False Pass, Alaska facts for kids

Quick facts for kids False Pass Isanax̂
City
False Pass looking north
Nickname(s):  "The Pass" The center of False Pass as seen from the south.
False Pass, Alaska Location in Alaska
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Borough	Aleutians East
Incorporated	October 19, 1990
Area
• Total	65.55 sq mi (169.76 km2)
• Land	25.07 sq mi (64.93 km2)
• Water	40.48 sq mi (104.83 km2)
Elevation	30 ft (9 m)
Population  (2020)approximately 35 permanent residents
• Total	397
• Density	15.84/sq mi (6.11/km2)
Time zone	UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-8 (AKDT)
ZIP codes	99583
Area code	907
FIPS code	02-24660
GNIS feature ID	1418574
Website	City Website

False Pass (Aleut: Isanax̂) is a city on Unimak Island, in the Aleutians East Borough of southwestern Alaska, United States. Although the population was marked 397 including seasonal fish processing plant workers at the 2020 census, approximately 35 residents call it home year-round.

History

False Pass is an early English name for Isanotski Strait on which the city of False Pass is located. The strait was called "False Pass" by early American sailing ship captains because it was thought to be impassable for their deep draft vessels at the northern end. A salmon cannery was built on the Unimak Island side of the strait in 1919 which provided the nucleus for the modern settlement. A U.S. post office with the name of False Pass was established in 1921 which gave official status to the community.

Commercial fishing for salmon, cod, halibut and crab continues to be the core of the community's lifestyle and economy.

Geography

Boundaries of the city of False Pass, Alaska

False Pass is at 54°49′40″N 163°23′57″W / 54.82778°N 163.39917°W / 54.82778; -163.39917 (54.827886, -163.399090). It is near the eastern end of Unimak Island, in the Aleutian Islands chain. Part of the city (26.093 km², or 10.075 sq mi) is on the mainland's westernmost tip Alaska Peninsula, across the Isanotski Strait (about 600 meters at the closest point), although that section is nearly unpopulated. The city boundaries include the abandoned villages of Morzhovoi and Ikatan.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 68.3 square miles (177 km²), of which 26.9 square miles (70 km²) is land and 41.4 square miles (107 km²) (60.63%) is water.

Transportation

Boats and aircraft are the only transportation to and from False Pass. Aircraft use False Pass Airport.

Demographics

False Pass first appeared on the 1930 U.S. Census as the unincorporated area of "Unimak." This included the populations of both False Pass and Ikatan. It reported again in 1940, but in 1950, was returned separately as False Pass (as an unincorporated village). It was made a census-designated place in 1980.

Education

Aleutians East Borough School District (AEBSD) operates the False Pass School.

c. 1978 the school, then a part of the Aleutian Region School District, had a single teacher, and 8 students.

Picture gallery

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  Crab boats loading pots in False Pass, AK.

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  Local salmon seiner, False Pass, AK.

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  Gillnetters at Peter Pan dock, False Pass, AK.

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  Salmon boats at dock in False Pass, AK.

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  Salmon boats hauled up in False Pass, AK.

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  Local salmon seiner "up for the winter".

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  Seattle freighter arrives twice a month at False Pass.

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  Alaska Ferry Tustamena arrives monthly in False Pass.

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  Peter Pan dock, looking west, False Pass.

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  Old cannery board walks, False Pass.

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  Original plat for cannery, False Pass.

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  False Pass P.O., library, City Offices.

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  False Pass Medical Clinic.

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  False Pass School and Roundtop volcano.

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  False Pass grocery store & city dock.

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  View east down Roundtop Valley, False Pass.

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  Cemetery in False Pass, Alaska.

See also

In Spanish: False Pass para niños