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South Naknek
Alaska›Bristol Bay Borough

South NaknekAK

Settled in 1937, this town now has 73 residents.

Elevation of Holy Cross Church · Photo: Jet Lowe · Public domain
Photo of South Naknek

South Naknek, AK · Elevation of Holy Cross Church · Photo: Jet Lowe · Public domain

Is South Naknek a good place to live?

South Naknek’s average trip to work is 8 minutes, against 21 minutes in Alaska’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. No town among the 42 in Alaska we compare has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than South Naknek. 21% of the land in South Naknek is conserved, against 15% in Alaska’s towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. South Naknek has 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Elevation of Holy Cross Church and APA's Diamond NN Cannery. South Naknek has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

73 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Elevation of Holy Cross Church
Elevation of Holy Cross Church · National Register of Historic Places
South Naknek’s story

89 years in pictures

Census counts: 192 in 1880, 67 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 1997 and 2 maps from 1952 on.

2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

  • 1937South Naknek is settled
Explore the history →
Getting set up

Moving to South Naknek: who provides what

South Naknek is unincorporated, so Bristol Bay Borough and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerNaknek Electric AssnEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterSouth Naknek Water System1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & county servicesBristol Bay BoroughBristol Bay Borough provides services here
SchoolsBristol Bay Borough School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Alaska you can register online until 30 days before Election Day, in person until 30 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 30 days before).vote.gov
Who runs elections hereAbsentee and Petition OfficeState of Alaska; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code9967099670 100%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in South Naknek.

Outdoors

In South Naknek, 21.2% of the land is conserved

6.9 miles of trail. Only 4 of the 42 Alaska towns we compare have a lower trail network density than South Naknek.

21.2%conserved
21.2%
conserved · 12,177 of 57,402 acres
6.9 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Climate

South Naknek has snowy winters and pleasant summers

The midsummer high for South Naknek is 65°F.

47″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter12–26°
Spring26–44°
Summer47–63°
Fall29–44°
Sep 15
typical first frost
May 26
typical last frost

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Health

How healthy South Naknek is

Nearly a fifth of adults binge drink in South Naknek. Of the 42 Alaska towns we compare, none has a higher share of adults who have diabetes than South Naknek.

South NaknekTypical Alaska townTypical U.S. town
Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES)67%68%79%
Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES)19%16%14%
Binge drink (CDC PLACES)19%18%16%
Depression (CDC PLACES)19%21%23%
32 measures vs. Alaska
0 better29 too close to call3 worse
What stands outSouth NaknekAK
More adults who have had a stroke4%3.1%
More adults with diabetes11.8%9.4%
More adults with heart disease6.9%5.7%
Kanakanak Hospital
126 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Natural hazards

The biggest natural risk in South Naknek is earthquakes, at a moderate overall level

62% of South Naknek’s expected losses from natural hazards come from earthquakes, followed by cold waves at 35%. Storm and flood damage is expected to run lower than in 59% of U.S. communities.

41risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
41Moderate riskLowerHigher
EarthquakesCold waves

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Keep exploring

Everything we know about South Naknek

15pages on South Naknek
After high school

Colleges nearby

None within 15 miles of South Naknek; the nearest are

About South Naknek

CDP in Alaska, United States

South Naknek (Central Yupik: Qinuyang) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Bristol Bay Borough, Alaska, United States. At the 2020 census the population was 67, down from 79 in 2010.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Area
98 sq mi
ZIP code
99670

Questions about South Naknek

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is South Naknek, AK a good place to live?

South Naknek has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.