{{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Nikolai | native_name = Edze Dochak' | settlement_type = City | nickname = | motto = <!-- Images --> | image_skyline = Nikolai 20 4-8-2013 (8726587837).jpg | imagesize = | image_caption = Aerial view of Nikolai | image_flag = | image_seal = <!-- Maps --> | pushpin_map = USA Alaska | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Alaska
<!-- Location -->| subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Alaska | subdivision_type2 = Census Area | subdivision_name2 = Yukon-Koyukuk | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Tasiana John<ref>{{Cite book|title=2015 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory|location=Juneau|publisher=Alaska Municipal League|year=2015|page=111}}</ref> | leader_title1 = State senator | leader_name1 = Click Bishop (R) | leader_title2 = State rep. | leader_name2 = Mike Cronk (R) | established_title = Incorporated | established_date = July 9, 1970<ref>{{cite journal|title=Directory of Borough and City Officials 1974|journal=Alaska Local Government|volume=XIII|issue=2|page=58|location=Juneau|publisher=Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs|date=January 1974}}</ref>
<!-- 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 = 12.17 | area_land_km2 = 11.37 | area_water_km2 = 0.81 | area_total_sq_mi = 4.70 | area_land_sq_mi = 4.39 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.31
<!-- Population -->| population_as_of = 2020 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 89 | population_density_km2 = 7.83 | population_density_sq_mi = 20.28 | timezone = Alaska (AKST) | utc_offset = -9 | timezone_DST = AKDT | utc_offset_DST = -8 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 130 | elevation_ft = 427 | coordinates = {{coord|63|0|39|N|154|23|2|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}} | postal_code_type = ZIP code | postal_code = 99691 | area_code = 907 | area_code_type = Area code | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = 02-54150 | blank1_name = GNIS feature ID | blank1_info = {{GNIS 4|1407022}} | website = | footnotes = | pop_est_as_of = | pop_est_footnotes = | population_est = | unit_pref = Imperial }}
'''Nikolai'''<!---pronounced the same way as every other Nikolai--> (Edze Dochak' in Upper Kuskokwim) is a city in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. As of the 2020 census, Nikolai had a population of 89.<ref name="Census2020PLLede">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N&for=place%3A54150&in=state%3A02|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=February 4, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>
==History== The indigenous people of Nikolai, the Dina’ena, also referred to as Dichinanek’ Hwt’ana or Dikinanek Hut’ana, were nomads.<ref name="ba" />
Nikolai was established around 1910. That year, the first council was organized in the city by the Russian Orthodox Church.<ref name="ba" /> The modern-day city was established after 1918.<ref name="ba">{{cite web |title=Nikolai Community Development Plan |url=https://www.tananachiefs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Nikolai-2012-Final.pdf |publisher=Tanana Chiefs |access-date=April 12, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250117163749/https://www.tananachiefs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Nikolai-2012-Final.pdf |archive-date=17 January 2025 |page=3}}</ref>
The city was officially incorporated on July 9, 1970.
==Geography== Nikolai is located at {{coord|63|0|39|N|154|23|2|W|type:city}} (63.010838, -154.383895).<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>
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|4.9|sqmi|km2}}, of which, {{convert|4.5|sqmi|km2}} of it is land and {{convert|0.3|sqmi|km2}} of it (7.17%) is water.
