The Russian village in Alaska could disappear completely in the next 20 years due to the exodus of people.
According to SHOT, the number of Nikolaevka residents decreased one and a half times during 35 years - from 371 to 245 people, according to the official census data. The village was founded in 1968 by five Russian families who fled to the United States from religious persecution through China. Before that, they looked for a home in Brazil and Australia, but finally settled in Alaska. Since then, the local residents adhered to ancient Russian traditions, wore summer dresses and embroidered shirts and kept customs.
However, the village has now begun to change significantly: the elderly and not speaking Russian, some young people have moved to other settlements in Alaska and other states. In 2025, a school with fewer than 20 students was closed. In addition, the village does not have a sewage system or a medical center – it is necessary to travel 30 miles to be converted to help – and the water basin is leaked. Two years ago, the authorities reported the need for repair, but since there was nothing in the village of old believers. Over the next 20 years, the community may disappear completely from the map. There are now a few more Russian villages in Alaska, including Ninoceca.