{{cite web|url = https://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/cen/2020-census-data.html|title = 2020 Census Data - Cities and Census Designated Places|format = Web|publisher = State of Alaska, Department of Labor and Workforce Development|access-date = October 31, 2021}}</ref>

==Geography and climate==
Knik River is located at {{Coord|61|28|15|N|148|51|38|W}} (61.470970, -148.86064)<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> (Sec. 24, T016N, R003W, Seward Meridian), in the Palmer [[Recording District (Alaska)|Recording District]].

The community is at the head of the [[Knik Arm]] of [[Cook Inlet]] in [[Southcentral Alaska]], {{convert|27|km|mi|abbr=on}} northeast of [[Anchorage, Alaska|Anchorage]]. The community has developed along the south bank of the Knik River, which flows into Knik Arm, at the southern border of the Mat-Su Borough. It lies along the Old [[Glenn Highway]] and Knik River Road.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|93.2|sqmi|km2}}, of which, {{convert|90.4|sqmi|km2}} of it is land and {{convert|2.8|sqmi|km2}} of it (2.95%) is water.

===Climate===
The temperatures in January range from -35&nbsp;°F (-37&nbsp;°C) to 33&nbsp;°F (1&nbsp;°C); in July, 72&nbsp;°F (6&nbsp;°C) to 85&nbsp;°F (29&nbsp;°C). Annual precipitation is 16.5&nbsp;inches (42&nbsp;cm), including 43&nbsp;inches (109&nbsp;cm) of snowfall.

==History==
The ''Knik (Arm area) or K′enah Ht’ana'' regional band of [[Dena'ina people|Dena'ina]] [[Athabascans]] were the earliest inhabitants of the region. They traveled through the area on a winter trail from [[Eklutna, Alaska|Eklutna]] up the [[Knik River]] to the [[Copper River (Alaska)|Copper River]]. The Palmer Road, now the Old Glenn Highway, was built through the area to Palmer in 1942. A lodge on Goat Creek was popular with travelers. The Eklutna Power Project was also built in the 1940s, including [[tract housing]] for employees. Knik River Road started as a logging road in the early 1950s; a gravel road was built in the late 1960s. The road is now paved up to Hunter Creek.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|2000= 582
|2010= 744
|2020= 792
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 6, 2013}}</ref>
}}
Knik River first appeared on the 2000 U.S. Census as a census-designated place (CDP).

As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 582 people, 216 households, and 147 families residing in the CDP.  The population density was {{convert|6.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 263 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the CDP was 85.74% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.17% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 6.70% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.86% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.37% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 5.15% from two or more races.  2.58% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 216 households, out of which 38.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 31.3% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 35.4% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.6 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 119.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $55,000, and the median income for a family was $55,000. Males had a median income of $36,071 versus $27,143 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $19,104.  About 19.7% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 23.8% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

==Public services==
Most homes use individual wells and septic systems. There are a few private piped systems; some residents haul water and use outhouses. The Eklutna Power Project is located in the community. The Borough provides a refuse transfer site in Butte. Electricity is provided by Matanuska Electric Association. There are no state operated schools located in the community. Local hospitals or health clinics include Valley Hospital in Palmer (746-8600) or Anchorage hospitals.  Auxiliary health care is provided by Butte Ambulance Service (373-8800/745-4811), Anchorage or Palmer hospitals.

==Economy and transportation==
Many residents are employed in Anchorage or the Palmer/Wasilla area in a variety of positions in the private and public sectors. Retail trade, transportation, and education are the primary employers.

Knik River lies off the Glenn Highway. Many forms of transportation are available in nearby Palmer and Anchorage.

===Taxes===
Sales: None, Property: 11.483 mills (Borough), Special: 5% Accommodations Tax (Borough)

==In popular culture==
*Jessie Arnold, fictional [[Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race|Iditarod]] musher and protagonist of a series of murder mysteries by author [[Sue Henry]], lives outside of the city of Palmer in the Knik River valley.
*The river is featured in the program [[I Shouldn't Be Alive]], Season 6, Episode 4: ''Escape From Bear Mountain''.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/commdb/CIS.cfm?Comm_Boro_Name=Knik%20River State of Alaska, Division of Community Advocacy, Community Information Summary]

{{Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Alaska]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska]]
[[Category:Anchorage metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Denaʼina]]