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Kotzebue Alaska
Location and Climate
Kotzebue is on the Baldwin Peninsula in Kotzebue Sound,
on a 3-mile-long spit, which ranges in width from 1,100 to
3,600 feet. It is located near the discharges of the Kobuk
and Noatak Rivers, 549 air miles northwest of Anchorage and
26 miles above the Arctic Circle. Kotzebue is located in the
Kotzebue Recording District. The area encompasses 26.9 sq.
miles of land and 17.5 sq. miles of water. Kotzebue is
located in the transitional climate zone, which is
characterized by long, cold winters and cool summers. The
average low temperature during January is -12; the average
high during July is 58. Temperature extremes have been
measured from -52 to 85. Snowfall averages 40 inches, with
total precipitation of 9 inches per year. Kotzebue Sound is
ice-free from early July until early October.
History, Culture and Demographics
This site has been occupied by Inupiat Eskimos for at
least 600 years. "Kikiktagruk" was the hub of ancient arctic
trading routes long before European contact, due to its
coastal location near a number of rivers. The German Lt.
Otto Von Kotzebue "discovered" Kotzebue Sound in 1818 for
Russia. The community was named after the Kotzebue Sound in
1899 when a post office was established. Since the turn of
the century, expansion of economic activities and services
in the area have enabled Kotzebue to develop relatively
rapidly. An Air Force Base and White Alice Communications
System were later constructed.
Alaska Natives represent 75.1% of the population. A
federally recognized tribe is located in the community. The
residents of Kotzebue are primarily Inupiat Eskimos, and
subsistence activities are an integral part of the
lifestyle. Each summer, the North Tent City fish camp is set
up to dry and smoke the season's catch. As a regional
economic center, it offers a mixture of government,
transportation, and other private sector businesses. The
sale is banned, although importation or possession of
alcohol is allowed.
During the April 1990 U.S. Census, there were 911 total
housing units, and 147 of these were vacant. The official
unemployment rate at that time was 13.1%, with 1,033 jobs
estimated to be in the community and 41.2% of all adults not
in the work force. The median household income was $42,367,
and 12.7% of residents were living below the poverty
level.
Economy and Transportation
Kotzebue is the service and transportation center for
all villages in the northwest region. It has a healthy cash
economy, a growing private sector, and a stable public
sector. Due to its location at the confluence of three river
drainages, Kotzebue is the transfer point between ocean and
inland shipping. It is also the air transport center for the
region. Activities related to oil and minerals exploration
and development have contributed to the economy. The
majority of income is directly or indirectly related to
government employment, such as the School District, Maniilaq
Association, the City and Borough. The Cominco Alaska Red
Dog Mine is a significant regional employer. Commercial
fishing for chum salmon, and processing at Kotzebue Sound
Area Fisheries, provide some seasonal employment. 128
residents hold commercial fishing permits. Funding for the
State-owned Sikusuliaq Springs Fish Hatchery was recently
discontinued, and the City is exploring alternatives to
maintain the facility. Most residents rely on subsistence to
supplement income.
Air is the primary means of transportation year-round.
The State-owned Ralph Wien Memorial Airport supports daily
jet service to Anchorage and several air taxis to the
region's villages. It has a 5,900' main paved runway and
3,900' crosswind gravel runway. A seaplane base is also
operated by the State. The shipping season lasts 100 days,
from early July to early October, when the Sound is
ice-free. Due to river sediments deposited by the Noatak
River 4 miles above Kotzebue, the harbor is shallow. Deep
draft vessels must anchor 15 miles out, and cargo is
lightered to shore and warehoused. Crowley Marine Services
operates shallow draft barges to deliver cargo to area
communities. The City wants to examine the feasibility of
developing a deep water port, since the cost of cargo
delivery is high with the existing transportation systems.
There are 26 miles of local gravel roads, used by cars,
trucks and motorcycles during the summer. Snowmachines are
preferred in winter for local transportation.
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Communities
Source: Department of Community & Economic
Development
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