Cantwell Alaska

Current Population:	204 (2006 DCCED Certified Population)
Incorporation Type:	Unincorporated
Borough Located In:	Denali Borough
Taxes:	Sales: None, Property: None, Special: 7% Accommodations Tax; Severance Tax $.05/Yard (all Borough)

Location and Climate

On a Highway and Railroad and Utility Corridor that is . . .

near Denali (Mount McKinley) National Park

Half-Way Between Anchorage and Faribanks

(2 of the State Largest Citys)

Cantwell is located on the George Parks Highway at the west end of the Denali Highway . . .

211 miles north of Anchorage

and 28 miles south of Denali (Mount McKinley) Park.

Part of the community is located on the Alaska Railroad.

The areas known as Kantishna and Carlo Creek are located nearby. The community lies at approximately 63.391670° North Latitude and -148.950830° (West) Longitude. (Sec. 31, T017S, R007W, Fairbanks Meridian.) Cantwell is located in the Nenana Recording District. The area encompasses 118.3 sq. miles of land and 0.5 sq. miles of water.

The climate in Cantwell is continental, characterized by long, cold winters and relatively warm summers.

Total annual precipitation averages 15 inches and annual snowfall averages 78 inches. Extreme temperatures ranging from a low of -54 to a high of 89 degrees Fahrenheit have been recorded.

Organizations with Local Offices

Community Non-Profit - Community of Cantwell, Inc.

P.O. Box 9

Cantwell, AK 99729

Phone 907-768-2434

Web http://www.homestead.com/akcci/home.html

Village Council - Native Village of Cantwell

P.O. Box 94

Cantwell, AK 99729

Phone 907-768-2591

Fax 907-768-1111

E-mail hallvc@yahoo.com

Regional Organizations

Borough - Denali Borough

P.O. Box 480

Healy, AK 99743

Phone 907-683-1330

Fax 907-683-1340

E-mail dbgovt@mtaonline.net

Web http://www.denaliborough.govoffice.com

Regional Native Corporation - Ahtna, Incorporated

P.O. Box 649

Glennallen, AK 99588

Phone 907-822-3476

Fax 907-822-3495

E-mail brebne@ahtna.net

Web http://www.ahtna-inc.com/

Native Housing Authority - Copper River Basin Reg Housing

P.O. Box 89

Glennallen, AK 99588

Phone 907-822-3633

Fax 907-822-3662

E-mail jdoty@crbrha.org

Web http://www.crbrha.org/

Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care

The majority of homes and the school have individual water wells and septic systems.

Over 50% of households have complete plumbing.

Refuse is deposited in a Borough transfer station, then hauled to the new regional landfill just south of Anderson.

Electricity is provided by Golden Valley Electric Association.

There is one school located in the community, attended by 22 students.

Local hospitals or health clinics include Cantwell Clinic (907-768-2122).

Cantwell Clinic is a Primary Health Care facility. Cantwell is classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 1C in the Interior Region.

Emergency Services have highway, air and helicopter access.

Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service, volunteers and a health aide Auxiliary health care is provided by Cantwell Volunteer Ambulance (768-2162/768-2982).

Economy and Transportation

Cantwell's economy is based on highway tourism and transportation.

Part-time seasonal construction jobs also provide income.

Most Native residents also depend on subsistence hunting, fishing, trapping and gathering.

One resident holds a commercial fishing permit.

Cantwell is accessible by road, rail and air.

The George Parks Highway connects to Fairbanks and Anchorage, and the Denali Highway links Denali Park with the Richardson Highway during summer months only.

There are two privately-owned airstrips; Cantwell Heights Property Owners operate a 2,080' long by 70' wide gravel airstrip for public use.

A privately-owned helipad is also available at the Igloo.

The Alaska Railroad still provides train service.

History, Culture and Demographics

The Cantwell River was the former name of the Nenana River.

The earliest inhabitants of the area were nomadic Indians who trapped, hunted and fished throughout Interior Alaska.

Cantwell began as a flag stop on the Alaska Railroad.

Oley Nicklie was the first Indian to settle here.

When fur prices dropped, he and his two brothers sought work with the railroad.

A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Native Village of Cantwell.

The population of the community consists of 27% Alaska Native or part Native.

Alaska Natives in the Cantwell area are primarily Athabascan Indians. During the 2000 U.S. Census, total housing units numbered 178, and vacant housing units numbered 76.

Vacant housing units used only seasonally numbered 60. U.S. Census data for Year 2000 showed 121 residents as employed.

The unemployment rate at that time was 11.03 percent, although 39.5 percent of all adults were not in the work force.

The median household income was $43,750, per capita income was $22,615, and 2.05 percent of residents were living below the poverty level.

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