Chevak, Alaska
Chevak (Cevʼaq , which means "cut-through channel" in Chevak Cup’ik) is a city in Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2020 census the population was 951, up from 938 in 2010.
Chevak
Cevʼaq | |
|---|---|
Chevak, August 2013 | |
Chevak Location in Alaska | |
| Coordinates: 61°31′40″N 165°34′43″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Census Area | Kusilvak |
| Incorporated | October 13, 1967 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Phillip Paniyak |
| • State senator | Lyman Hoffman (D) |
| • State rep. | Conrad McCormick (D) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.14 sq mi (2.96 km2) |
| • Land | 1.14 sq mi (2.96 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 49 ft (15 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 951 |
| • Density | 832.02/sq mi (321.11/km2) |
| • Demonym | Chevaker |
| Time zone | UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-8 (AKDT) |
| ZIP code | 99563 |
| Area code | 907 |
| FIPS code | 02-13230 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1400219 |
There is a tri-language system in Chevak; English, Cup’ik, and a mixture of the two languages. The people in Chevak speak a dialect of Central Yup'ik, Cup'ik (pr. Chew-pick), and identify themselves as Cup'ik people rather than Yup'ik. This unique identity has allowed them to form a single-site school district, the Kashunamiut School District, rather than joining a neighboring Yup'ik school district. The Cup'ik dialect is distinguished from Yup'ik by the change of "y" sounds into "ch" sounds, represented by the letter "c", and by some words that are completely different from Yup'ik words.