Editing Kaktovik, Alaska

{{Redirect|Kaktovik}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Kaktovik, Alaska
| native_name              = Qaaktuġvik
| native_name_lang        = ik
| settlement_type          = [[City (Alaska)|City]]
| image_skyline            = Village of Kaktovik in Alaska.jpg
| image_caption            = Kaktovik in 2018
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = City of Kaktovik Seal.gif
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = 
| image_map                = 
| map_caption              = 
| pushpin_map              = Alaska
| pushpin_relief           = yes
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location in the state of Alaska
<!-- Coordinates -->
| coordinates              = {{coord|70|07|58|N|143|36|58|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes    = 
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Alaska]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of boroughs and census areas in Alaska|Borough]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[North Slope Borough, Alaska|North Slope]]
| established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date         = March 26, 1971<ref>{{cite book|title=1996 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory|location=[[Juneau]]|publisher=Alaska Municipal League/[[Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development|Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs]]|date=January 1996|page=74}}</ref>
| government_type          = 
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes     = 
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = Nathan Gordon, Jr.
| leader_title1            = [[Alaska Senate|State senator]]
| leader_name1             = [[Donny Olson]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| leader_title2            = [[Alaska House of Representatives|State rep.]]
| leader_name2             = [[Robyn Burke]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_02.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 29, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 2.71
| area_total_sq_mi         = 1.05
| area_land_km2            = 2.01
| area_land_sq_mi          = 0.77
| area_water_km2           = 0.70
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.27
<!-- Elevation -->
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 11
| elevation_ft             = 36
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 283
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| population_est           = 
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| population_density_km2   = 141.12
| population_density_sq_mi = 365.63
<!-- General information -->
| timezone                 = [[Alaska Time Zone|Alaska (AKST)]]
| utc_offset               = -9
| timezone_DST             = AKDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -8
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 99747
| area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| area_code                = [[Area code 907|907]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS]] code
| blank_info               = {{FIPS|02|36990}}
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = {{GNIS4|1404349}}, {{GNIS4|2419404}}
| website                  = [https://www.cityofkaktovik.org/ City of Kaktovik]
}}

'''Kaktovik''' ({{IPAc-en|k|æ|k|ˈ|t|oʊ|v|ɪ|k}};<ref>
 {{cite web
 |url         = http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/commdb/CIS.cfm?Comm_Boro_name=Kaktovik
 |title       = Kaktovik
 |publisher   = Division of Community and Regional Affairs, [[Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development]]
 |access-date  = January 24, 2013
|url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://archive.today/20121224193447/http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/commdb/CIS.cfm?Comm_Boro_name=Kaktovik
 |archive-date = December 24, 2012
}}
</ref> {{langx|ik|Qaaktuġvik}}, {{IPA|ik|qaːktoʁvik|IPA}}) is a [[City (Alaska)|city]] in [[North Slope Borough, Alaska]], United States. The population was 283 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Kaktovik, Alaska, DEW Line Site.jpg|right|thumb|Historical aerial view of Kaktovik and Barter Island LRRS.]]
Until the late nineteenth century, [[Barter Island]] was a major trade center for the [[Inupiat people|Inupiat]] and was especially important as a bartering place for Inupiat from Alaska and [[Inuit]] from Canada.

Kaktovik was a traditional fishing place—''Kaktovik'' means "[[Seine fishing|Seining]] Place"—that has a large pond of good fresh water on high ground. It had no permanent settlers until people from other parts of Barter Island and northern Alaska moved to the area around the construction of a [[Barter Island LRRS Airport|runway]] and [[Distant Early Warning Line]] station in the 1950s. The area was incorporated as the City of Kaktovik in 1971.

Due to Kaktovik's isolation, the village has maintained its [[Inupiat people|Inupiat Eskimo]] traditions. Subsistence is highly dependent upon the hunting of [[caribou]] and [[whale]].

