F15PS00085 _Section_J-4 _Kotzebue.pdf

Kotzebue

2nd Class City in the Northwest Arctic Borough

All

Community Details

Area Type

Community

Current Population

3,202

Population Comment

2013 DCCED Certified Estimate

Pronunciation/Other Names

(kawt' zuh byoo)

Community's Judicial District

Recording District

Kotzebue

Census Designated Place (CDP)

Yes

Borough/Census Area FIPS Code

Place FIPS

41830

Geography and Climate

Location

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, Noatak, and

Selawick Rivers, 549 air miles northwest of Anchorage and 26 miles above the Arctic Circle.

Climate

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 °F; the average high during July is 58 °F. Temperature extremes have been measured from -52 to 85 °F. Annual snowfall averages 40 inches, with total precipitation of 9 inches per year. Kotzebue Sound is ice-free from early July until early October.

Community Map Available

Yes http://www.commerce.alaska.gov/cra/DCRAExternal/community/Details/8aa56b8f-c01a-44a4-8f66-cbac5c6f2f4e http://www.commerce.alaska.gov/cra/DCRAExternal/community/Details/8aa56b8f-c01a-44a4-8f66-cbac5c6f2f4e http://www.commerce.alaska.gov/cra/DCRAExternal/community/Details/8aa56b8f-c01a-44a4-8f66-cbac5c6f2f4e

Map URL http://commerce.alaska.gov/dnn/dcra/PlanningLandManagement/CommunityProfileMaps.aspx

Latitude

66.8983

Longitude

-162.5959

Sq Mi Land

27.00

Sq Mi Water

1.70

History and Culture

History

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. The city was formed in 1958. An air force base and White Alice Communications System were later constructed.

Culture

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.

Federally Recognized Tribe

Yes

Name of Federally Recognized Tribe

Native Village of Kotzebue

Local Option Restrictions

Sale by municipality operated license only: Package Store Only with Distribution Center

Facilities, Utilities, and Health Care

Municipal Facilities & Utilities

Piped Water, Piped Sewer, Refuse Collection, Landfill/Baling Facility, Harbor/Dock, Police, Volunteer Fire/EMS/Ambulance, Fire Training Center, City Hall, Recreation Center (Adult

Programs), Bingo/Pull Tabs, Parks, Roads

Economy

Subsistence http://commerce.alaska.gov/dnn/dcra/PlanningLandManagement/CommunityProfileMaps.aspx http://www.commerce.alaska.gov/cra/DCRAExternal/community/Details/8aa56b8f-c01a-44a4-8f66-cbac5c6f2f4e http://www.commerce.alaska.gov/cra/DCRAExternal/community/Details/8aa56b8f-c01a-44a4-8f66-cbac5c6f2f4e http://www.commerce.alaska.gov/cra/DCRAExternal/community/Details/8aa56b8f-c01a-44a4-8f66-cbac5c6f2f4e

Yes

Number of Commercial Fishing Permit Holders

Number of Commercial Fishing Permits Issued

CDQ Participant

No

Gallon of Heating Fuel

$6.15 (July 2014)

Gallon of Gasoline

$6.24 (July 2014)

Local Labor Market Info URL http://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/alari/index.cfm?r=4&b=19&p=172&goplace=go

Transportation

Transportation

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 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 four miles above Kotzebue, its 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. There are

26 miles of local gravel road used by cars, trucks, and motorcycles during the summer. Snow machines are preferred in winter for local transportation.

Harbor/Dock

Yes

State Ferry

No

Cargo Barge

Yes

Road Connection

No

Coastal

Yes http://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/alari/index.cfm?r=4&b=19&p=172&goplace=go http://www.commerce.alaska.gov/cra/DCRAExternal/community/Details/8aa56b8f-c01a-44a4-8f66-cbac5c6f2f4e