Toksook Bay
Nunakauyaq, Tuqsuq/Tuqsuk | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 60°31′50″N 165°06′12″W / 60.53056°N 165.10333°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Alaska |
Census Area | Bethel |
Incorporated | April 4, 1972[1] |
Government | |
• Mayor | Sam Chanar |
• State senator | Lyman Hoffman (D) |
• State rep. | Conrad McCormick (D) |
Area | |
• Total | 70.53 sq mi (182.67 km2) |
• Land | 28.71 sq mi (74.35 km2) |
• Water | 41.82 sq mi (108.32 km2) |
Elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 658 |
• Density | 22.92/sq mi (8.85/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−9 (Alaska (AKST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−8 (AKDT) |
ZIP Code | 99637 |
Area code | 907 |
FIPS code | 02-78240 |
GNIS feature ID | 1411060, 2418864 |
Toksook Bay (TOOK-sook or TUCK-sook)[3] is a city[4][5] and village on Nelson Island in Bethel Census Area, Alaska. The population was 590 at the 2010 census, up from 532 in 2000. As of 2018, the estimated population was 667,[4][6] making it the largest village on the island.
Toksook Bay (pronounced Tuqsuk Bay in Yup'ik) was established in 1964 by residents of nearby Nightmute. Nunakauyaq is its ‘real name’.[7][8] Almost the entire population are members of the Alaska Native Nunakauyarmiut ("People of Nunakauyaq"), who rely on fishing and other subsistence activities.
The village was called Nunakauyaq before people started calling it Toksook. When people relocated here, they started searching a new name for it. When people met and began tossing different names around, one of them said—these places we call kangiqutat, are they called bay in English? Then these two young men said that we should call it Toksook Bay [Tuqsuk Bay]. Then that name was picked. The real name [atpi-a] for the place was Nunakauyaq.
Nunakauyaq is the 'real name' (atpi-a) for Toksook Bay (on Nelson Island), while Tuqsuk is a new name given after the river going from the Bay to Negta (Nightmiut) when a part of people moved from the latter village to the new site (David Chanar, p.c.).