Editing McCarthy, Alaska

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = McCarthy, Alaska
|settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place|CDP]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = McCarthy Alaska.jpg
|imagesize                = 250 px
|image_caption            = The old McCarthy hardware store
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = AKMap-doton-McCarthy.PNG
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of McCarthy, Alaska
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- 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|Census Area]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Copper River Census Area, Alaska|Copper River]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Alaska Senate|State senator]]
|leader_name              = [[Click Bishop]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
|leader_title1            = [[Alaska House of Representatives|State rep.]]
|leader_name1             = [[Mike Cronk]] (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|access-date=October 29, 2021}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 387.14
|area_land_km2            = 387.14
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 149.47
|area_land_sq_mi          = 149.47
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 107
|population_density_km2   = 0.28
|population_density_sq_mi = 0.72

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Alaska Time Zone|Alaska (AKST)]]
|utc_offset               = -9
|timezone_DST             = AKDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -8
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 427
|elevation_ft             = 1401
| coordinates_footnotes     = <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>
|coordinates              = {{coord|61|25|58|N|142|54|39|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               = 02-45790
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1406098
|website                  = 
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|unit_pref = Imperial
}}

'''McCarthy''' is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Copper River Census Area, Alaska]], United States. It is in [[Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve]]. The population was 107 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], up from 28 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 = December 5, 2021}}</ref>

== Geography and location ==
[[File:Alaska - McCarthy through Kodiak - NARA - 23939741.jpg|thumb|right|Aerial image from the 1930s]]
[[File:Landing Fields - Alaska - Manley Hot Springs through McCarthy - NARA - 68158888 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|McCarthy in 1939]]
McCarthy is {{convert|120|mi|km|abbr=on}} northeast of [[Cordova, Alaska|Cordova]] at the foot of the [[Wrangell Mountains]]. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP of McCarthy has a total area of {{convert|148.3|sqmi|km2}}. None of the area is covered with water. It is connected to the outside world via the [[McCarthy Road]] spur of the [[Edgerton Highway]] from [[Chitina, Alaska|Chitina]], and must be passed through to reach [[Kennecott, Alaska|Kennecott]], which is also within the McCarthy CDP. Historically, from the end of the road one had to cross the [[Kennecott River]] and then a smaller stream using manually propelled [[aerial lift|ropeways]], but a footbridge was built in 1997. Visitors can walk to McCarthy in about 15&nbsp;minutes, although shuttle vans and buses are available during the tourist season from the bridge to both McCarthy and Kennecott.<ref>{{cite book|author=Staff|year=2007|chapter= McCarthy Road|title=The Milepost|edition=59th|location=Augusta, Georgia|publisher=Morris Communications|page=487|isbn=978-1-892154-21-7|title-link=The Milepost}}</ref> A private service bridge for vehicle traffic was constructed in 2004 downstream from the footbridge, but use is only available to residents, businesses, and the National Park Service for an annual fee.<ref name="Kennicott River Service Bridge">{{cite web |last1=Rowland |first1=Laurie |title=Kennicott River Bridge |url=http://vlrc.org/articles/40.html |website=vlrc.org |access-date=January 29, 2023}}</ref>

== Climate ==
McCarthy has a [[subarctic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Dsc'').

