Kuiu Island Explained

Kuiu Island
Image Map Caption:Location of Kuiu Island
Map:Alaska
Location:Alaska Panhandle
Coordinates:56.5406°N -134.0511°W
Archipelago:Alexander Archipelago
Area Sqmi:747.556
Length Mi:65
Width Min Km:10
Width Max Km:23
Country:United States
Country Admin Divisions Title:State
Country Admin Divisions:Alaska
Country Admin Divisions Title 1:Census area
Country Admin Divisions 1:Prince of Wales–Hyder
Population:10
Population As Of:2000
Density Km2:0.005

Kuiu Island is an island in the Alexander Archipelago in southeastern Alaska. It lies between Kupreanof Island, to its east, and Baranof Island, to its west. The island is 105km (65miles) long, and 10to(-) wide. It is nearly cut in two by Affleck Canal. It has 1936.162NaN2 of land area, making it the 15th largest island in the United States. The entire island is part of Tongass National Forest.

The island's name comes from Kuiu Kwaan people of the Tlingit who lived here post glaciation. Kuiu in Tlingit means stomach.[1] After a small pox epidemic that nearly wiped out the entire village, the survivors moved to the neighboring Tlingit communities of Kake and Klawock. After the destruction of the Kuiu Kwaan community, white homesteaders occupied the island under the homestead act. [2] Many of the current population are descendants of these homesteaders.

The population was 10 persons at the 2000 census. It is separated from Baranof Island by Chatham Strait. The Cape Decision Light is located on Kuiu Island. Also on the island are the Kuiu Wilderness and the Tebenkof Bay Wilderness areas.

Sources

Notes and References

  1. http://www.ankn.uaf.edu/ancr/southeast/tlingitmap/
  2. https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/PublicRoom_Alaska_Homesteading_Brochure_2016.pdf