In the early twenty-first century, Kaktovik became a tourist destination to view polar bears.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Tiny Alaska village experiences boom in tourists seeking to see polar bears as Arctic ice shrinks |date=September 5, 2018 |newspaper=[[The Japan Times]] |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/09/05/world/tiny-alaska-village-experiences-boom-tourists-seeking-see-polar-bears-arctic-ice-shrinks/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905110914/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/09/05/world/tiny-alaska-village-experiences-boom-tourists-seeking-see-polar-bears-arctic-ice-shrinks/ |archive-date=September 5, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.treehugger.com/animals/why-alaska-hasnt-had-polar-bear-attack-1993.html|title=Why Alaska hasn't had a polar bear attack since 1993|last=Breyer|first=Melissa|date=July 31, 2019|website=TreeHugger|language=en|access-date=November 16, 2019}}</ref> This is in part due to the native Inupiat, who are permitted to kill three [[bowhead whales]] a year, and after [[flensing]] the bodies of the whales, they leave the carcasses on the beach at the edge of town.<ref>{{cite news|author=JAMIE LAFFERTY|title=Here's the best spot on Earth to see polar bears in the wild|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/heres-the-best-spot-on-earth-to-see-polar-bears-in-the-wild?loggedin=true|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108035350/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/heres-the-best-spot-on-earth-to-see-polar-bears-in-the-wild?loggedin=true|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 8, 2022}}</ref>

==Geography==
Kaktovik is located at {{coord|70|7|58|N|143|36|58|W|type:city}} (70.132832, -143.616230).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

Kaktovik is on the north shore of [[Barter Island]], between the [[Okpilak River]] and [[Jago River]] on the [[Beaufort Sea]] coast. It lies in the {{convert|19.6|e6acre|km2|adj=on}} [[Arctic National Wildlife Refuge]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.0|sqmi|km2}}, of which, {{convert|0.8|sqmi|km2}} of it is land and {{convert|0.2|sqmi|km2}} of it (21.00%) is water.

==Transportation==
[[Barter Island LRRS Airport]] is located near the city.

==Climate==
Being located at 70°N, Kaktovik experiences a [[Tundra climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''ET''). Winters are long, very cold and owing to its high latitude the sun does not rise above the horizon leaving only twilight as the source of light during mid-winter. Summers on the other hand are cool, typical of the North Slope of Alaska. The [[midnight sun]] occurs a few weeks in the spring and summer every year. Precipitation totals are similar to desert regions as only about 4 inches with most of it falling from July to September. While snowfall is more common in the colder months, it can still fall in the summer, which is still cold, as well.

