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Community Type: 2nd Class City
- Current
Population: 466
- Borough
Name: Unorganized
- Regional
Native Corporation: Doyon, Limited
- REAA/School
District: Iditarod Area Schools
- Latitude:
62° 57' N
- Longitude:
155° 35' W
- See Map
of the region
- Land Area:
37.60
- Water Area:
4.60
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| Location:
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McGrath is located 221 miles northwest of Anchorage and 269 miles
southwest of Fairbanks in Interior Alaska. It is adjacent to the
Kuskokwim River directly south of its confluence with the Takotna
River.
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| History:
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McGrath was a seasonal Native village which grew into a small
mining supply center. It was an important fuel stop during World
War II. The FAA built a communications complex here. It has become
the regional center on the Upper Kuskokwim for education, transportation
and mining exploration.
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| Culture:
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A little less than half of the population are Athabascans, Eskimos
or Aleuts. As a regional center, McGrath offers a variety of employment
opportunities, but subsistence remains an important part of the
local culture. About 10 families in town have dog teams which
they enter into the Iditarod, Kuskokwim 300, and Mail Trail 200
races.
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| Economy:
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McGrath is a regional growth center which functions as a transportation,
communications, and supply nucleus in Interior Alaska. It is essentially
a cash economy with diversity, and many families rely upon subsistence.
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| Transportation:
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There are no road connections to McGrath. Residents rely on air
and barge services. Facilities include a State-owned airstrip
and a seaplane base. The airport is currently undergoing major
improvements.
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| Climate:
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The McGrath area has a cold, continental climate with a slight
maritime influence during summer. Summer temperatures range from
62 to 80, winters run from -64 to 0. Average snowfall is 86 inches,
and rainfall is 4 inches per year.
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