{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = McCarthy, Alaska (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1984–2017)
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 44
|Feb record high F = 54
|Mar record high F = 56
|Apr record high F = 71
|May record high F = 86
|Jun record high F = 90
|Jul record high F = 90
|Aug record high F = 86
|Sep record high F = 72
|Oct record high F = 75
|Nov record high F = 58
|Dec record high F = 56
|Jan avg record high F = 34.6
|Feb avg record high F = 42.0
|Mar avg record high F = 48.3
|Apr avg record high F = 59.0
|May avg record high F = 74.7
|Jun avg record high F = 82.5
|Jul avg record high F = 82.5
|Aug avg record high F = 78.6
|Sep avg record high F = 66.7
|Oct avg record high F = 54.6
|Nov avg record high F = 39.7
|Dec avg record high F = 37.4
|year avg record high F = 84.4
|year record high F =
| Jan high F = 6.0
| Feb high F = 20.7
| Mar high F = 32.9
| Apr high F = 47.7
| May high F = 62.2
| Jun high F = 69.7
| Jul high F = 71.4
| Aug high F = 66.8
| Sep high F = 55.5
| Oct high F = 38.6
| Nov high F = 17.3
| Dec high F = 9.2
|year high F = 41.5
|Jan mean F = -1.6
|Feb mean F = 9.7
|Mar mean F = 18.2
|Apr mean F = 34.6
|May mean F = 46.6
|Jun mean F = 54.3
|Jul mean F = 57.3
|Aug mean F = 53.5
|Sep mean F = 44.3
|Oct mean F = 29.4
|Nov mean F = 9.7
|Dec mean F = 2.3
|year mean F = 29.9
| Jan low F = -9.1
| Feb low F = -1.3
| Mar low F = 3.5
| Apr low F = 21.6
| May low F = 30.9
| Jun low F = 38.9
| Jul low F = 43.3
| Aug low F = 40.2
| Sep low F = 33.1
| Oct low F = 20.2
| Nov low F = 2.0
| Dec low F = -4.5
|year low F = 18.2
|Jan avg record low F = -40.6
|Feb avg record low F = -28.5
|Mar avg record low F = -23.9
|Apr avg record low F = 0.7
|May avg record low F = 19.7
|Jun avg record low F = 28.3
|Jul avg record low F = 34.0
|Aug avg record low F = 28.0
|Sep avg record low F = 17.3
|Oct avg record low F = -4.7
|Nov avg record low F = -27.4
|Dec avg record low F = -32.9
|year avg record low F = -46.9
|Jan record low F = -55
|Feb record low F = -49
|Mar record low F = -41
|Apr record low F = -21
|May record low F = -1
|Jun record low F = 24
|Jul record low F = 28
|Aug record low F = 18
|Sep record low F = 6
|Oct record low F = -22
|Nov record low F = -46
|Dec record low F = -50
|year record low F =
|precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 0.93
| Feb precipitation inch = 1.11
| Mar precipitation inch = 0.40
| Apr precipitation inch = 0.31
| May precipitation inch = 0.93
| Jun precipitation inch = 1.63
| Jul precipitation inch = 2.45
| Aug precipitation inch = 2.65
| Sep precipitation inch = 2.56
| Oct precipitation inch = 2.22
| Nov precipitation inch = 1.45
| Dec precipitation inch = 1.06
|year precipitation inch = 17.70
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 8.7
| Feb precipitation days = 7.1
| Mar precipitation days = 4.7
| Apr precipitation days = 2.8
| May precipitation days = 7.0
| Jun precipitation days = 11.3
| Jul precipitation days = 14.0
| Aug precipitation days = 16.4
| Sep precipitation days = 15.4
| Oct precipitation days = 11.2
| Nov precipitation days = 10.1
| Dec precipitation days = 9.3
| year precipitation days = 118.0
|Jan snow inch = 13.2
|Feb snow inch = 7.9
|Mar snow inch = 5.4
|Apr snow inch = 2.5
|May snow inch = 0.6
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 2.7
|Oct snow inch = 9.4
|Nov snow inch = 13.5
|Dec snow inch = 11.3
|year snow inch = 66.5
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 8.8
|Feb snow days = 6.6
|Mar snow days = 4.4
|Apr snow days = 2.2
|May snow days = 0.4
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 1.2
|Oct snow days = 5.2
|Nov snow days = 9.3
|Dec snow days = 8.6
|year snow days = 46.7
|source 1 = NOAA<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00505757&format=pdf
| title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| access-date = June 17, 2021
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/
| title = xmACIS2
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| access-date = August 8, 2023
}}</ref>
}}

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|1920= 127
|1930= 115
|1940= 49
|1990= 25
|2000= 42
|2010= 28
|2020= 107
|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|access-date=June 6, 2013}}</ref>
}}
McCarthy first reported on the 1920 U.S. Census as an unincorporated village. With the closure of the post office in 1943,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rr9RAQAAMAAJ&q=mccarthy&pg=PA49 |title = Geological Survey Professional Paper|year = 1949}}</ref> it did not report on the census from 1950 to 1980, though it unofficially returned 22 residents in 1980. It returned again beginning in 1990 when it was made a census-designated place (CDP).

As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 42 people, 26 households, and 6 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|0.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 47 housing units at an average density of {{convert|0.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 100.00% [[Race (United States Census)|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.

Drawn by an increase in tourism since the founding of Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve, a significant portion of McCarthy's summer population resides elsewhere in the winter. This results in them not being counted during the censuses.

In the CDP, the age distribution of the population shows 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. 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 65.