===Climate=== Farewell Lake is a weather station roughly 38 miles south of Nikolai, at an elevation of 1060 ft (323.1 m).<ref name = "farewell">{{cite web|url = https://geographic.org/global_weather/alaska/farewell_lake_009.html |publisher = geographic.org |title = Data of Meteorological Station Farewell Lake, Alaska |access-date = January 21, 2024}}</ref> Farewell Lake has a subarctic climate (Köppen ''Dfc''). {{Weather box |single line = yes |location = Farewell Lake, Alaska, 1991-2020 normals, 1985-2009 extremes: 1060ft (323m) |Jan record high F = 49 |Feb record high F = 50 |Mar record high F = 53 |Apr record high F = 70 |May record high F = 82 |Jun record high F = 88 |Jul record high F = 85 |Aug record high F = 83 |Sep record high F = 77 |Oct record high F = 60 |Nov record high F = 56 |Dec record high F = 51 |year record high F =
|Jan avg record high F = 41.8 |Feb avg record high F = 44.2 |Mar avg record high F = 46.3 |Apr avg record high F = 57.9 |May avg record high F = 71.1 |Jun avg record high F = 79.6 |Jul avg record high F = 81.3 |Aug avg record high F = 74.7 |Sep avg record high F = 66.5 |Oct avg record high F = 53.7 |Nov avg record high F = 43.1 |Dec avg record high F = 42.4 |year avg record high F = 79.2
|Jan high F = 8.6 |Feb high F = 21.1 |Mar high F = 28.2 |Apr high F = 44.7 |May high F = 58.6 |Jun high F = 67.6 |Jul high F = 69.6 |Aug high F = 65.0 |Sep high F = 55.8 |Oct high F = 38.3 |Nov high F = 20.4 |Dec high F = 12.9 |year high F =
|Jan mean F = -1.8 |Feb mean F = 9.0 |Mar mean F = 14.2 |Apr mean F = 33.2 |May mean F = 46.2 |Jun mean F = 55.1 |Jul mean F = 58.9 |Aug mean F = 54.7 |Sep mean F = 45.5 |Oct mean F = 28.7 |Nov mean F = 10.3 |Dec mean F = 3.1 |year mean F =
|Jan low F = -12.2 |Feb low F = -3.1 |Mar low F = 0.2 |Apr low F = 21.6 |May low F = 33.8 |Jun low F = 42.6 |Jul low F = 48.3 |Aug low F = 44.5 |Sep low F = 35.2 |Oct low F = 19.1 |Nov low F = 0.1 |Dec low F = -6.8 |year low F =
|Jan avg record low F = -47.1 |Feb avg record low F = -38.4 |Mar avg record low F = -30.8 |Apr avg record low F = -7.9 |May avg record low F = 19.3 |Jun avg record low F = 31.7 |Jul avg record low F = 36.9 |Aug avg record low F = 29.1 |Sep avg record low F = 15.1 |Oct avg record low F = -10.9 |Nov avg record low F = -30.6 |Dec avg record low F = -39.8 |year avg record low F = -47.4
|Jan record low F = −71 |Feb record low F = −59 |Mar record low F = −50 |Apr record low F = −34 |May record low F = -4 |Jun record low F = 25 |Jul record low F = 31 |Aug record low F = 16 |Sep record low F = -2 |Oct record low F = -32 |Nov record low F = −52 |Dec record low F = −53 |year record low F =
|precipitation colour= green |Jan precipitation inch = 0.79 |Feb precipitation inch = 0.53 |Mar precipitation inch = 0.35 |Apr precipitation inch = 0.77 |May precipitation inch = 1.04 |Jun precipitation inch = 1.66 |Jul precipitation inch = 2.60 |Aug precipitation inch = 2.86 |Sep precipitation inch = 2.51 |Oct precipitation inch = 2.23 |Nov precipitation inch = 1.33 |Dec precipitation inch = 0.68 |year precipitation inch =
|Jan snow inch = 9.1 |Feb snow inch = 7.6 |Mar snow inch = 5.4 |Apr snow inch = 4.7 |May snow inch = 1.7 |Jun snow inch = 0.0 |Jul snow inch = 0.0 |Aug snow inch = 0.0 |Sep snow inch = 1.9 |Oct snow inch = 11.8 |Nov snow inch = 12.4 |Dec snow inch = 10.6 |year snow inch =
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in |Jan precipitation days = 4.9 |Feb precipitation days = 4.2 |Mar precipitation days = 4.0 |Apr precipitation days = 3.1 |May precipitation days = 5.9 |Jun precipitation days = 9.3 |Jul precipitation days = 12.1 |Aug precipitation days = 13.4 |Sep precipitation days = 11.5 |Oct precipitation days = 7.1 |Nov precipitation days = 7.9 |Dec precipitation days = 6.5
|unit snow days = 0.1 in |Jan snow days = 5.7 |Feb snow days = 4.8 |Mar snow days = 4.4 |Apr snow days = 3.0 |May snow days = 0.8 |Jun snow days = 0.0 |Jul snow days = 0.0 |Aug snow days = 0.0 |Sep snow days = 0.6 |Oct snow days = 6.0 |Nov snow days = 8.4 |Dec snow days = 7.2
|source 1 = NOAA (1981-2010 precip/snowfall)<ref name = NOAA1> {{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=USC00503009&format=pdf |title = Farewell Lake, Alaska 1991-2020 Monthly Normals |access-date = January 21, 2024 }} </ref><ref name = NOAA2> {{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00503009&format=pdf |title = Farewell Lake, Alaska 1981-2010 Monthly Normals |access-date = January 21, 2024 }} </ref> |source 2 = XMACIS2 (records & 1985-2009 monthly max/mins)<ref name = XMACIS2> {{cite web |url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/ |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title = xmACIS |access-date = January 21, 2024 }} </ref> }}
==Demographics== {{US Census population |1950= 88 |1960= 85 |1970= 112 |1980= 91 |1990= 109 |2000= 100 |2010= 94 |2020= 89 |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref> | align = right | align-fn = center }} Nikolai first appeared on the 1950 U.S. Census as an unincorporated village. It formally incorporated in 1970.
