WADE HAMPTON CENSUS AREA, AK HISTORY AND LOOKUP (FORMERLY KNOWN AS KUSILVAK CENSUS AREA)

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Table of Contents

• In-Print Borough History Books
• Free Public Domain Borough History Books
• Related Books
• Concise Borough History
• Comments & Suggestion

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In-Print Borough History Books

These titles are currently in print and selected for their relevance to local and county history. Click anywhere on the book listing below, each listing links directly to the book’s purchase page.

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Free Borough History Books

This section features a curated collection of county history books sourced from public domain archives. Each book provides valuable insights into local history and heritage. Click anywhere on the book listing below, each listing links directly to the book’s public domain resource.

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Related Books

This section highlights additional county and local history titles that complement the main collection. These books are selected for their relevance, historical value, and research usefulness. Click anywhere on the book listing below, and each listing links directly to the corresponding resource or purchase page.

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Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska: A Genealogical Overview

It is critically important for researchers to know that the area formerly known as the Wade Hampton Census Area was officially renamed the Kusilvak Census Area in 2015. Located in the vast, roadless Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta of western Alaska, this region has a history and record-keeping system fundamentally different from counties in other states. As a “census area” within Alaska’s Unorganized Borough, it has no county-level government or courthouse. Its history is deeply rooted in the culture of its majority Yup’ik population. Genealogical research here requires navigating state, federal, and church records rather than a central county office.

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I. Administrative History and Jurisdiction

The concept of a “county” does not apply to the Kusilvak Census Area. Understanding its administrative structure is the first step in any successful genealogical search.

• No County Government: The Kusilvak Census Area has no borough (county) seat, no county clerk, and no local county government. It is a statistical subdivision of the state’s large Unorganized Borough, which is governed directly by the state of Alaska.
• 1913: Wade Hampton Recording District: The area was part of the Wade Hampton Recording District, established for judicial and land recording purposes during the territorial period.
• 2015: Renamed Kusilvak Census Area: In 2015, the name was officially changed to Kusilvak Census Area. The name “Kusilvak” comes from the Kusilvak Mountains, a local range, and is a Yup’ik term. The change was made to replace the name of Wade Hampton III, a Confederate general and slave owner with no connection to Alaska, with one that is geographically and culturally relevant to the region.
• Jurisdiction: All major civil functions—such as record-keeping for births, deaths, land, and courts—are handled by state-level agencies, generally located in the regional hub of Bethel or the state capital, Juneau.

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II. Settlement and Early History

• Early Inhabitants: For millennia, this region has been the homeland of the Yup’ik people. Their society was traditionally based on a semi-nomadic, subsistence lifestyle perfectly adapted to the rich ecosystem of the river delta, relying on fishing, hunting, and gathering.
• Russian and American Periods: Russian fur traders arrived in the 19th century, followed by American traders after the Alaska Purchase in 1867. However, the most profound cultural contact came from Moravian and Roman Catholic missionaries who arrived in the late 1800s. They established missions, schools, and churches in villages throughout the region, creating some of the earliest written demographic records.
• 20th Century Development: The area remained extremely isolated until the mid-20th century. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) of 1971 had a major impact, establishing village and regional native corporations that now manage much of the land and are key economic and social institutions in the census area.

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III. Genealogical Records and Resources

There is no county courthouse in the Kusilvak Census Area. Research must be directed at state, federal, and private institutions.

• Vital Records (Births, Deaths, Marriages):
  • All vital records for the state are held by the Alaska Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics in Juneau. Official record-keeping began in 1913, though some earlier records exist.
• Land and Property Records:
  • Land records are managed by the State of Alaska Recorder’s Office. The Kusilvak Census Area falls within the Bethel Recording District. Records can be searched online via the Department of Natural Resources.
• Court Records (including Divorce):
  • Court records are maintained by the state-level Alaska Court System. Cases originating in the Kusilvak Census Area are typically filed and heard in the regional hub of Bethel.
• Crucial Alternative Resources:
  • Church Records: For this region, Moravian and Catholic parish registers are among the most important genealogical resources. They often contain detailed baptismal, marriage, and burial information that predates or supplements civil records. Contact the respective church archives for access.
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA): The BIA created numerous records related to Alaska Native families, including census rolls (annuity rolls) and probate records for restricted lands. These are held at the National Archives.
  • Alaska State Archives (Juneau): Holds territorial records, pioneer home records, and other state-level historical documents.
  • National Archives at Seattle: This is the main repository for federal records related to Alaska, including BIA records, territorial court records, and federal census schedules.
• Bordering Jurisdictions (Census Areas):
  • Nome Census Area (northwest)
  • Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area (northeast)
  • Bethel Census Area (south)