Kwik'Pak communities

Mountain village

With a population of 813, Mountain Village is on the north bank of the Yukon River, approximately 20 miles west of St. Mary's and 470 miles northwest of Anchorage. It is at the foot of the 500' Azachorok Mountain, the first mountain encountered by those traveling up the Yukon. The climate is continental with maritime influences. Temperatures range from -44 to 80 °F. Annual precipitation averages 16 inches, with snowfall of 44 inches. High winds and low visibility are common during winter. The Lower Yukon is ice-free from mid-June to October.

Mountain Village was a summer fish camp until the opening of a general store in 1908. The city government was incorporated in 1967. Mountain Village became a regional education center in 1976 when it was selected as headquarters for the Lower Yukon School District. It is a Yup'ik Eskimo community with traditional subsistence practices. Mountain Village has a seasonal economy based on fishing and subsistence.

Currently, 75 residents hold commercial fishing permits, and 7 residents hold fresh water fish permits provided by Kwikpak Fisheries. Subsistence foods are relied upon, including salmon, moose, and waterfowl. Some residents trap for additional income. A summer road links Mountain Village to Pitka's Point, Andreafsky, and St. Mary's. The community is accessible by riverboat or bargeIn the winter, passengers, cargo, and mail are flown in by plane. Snowmachines and skiffs are used for local transportation.