===2020 census===
As of the 2020 census, Nikolai had a population of 89. The median age was 35.8 years. 18.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 10.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 108.6 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME%2CDP1_0021P%2CDP1_0024P%2CDP1_0025C%2CDP1_0049C%2CDP1_0045C%2CDP1_0069C%2CDP1_0073C%2CDP1_0125P%2CDP1_0126P%2CDP1_0129P%2CDP1_0133P%2CDP1_0137P%2CDP1_0138P%2CDP1_0139P%2CDP1_0141P%2CDP1_0142P%2CDP1_0143P%2CDP1_0145P%2CDP1_0146P%2CDP1_0147C%2CDP1_0148C%2CDP1_0149C%2CDP1_0156C%2CDP1_0157C%2CDP1_0158C%2CDP1_0159P%2CDP1_0160P&for=place%3A54150&in=state%3A02|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=March 4, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N%2CP1_003N%2CP1_004N%2CP1_005N%2CP1_006N%2CP1_007N%2CP1_008N%2CP1_009N%2CP2_001N%2CP2_002N%2CH1_001N%2CH1_002N&for=place%3A54150&in=state%3A02|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=March 4, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME%2CP2_002N%2CP2_003N&for=place%3A54150&in=state%3A02|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=March 4, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>
There were 39 households in Nikolai, of which 43.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.2% were married-couple households, 17.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>
There were 45 housing units, of which 13.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 22.2%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>
{| class="wikitable" |+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census<ref name="Census2020PL"/> ! Race !! Number !! Percent |- | White || 11 || 12.4% |- | Black or African American || 0 || 0.0% |- | American Indian and Alaska Native || 72 || 80.9% |- | Asian || 0 || 0.0% |- | Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 0 || 0.0% |- | Some other race || 0 || 0.0% |- | Two or more races || 6 || 6.7% |- | ''Hispanic or Latino (of any race)'' || 2 || 2.2% |}
===2000 census===
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 100 people, 40 households, and 23 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|22.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 47 housing units at an average density of {{convert|10.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 19% White and 81% Native American.
There were 40 households, out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.5% were non-families. 42.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.35.
In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 27.0% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 194.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 160.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $15,000, and the median income for a family was $15,417. <!--Males had a median income of $0{{clarify|date=December 2012}} versus $0{{clarify|date=December 2012}} for females.--> The per capita income for the city was $11,029. There were 21.1% of families and 27.6% of the population living below the poverty line, including 22.2% of under eighteens and 15.8% of those over 64.
==Education== The Iditarod Area School District operates the Top of the Kuskokwim School in Nikolai.<ref>"[http://www.iditarodsd.org/new-page-79/ Top of the Kuskokwim School]." Iditarod Area School District. Retrieved on March 28, 2017.</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Commons category-inline}} * {{cite web|author=Collins, Raymond L.|editor=Sally Jo Collins|url=https://www.nps.gov/dena/learn/historyculture/upload/dichinanek%20hwtana.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721233843/http://www.nps.gov/dena/learn/historyculture/upload/Dichinanek%20Hwtana.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 21, 2015|title=DICHINANEK' HWT'ANA: A History of the people of the Upper Kuskokwim who live in Nikolai and Telida, Alaska|publisher=National Park Service|date=September 2000}} - Revised January 2004 * [http://vimeo.com/14854233 Student film on Nikolai]
{{Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska}}
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Category:Cities in Alaska Category:Cities in Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska