Gustavus () () is a second-class city in Hoonah-Angoon Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to the 2020 census, its population of 655, reflects a 48% increase from 442 in the 2010 census, 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 and helped quell the trouble in 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 hemlock trees reach heights of , and alders, balsam poplar, fern, mosses, fireweed, lupine, and other plants are common. Gustavus's coastal location gives it a relatively mild winter. Summer temperatures range from , while winter temperatures range from .
Geography
Gustavus is located at (58.416327, -135.745549).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which are land and , or 11.16%, are water.
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, 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 Dfc) with short, mild summers and long, cold winters.
Demographics
Gustavus first appeared on the 1940 U.S. Census as "Strawberry Point," 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.
thumb|The original Gustavus dock, which has since been replaced.
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Gustavus had a population of 655. The median age was 51.0 years. 18.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 26.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 108.2 males age 18 and over.
There were 302 households in Gustavus, of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.3% were married-couple households, 24.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 16.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 564 || 86.1%
|-
| Black or African American || 1 || 0.2%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 34 || 5.2%
|-
| Asian || 0 || 0.0%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 0 || 0.0%
|-
| Some other race || 4 || 0.6%
|-
| Two or more races || 52 || 7.9%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 18 || 2.7%
|}
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 429 people, 199 households, and 114 families in the city. The population density was . There were 345 housing units at an average density of . 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 Hispanic or 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 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.
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 2020 coronavirus pandemic, the ferry system shut down and Gustavus became even more isolated, relying on private boats for grocery shipments.
References
External links
- City of Gustavus official website
- Gustavus Visitor's Association
- Gustavus Historical Archives & Antiquities