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Noorvik
(NOR-vick)
For Photos of Noorvik click here
For a Map of Noorvik click here
| Current Population: |
642
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
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| Incorporation Type: |
2nd Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
Northwest Arctic Borough |
| Taxes: |
Sales: 4% (City),
Property: None, Special: 4% Utility Tax (City); 4% Landfill 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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Noorvik is located on the right bank of the Nazuruk Channel of the Kobuk River, 33 miles northwest of Selawik and 45 miles east of Kotzebue. The village is downriver from the 1.7-million acre Kobuk Valley National Park. The community
lies at approximately 66.838330° North Latitude
and -161.032780° West Longitude.
(Sec. 27, T017N, R011W, Kateel River Meridian.)
Noorvik is located in the
Kotzebue Recording District.
The area encompasses 1.0
sq. miles of land and 0.4 sq. miles
of water.
The community is located in the transitional climate zone. Temperatures average -10 to 15 °F during winter and 40 to 65 °F during summer. Temperature extremes have been recorded from -54 to 87 °F. Snowfall averages 60 inches, with 16 inches of total precipitation per year. The Kobuk River is navigable from early June to mid-October. |
Topographic
map of
Noorvik
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| Noorvik means "a place that is moved to." The village was established by Kowagmuit Inupiat Eskimo fishermen and hunters from Deering in the early 1900s. The village was also settled by people from Oksik, a few miles upriver. A post office was established in 1937. The city government was incorporated in 1964.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Noorvik Native Community.
The population of the community consists of 95%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Noorvik is primarily an Inupiat Eskimo community with a subsistence lifestyle. The sale or importation of alcohol is banned in the village.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 157, and vacant housing units numbered 21.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 6.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 181 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
19.56 percent,
although
58.29 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $51,964, per capita income was $12,020, and
7.57 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Water is pumped from the Kobuk River to the water treatment/utility building and stored in a tank. From there, a pressurized circulating system distributes water in utilidors. Groundwater wells have proven unsuccessful. Noorvik has a vacuum sewer system in which waste is carried by air instead of water. Vacuum pressure pumps the sewage to the 60,000-gal. collection and treatment plant. The system requires special toilets and water valves that collect wastewater from the sinks, toilets, and showers. Over 100 homes, the schools, and businesses are served.
Electricity is provided by AVEC.
There is one school located in the community,
attended by 207
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Noorvik Health Clinic (907-636-2103).
Noorvik is classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 4A in the Maniilaq Association Region. Emergency Services have river and air access. Emergency service is provided by volunteers and a health aide
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| Economy
and Transportation |
The primary local employers are the school district, the city, the Maniilaq health clinic, and two stores. There is seasonal employment at the Red Dog Mine, or firefighting with BLM, and locals can also travel to work in Kotzebue. Two residents hold commercial fishing permits. Caribou, fish, moose, waterfowl, and berries are utilized.
Noorvik is accessible by plane and by shallow-draft vessels. There are no roads linking the village to other areas of the state. The state-owned Robert (Bob) Curtis Memorial Airport has a 4,000' long by 100' wide lighted gravel runway. The airport is the second-largest in the borough. Several regional air taxis provide service to Kotzebue and surrounding cities. Crowley Marine Services barges fuel and supplies during the summer. Boats, ATVs, and snowmachines are common means of transportation locally. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Noorvik
P.O. Box 146
Noorvik, AK 99763
Phone 907-636-2100
Fax 907-636-2135
E-mail cityofnoorvik@gmail.com
Village Council -
Noorvik Native Community
P.O. Box 209
Noorvik, AK 99763
Phone 907-636-2144
Fax 907-636-2284
E-mail rmulluk@maniilaq.org
Web http://www.maniilaq.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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