{{Weather box
|single line=yes
|location=Kaktovik, Alaska 1992-2021
| Jan record high F = 39
| Feb record high F = 37
| Mar record high F = 36
| Apr record high F = 43
| May record high F = 52
| Jun record high F = 68
| Jul record high F = 78
| Aug record high F = 74
| Sep record high F = 66
| Oct record high F = 46
| Nov record high F = 35
| Dec record high F = 24
| year record high F = 
| Jan avg record high F = 21
| Feb avg record high F = 17
| Mar avg record high F = 20
| Apr avg record high F = 33
| May avg record high F = 45
| Jun avg record high F = 57
| Jul avg record high F = 68
| Aug avg record high F = 63
| Sep avg record high F = 52
| Oct avg record high F = 40
| Nov avg record high F = 28
| Dec avg record high F = 22
|year avg record high F = 71
|Jan high F=-5.0
|Feb high F=-5.0
|Mar high F=-1
|Apr high F=14
|May high F=31
|Jun high F=43
|Jul high F=52
|Aug high F=48
|Sep high F=38
|Oct high F=26
|Nov high F=11
|Dec high F=1
| Jan mean F = -11
| Feb mean F = -11.5
| Mar mean F = -9
| Apr mean F = 6.5
| May mean F = 26
| Jun mean F = 38
| Jul mean F = 46
| Aug mean F = 43
| Sep mean F = 34.5
| Oct mean F = 21
| Nov mean F = 5.5
| Dec mean F = -6.5
| year mean F = 
|Jan low F=-17
|Feb low F=-18
|Mar low F=-17
|Apr low F=-1
|May low F=21
|Jun low F=33
|Jul low F=40
|Aug low F=38
|Sep low F=31
|Oct low F=16
|Nov low F=-1
|Dec low F=-12
| Jan avg record low F = −38
| Feb avg record low F = -39
| Mar avg record low F = −36
| Apr avg record low F = −20
| May avg record low F = 5
| Jun avg record low F = 25
| Jul avg record low F = 31
| Aug avg record low F = 29
| Sep avg record low F = 19
| Oct avg record low F = -6
| Nov avg record low F = −20
| Dec avg record low F = −33
|year avg record low F = −42.8
| Jan record low F = -54
| Feb record low F = −59
| Mar record low F = −51
| Apr record low F = −44
| May record low F = −16
| Jun record low F = 13
| Jul record low F = 24
| Aug record low F = 20
| Sep record low F = 4
| Oct record low F = −26
| Nov record low F = −51
| Dec record low F = −51
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 0.13
| Feb precipitation inch = 0.20
| Mar precipitation inch = 0.17
| Apr precipitation inch = 0.15
| May precipitation inch = 0.28
| Jun precipitation inch = 0.47
| Jul precipitation inch = 0.53
| Aug precipitation inch = 0.82
| Sep precipitation inch = 0.51
| Oct precipitation inch = 0.27
| Nov precipitation inch = 0.14
| Dec precipitation inch = 0.13
| year precipitation inch = 
| Jan snow inch = 4.7
| Feb snow inch = 2.6
| Mar snow inch = 2.5
| Apr snow inch = 2.3
| May snow inch = 3.0
| Jun snow inch = 1.6
| Jul snow inch = 0.5
| Aug snow inch = 1.5
| Sep snow inch = 5.6
| Oct snow inch = 9.3
| Nov snow inch = 5.0
| Dec snow inch = 3.2
| year snow inch = 
|source=https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?ak0558
|source 2=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/usa/kaktovik/climate
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1950= 46
|1960= 120
|1970= 123
|1980= 165
|1990= 224
|2000= 293
|2010= 239
|2020= 283
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
Kaktovik first appeared on the 1950 U.S. Census as an unincorporated village. In 1960 it returned as Barter Island. In 1970, the name of Kaktovik was restored and it was formally incorporated in 1971.

As of the [[2010 United States Census]], there were 239 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 88.7% Native American, 10.0% White and 1.3% from two or more races.

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 293 people, 89 households, and 70 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|371.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 95 housing units at an average density of {{convert|120.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 14.68% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 75.43% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.34% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.68% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 8.87% from two or more races.

There were 89 households, out of which 47.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.3% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.29 and the average family size was 3.76.

In the city the population was spread out, with 35.8% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 110.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $55,624, and the median income for a family was $60,417. Males had a median income of $50,000 versus $38,750 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $22,031. About 9.9% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.3% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those 65 or over.

==Politics==
As of 2019, residents have benefited from oil development and some think that drilling and caribou can co-exist.<ref name="npr">{{Cite news |last=Elizabeth Harball |date=July 3, 2019 |title=As Oil Drilling Nears In Arctic Refuge, 2 Alaska Villages See Different Futures |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/07/03/738145007/as-oil-drilling-nears-in-arctic-refuge-2-alaska-villages-see-different-futures |publisher=NPR}}</ref>

==Education==
The [[North Slope Borough School District]] operates the Harold Kaveolook School in Kaktovik.<ref>"[http://www.nsbsd.org/Page/1828 Kaktovik]." [[North Slope Borough School District]]. Retrieved on February 14, 2017.</ref> The school suffered a major loss due to fire on the night of February 6, 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Kaktovik's only school declared a total loss after fire |date=February 7, 2020 |url=https://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Kaktoviks-only-school-declared-a-total-loss-after-fire-567659431.html}}</ref>

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* [https://www.asrc.com/about/our-communities/ Arctic Slope Regional Corporation: (Select image link for Kaktovik on map)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160508233454/http://arcticcircle.uconn.edu/Museum/Anthropology/Kaktovik/arrival.html A Place Called Kaktovik]

{{North Slope Borough, Alaska}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Alaska]]
[[Category:Cities in North Slope Borough, Alaska]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Alaska on the Arctic Ocean]]
[[Category:Populated places of the Arctic United States]]