Rural Alaska population shrinking, affecting schools and the economy

Rural Alaska is being depopulated. A state report released last week from the Division of Community and Regional Affairs, claims that over the past eight years, population has fallen 3.6 percent in rural areas, equaling 138,898 residents - almost the same count as in 1990.

The fastest shrinking group is school-age children, presenting state funding and educational obstacles for rural communities. Alex Demarban reports for Alaska Newspapers Inc. that the rural population of children has plummeted by 11 percent. As a result, several schools report the risk of losing state funding because of the lack of students. Demarban writes that there is a 10-student minimum required for full state funding, a number more than 20 schools are having a difficult time reaching. Although rural population rose slightly in 2008 by 57 people, the long-term trend is a cause for concern. Increased fuel and utility prices and unemployment were reasons cited for the trend. Read more.