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Kotzebue
(KAWT-zuh-byoo)
For Photos of Kotzebue click here
For a Map of Kotzebue click here
| Current Population: |
3,126
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
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| Incorporation Type: |
2nd Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
Northwest Arctic Borough |
| Taxes: |
Sales: 6% (City),
Property: None, Special: 6% Bed Tax (City); 6% Alcohol Tax (City); 6% Gaming Tax (City)
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| National Flood Insurance Program Participant: |
Yes |
| Coastal Management District: |
Northwest Arctic Borough |
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| Location
and Climate |
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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 Ssezawick Rivers, 549 air miles northwest of Anchorage and 26 miles above the Arctic Circle. The community
lies at approximately 66.898280° North Latitude
and -162.595850° West Longitude.
(Sec. 03, T017N, R018W, Kateel River Meridian.)
Kotzebue is located in the
Kotzebue Recording District.
The area encompasses 27.0
sq. miles of land and 1.7 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 °F; the average high during July is 58 °F. Temperature extremes have been measured from -52 to 85 °F. Snowfall averages 40 inches, with total precipitation of 9 inches per year. Kotzebue Sound is ice-free from early July until early October. |
Topographic
map of
Kotzebue
area
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| 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. The city was formed in 1958. An air force base and White Alice Communications System were later constructed.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Native Village of Kotzebue.
The population of the community consists of 76.7%
Alaska Native or part Native.
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. In 2009, Kotzebue became a "wet" community, allowing the sale, import, and possession of alcohol is banned.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 1,007, and vacant housing units numbered 118.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 47.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 1,255 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
9.8 percent,
although
36.78 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $57,163, per capita income was $18,289, and
13.14 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Water is supplied by the 150-million-gallon Vortac Reservoir, located one and a half miles from the city. Water is treated and stored in a 1.5-million-gallon tank. Water is heated with a waste heat recovery system at the electric plant and distributed in circulating mains. Piped sewage is treated in a 32-acre zero discharge facultative lagoon west of the airport. Around 80% of homes are fully plumbed, and 521 homes are served by the city system. A transfer station and Class 2 permitted landfill with balefill is available. Recycling and hazardous waste disposal are provided. Kotzebue uses ten 50 kilowatt wind turbines to supplement electricity.
Electricity is provided by Kotzebue Electric Association.
There are 2 schools located in the community,
attended by 771
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Maniilaq Medical Health Center (907-442-3321).
The hospital is a qualified Acute Care facility. Long Term Care: Kotzebue Senior Center. Specialized Care: Lake Street House (Maniilaq lodging); Maniilaq Alcohol Program (442-3311 x139); Maniilaq Camp. Kotzebue is classified as a large town/Regional Center, it is found in EMS Region 4A in the Maniilaq Association Region. Emergency Services have limited highway, coastal and airport access. Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service and volunteers
Auxiliary health care is provided by Kotzebue Volunteer Fire Dept. (442-3404/3351); Maniilaq Air Ambulance (442-3321).
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| 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 the borough. The Cominco Alaska Red Dog Mine is a significant regional employer. Commercial fishing for chum salmon provides some seasonal employment. 112 residents hold commercial fishing permits. 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' long by 150' wide main paved runway and 3,800' long by 100' wide 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 road used by cars, trucks, and motorcycles during the summer. Snowmachines are preferred in winter for local transportation. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Kotzebue
P.O. Box 46
Kotzebue, AK 99752
Phone 907-442-3401
Fax 907-442-3742
E-mail lgreene@kotzebue.org
Web http://kotzpdweb.tripod.com/city/index.html
Electric Utility -
Kotzebue Electric Association
P.O. Box 44
Kotzebue, AK 99752
Phone 907-442-3491
Fax 907-442-2482
E-mail info@kea.coop
Web http://www.kea.coop/
Housing Authority -
Tupiq Services
P.O. Box 296
Kotzebue, AK 99752
Phone 907-442-3378
Fax 907-442-3538
Housing Authority -
Northwest Inupiat Housing Authority
P.O. Box 331
Kotzebue, AK 99752
Phone 907-442-3450
Fax 907-442-3486
E-mail gadams@nwiha.com
Web http://maniilaq.org
Media -
Arctic Sounder, Kotzebue
301 Calista Court, STE B
Anchorage, AK 99518
Phone 907-272-9830
Fax 907-272-9512
E-mail rhowell@alaskanewspapers.com
Web http://www.alaskanewspapers.com
Other -
Alaska Legal Services Corp. (Kotzebue Office)
P.O. Box 526
Kotzebue, AK 99752-0526
Phone 907-442-3500
Fax 907-442-4111
E-mail alsckotz@yahoo.com
Regional Development -
Northwest Arctic Borough Economic Development Commission
P.O. Box 1110
Kotzebue, AK 99752
Phone 907-442-2500
Fax 907-442-3740
E-mail jhill@nwabor.org
Web http://www.nwabor.org
Regional Health Corporation -
Maniilaq Association
P.O. Box 43
Kotzebue, AK 99752
Phone 800-442-7161
Fax 907-442-7678
E-mail ierlich@maniilaq.org
Web http://www.maniilaq.org
Regional Native Corporation -
NANA Regional Corporation
P.O. Box 49
Kotzebue, AK 99752
Phone 907-442-3301
Fax 907-442-2866
E-mail info@nana.com
Web http://www.nana.com
Village Corporation -
Kikiktagruk Inupiat Corporation
P.O. Box 1050, 373A Second Avenue
Kotzebue, AK 99752
Phone 907-442-3165
Fax 907-442-2165
Village Council -
Native Village of Kotzebue
P.O. Box 296
Kotzebue, AK 99752-0296
Phone 907-442-3467
Fax 907-442-2162
E-mail info@kotzebueira.org
Web http://www.kotzebueira.org
Regional
Organizations
Borough - Northwest Arctic Borough
P.O. Box 1110
Kotzebue, AK 99752
Phone 907-442-2500
Fax 907-442-2930 & 3740
E-mail hhildreth@nwabor.org or mwhiting@nwabor.org
Web http://www.nwabor.org
Regional Native Corporation - NANA Regional Corporation
P.O. Box 49
Kotzebue, AK 99752
Phone 907-442-3301
Fax 907-442-2866
E-mail info@nana.com
Web http://www.nana.com
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