== History ==
[[File:McCarthy, Alaska.PNG|thumb|450px|1917 map depicting copper and gold mining in the area.  "x" depicts copper while "o" depicts gold.]]
[[File:Alaska - McCarthy through Kodiak - NARA - 23939743.jpg|thumb|right|Railroads at McCarthy]]
For centuries, [[Athabascan]]s hunted in the area of McCarthy. Chief Nikolai and his band of Athabaskan Natives had a summer camp at Dan Creek, 15 miles east of McCarthy, where they collected copper nuggets from Dan Creek. Their permanent camp was on the Copper River at the village of Taral near Chitina where they fished for salmon.

Copper was discovered between the Kennicott Glacier and McCarthy Creek in 1900, after which [[Kennicott Mine]], Kennecott Mining Company, and company town of [[Kennecott, Alaska|Kennecott]] were created. Due to a clerical error, the corporation and town used the spelling of ''Kennecott'' instead of ''Kennicott'', named for [[Kennicott Glacier]] in the valley below the town. The glacier was named after [[Robert Kennicott]], a naturalist who explored in Alaska in the mid-1800s.

Partly because alcoholic beverages and prostitution were forbidden in Kennecott, McCarthy grew as an area to provide illicit 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.

[[File:Main Street of McCarthy (Alaska).JPG|thumb|right|250px|The bulk of McCarthy's main road]]
In 1938, the copper deposits 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 Kennecott fell to almost zero until the 1970s, when the area began to draw young people from the many who came to Alaska in the '70s for adventure and the big money of the [[Trans-Alaska Pipeline System|Trans Alaska Pipeline]] project. In the '80s, after the area was designated Wrangell-St. Elias National Park (1980), it began to draw some adventurous tourists to the new national park.  The few people that lived there began to provide a variety of tourist services. There has always been at least one family living in the McCarthy area since 1953.

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

In 2014, the TV  show ''[[Edge of Alaska]]'' premiered on [[Discovery Channel]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/edge-of-alaska|title=Edge of Alaska &#124; Watch Full Episodes & More!}}</ref> The show has caused controversy though, as many town residents feel the town is portrayed in a bad light due to the troublesome incidents that have occurred there.

=== 1983 shooting ===
In an attempt to disrupt the Alaska pipeline,<ref name=anchorage-daily-news>{{cite news
 | title=McCarthy killer gets 634 years
 | last=Kizzia
 | first=Tom
 | newspaper=[[Anchorage Dly. News|Anchorage Daily News]]
 | date=July 28, 1984
| pages=a–1, a–16
 | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NAEqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gqcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2254%2C6382405
 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124164537/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NAEqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gqcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2254,6382405
 | archive-date=January 24, 2013
| access-date=August 13, 2012
| via=[[Google News Archive]]
 | url-status=dead
}}</ref> 39-year-old Louis D. Hastings, armed with a [[.223 Remington|.223-caliber]] [[Ruger Mini-14]] [[semi-automatic rifle]],<ref>{{cite news
 | agency=[[Associated Press]]
 | title=Weapon list found in mass murder case
 | newspaper=[[Gainesv. Sun|The Gainesville Sun]]
 | date=March 10, 1983
| page=3A
 | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ajxWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vukDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6534%2C3165602
 | access-date=August 13, 2012
| via=[[Google News Archive]]
}}</ref> murdered six of the 22 citizens of McCarthy on March 1, 1983. The victims were Maxine Edwards, Harley King, Les and Flo Hegland, Tim Nash and Amy Lou Ashenden Nash.<ref name=anchorage-daily-news />  He also wounded two people. In July 1984, Hastings was sentenced to 634 years in prison.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=Killer of six Alaskans gets a 634-year term
 | newspaper=[[N. Y. Times|The New York Times]]
 | agency=[[United Press International]]
 | date=July 30, 1984
| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/30/us/killer-of-six-alaskans-gets-a-634-year-term.html
 | access-date=August 13, 2012
}}</ref>

This case, and the town of McCarthy, were showcased on the [[Discovery Channel]]'s ''[[Alaska Ice Cold Killers]]'' episode "Frozen Terror".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/other-shows/videos/alaska-ice-cold-killers-neighbor-turned-mad-man/|title=Discovery – Official Site|website=www.discovery.com}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* https://books.google.com/books?id=DIG_9oBssrAC&q=%2F&pg=PA176

== External links ==
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20101114141512/http://www.largestnationalpark.com/history.html McCarthy/Kennecott history]}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051127044553/http://www.met.utah.edu/cgi-bin/droman/meso_base.cgi?stn=MCKA2 Weather conditions from a remote weather station in McCarthy]

{{Copper River Census Area, Alaska}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Alaska]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Copper River Census Area, Alaska]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Unorganized Borough, Alaska]]
[[Category:Mining communities in Alaska]]