Noorvik, Alaska Explained

Official Name:Noorvik
Native Name:Nuurvik
Native Name Lang:ik
Settlement Type:City
Nickname:The Place to Move To
Mapsize:260px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Alaska
Subdivision Type2:Borough
Subdivision Name2:Northwest Arctic
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Vern Cleveland[1]
Leader Title1:Tribal president
Leader Name1:Wilber Howarth Sr.
Leader Title2:State senator
Leader Name2:Donny Olson (D)
Leader Title3:State rep.
Leader Name3:Tom Baker (R)
Established Title:Incorporated
Established Date:March 11, 1964[2]
Area Footnotes:[3]
Area Total Km2:3.28
Area Land Km2:2.17
Area Water Km2:1.11
Area Total Sq Mi:1.26
Area Land Sq Mi:0.84
Area Water Sq Mi:0.43
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:694
Population Density Km2:319.65
Population Density Sq Mi:828.16
Timezone:Alaska (AKST)
Utc Offset:-9
Timezone Dst:AKDT
Utc Offset Dst:-8
Elevation M:0
Elevation Ft:0
Coordinates:66.8333°N -161.0458°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:99763
Area Code:907
Area Code Type:Area code
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:02-55140
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Unit Pref:Imperial

Noorvik (Inupiaq: Nuurvik, meaning "A place to move to") is an Iñupiat city in the Northwest Arctic Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 694, up from 668 in 2010.[4] Located in the NANA Region Corp, Noorvik has close ties with the largest city in the region, Kotzebue. Residents speak a dialect of Iñupiaq known as Noorvik Inupiaq. Noorvik was the first town to be counted in the 2010 census.[5]

Geography

Noorvik is located at 66.8372°N -161.0367°W (66.837130, -161.036641).[6]

Noorvik is located on the right bank of the Nazuruk Channel of the Kobuk River, 76km (47miles) east of Kotzebue.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.3sqmi, of which, 1sqmi of it is land and 0.4sqmi of it (28.36%) is water.

Demographics

Noorvik first appeared on the 1920 U.S. Census as an unincorporated village. It formally incorporated in 1964.

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 634 people in 136 households, including 113 families, in the city. The population density was 658.7sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 157 housing units at an average density of 163.1sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 4.89% White, 90.06% Native American, 4.89% from two or more races, and 0.16% Pacific Islander.

Of the 136 households 58.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.9% were non-families. 14.7% of households were one person and 1.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 4.66 and the average family size was 5.19.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 44.5% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 11.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% 65 or older. The median age was 21 years. For every 100 females, there were 135.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 134.7 males.

The median household income was $51,964 and the median family income was $52,708. Males had a median income of $34,750 versus $24,583 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,020. About 9.4% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.6% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

History

Noorvik means "a place that is moved to" in Inupiaq. The village was established by Kowagmuit Inupiat fishermen and hunters from Deering in the early 1900s. Other settlers came from Oksik, a few miles upriver. The area had previously been inhabited by Kuuŋmuit Inuit up until the beginning of the 20th century, whose organized settlements had largely disappeared by the turn of the century due to famine and a flu outbreak.[8] However, the village tribal association has founded itself on "the legacy of the Kuuŋmuit Inuit," including basing their logo on a map of the Kuuŋmuit's former territory.[9]

Education

The Aqqaluk Noorvik School, operated by the Northwest Arctic Borough School District, serves the community. it had 12 teachers and 186 students, with Alaska Natives and Native Americans, making up 94% and 1% of the student body respectively[10]

Transport

The city includes the Robert (Bob) Curtis Memorial Airport, also known as the Noorvik Airport, 1 mile southeast from the city.[11]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Hopkins. Kyle. Dunleavy sworn in as governor after a very Alaskan travel glitch. December 3, 2018. Anchorage Daily News. December 3, 2018.
  2. Book: 1996 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory. Juneau. Alaska Municipal League/Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs. January 1996. 108.
  3. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. October 29, 2021.
  4. Web site: 2020 Census Data - Cities and Census Designated Places . Web . State of Alaska, Department of Labor and Workforce Development . December 5, 2021.
  5. The Associated Press. 2010 census to start in remote Alaska village. Anchorage Daily News. July 31, 2009.
  6. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. April 23, 2011. February 12, 2011.
  7. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. January 31, 2008.
  8. Book: Burch, Ernest. Iñupiaq Eskimo Nations of Northwest Alaska. University of Alaska Press. 1998. 0-912006-95-1. Fairbanks, Alaska. 171–189.
  9. http://www.ncai.org/tribal-directory?area=6&page=6&submit=Search&utf8=✓ National Congress of American Indians-Tribes
  10. http://www.nwarctic.org/Domain/15 Home
  11. Web site: ROBERT/BOB/CURTIS MEMORIAL. nfdc.faa.gov. November 13, 2020.