| |
Point Hope
For Photos of Point Hope click here
For a Map of Point Hope click here
| Current Population: |
713
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
|
| Incorporation Type: |
2nd Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
North Slope Borough |
| Taxes: |
Sales: None,
Property: 18.5 mills (Borough), Special: None
|
| Coastal Management District: |
North Slope Borough |
|
| Location
and Climate |
|
Point Hope is located near the tip of Point Hope peninsula, a large gravel spit that forms the western-most extension of the northwest Alaska coast, 330 miles southwest of Barrow. The community
lies at approximately 68.347780° North Latitude
and -166.808060° West Longitude.
(Sec. 16, T034N, R035W, Kateel River Meridian.)
Point Hope is located in the
Barrow Recording District.
The area encompasses 6.3
sq. miles of land and 0.1 sq. miles
of water.
The climate is arctic. Temperatures range from -49 to 78 °F. Precipitation is light, averaging only 10 inches annually, with snowfall of 36 inches. The Chukchi Sea is ice-free from late June until mid-September. |
Topographic
map of
Point Hope
area
 |
| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| Point Hope (Tikeraq) peninsula is one of the oldest continuously occupied Inupiat Eskimo areas in Alaska. Several settlements have existed on the peninsula over the past 2,500 years, including Old and New Tigara, Ipiutak, Jabbertown, and present Point Hope. The peninsula offers good access to marine mammals, and ice conditions allow easy boat launchings into open leads early in the spring whaling season. The people were traditionally aggressive and exercised dominance over an extensive area, from the Utukok to Kivalina Rivers, and far inland. By 1848, commercial whaling activities brought an influx of Westerners, many of whom employed Point Hope villagers. By the late 1880s, the whalers established shore-based whaling stations, such as Jabbertown. These disappeared with the demise of whaling in the early 1900s. The city government was incorporated in 1966. In the early 1970s, the village moved to a new site just east of the old village because of erosion and periodic storm-surge flooding. Most of the housing was moved on runners to the new site. New houses were constructed by the borough and individuals.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Native Village of Point Hope.
The population of the community consists of 90.6%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Point Hope residents (Tikeraqmuit Inupiat Eskimos) are dependent upon marine subsistence. This highly favorable site, with its abundant resources, has enabled the Tikeraqmuit to retain strong cultural traditions after more than a century of outside influences. The sale, importation, or possession of alcohol is banned in the village.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 215, and vacant housing units numbered 29.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 22.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 240 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
25.71 percent,
although
51.32 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $63,125, per capita income was $16,641, and
14.83 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
|
| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| The North Slope Borough provides all utilities in Point Hope. Water is derived from a lake six miles to the east and is treated and stored in a tank. A number of homes have water tanks, with water delivery, which provides running water for kitchens; others haul water.
Electricity is provided by North Slope Borough.
There is one school located in the community,
attended by 223
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Point Hope Health Clinic (907-368-2234).
Point Hope is classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 6A in the North Slope Region. Emergency Services have coastal and air access. Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service, volunteers and a health aide
Auxiliary health care is provided by Point Hope Volunteer Fire Dept. (907-368-2774).
|
| Economy
and Transportation |
Most full time positions in Point Hope are with the city and borough governments. Residents manufacture whalebone masks, baleen baskets, ivory carvings, and Eskimo clothing. Seals, bowhead whales, beluga whales, caribou, polar bears, birds, fish, and berries are utilized.
The state-owned 4,000' long by 75' wide paved airstrip provides Point Hope's only year-round access. Skiffs, umiats, and snow machines are used for local transportation. Barges deliver goods during summer months. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Point Hope
P.O. Box 169
Point Hope, AK 99766-0169
Phone 907-368-2537
Fax 907-368-2835
E-mail akphogov@hotmail.com
Village Corporation -
Tigara Corporation
2121 Abbott Road
Anchorage, AK 99507-
Phone 907-365-6299
Fax 907-365-6250
E-mail rrock@tikigaq.com
Village Council -
Native Village of Point Hope
P.O. Box 109
Point Hope, AK 99766
Phone 907-368-2330
Fax 907-368-2332
E-mail lilyh.tuzroyluke@tikigaq.org
Web http://www.tikigaq.com
Regional
Organizations
Borough - North Slope Borough
P.O. Box 69
Barrow, AK 99723
Phone 907-852-2611
Fax 907-852-0337
E-mail sheila.burke@north-slope.org; jeannie.brower@north-slope.org
Web http://www.north-slope.org/
Native Housing Authority - Native Village of Point Hope
P.O. Box 109
Point Hope, AK 99766
Phone 907-368-2330
Fax 907-368-2332
E-mail lilyh.tuzroyluke@tikigaq.org
Web http://www.tikigaq.com
|
 |
|
