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Selawik
(SELL-uh-wick)
For Photos of Selawik click here
For a Map of Selawik click here
| Current Population: |
846
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
|
| Incorporation Type: |
2nd Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
Northwest Arctic Borough |
| Taxes: |
Sales: None,
Property: None, Special: None
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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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Selawik is located at the mouth of the Selawik River where it empties into Selawik Lake, about 90 miles east of Kotzebue. It lies 670 miles northwest of Anchorage. The city is near the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge, a key breeding and resting spot for migratory waterfowl. The community
lies at approximately 66.603890° North Latitude
and -160.006940° West Longitude.
(Sec. 20, T014N, R006W, Kateel River Meridian.)
Selawik is located in the
Kotzebue Recording District.
The area encompasses 2.5
sq. miles of land and 0.9 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 -50 to 83 °F. Snowfall averages 35 to 40 inches, with 10 inches of total precipitation per year. The Selawik River is navigable from early June to mid-October. |
Topographic
map of
Selawik
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| Lt. L.A. Zagoskin of the Imperial Russian Navy first reported the village in the 1840s as "Chilivik." Ivan Petroff counted 100 "Selawigamute" people in his 1880 census. Selawik is an Eskimo name for a species of fish. Around 1908, the site had a small wooden schoolhouse and church. The village has continued to grow and has expanded across the Selawik River onto three banks, linked by bridges. Selawik incorporated as a first-class city in 1974 but in 1977 changed to a second-class city government.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Native Village of Selawik.
The population of the community consists of 95.3%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Selawik is an Inupiat Eskimo community active in traditional subsistence fishing and hunting. The sale or importation of alcohol is banned in the village.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 188, and vacant housing units numbered 16.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 1.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 130 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
34.34 percent,
although
70.85 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $25,625, per capita income was $8,170, and
34.38 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| A circulating water and vacuum sewer system provides services to about 100 homes. A central treatment facility pumps water from the Selawik River, providing up to 8,000 gallons a day. Groundwater wells have been unsuccessful.
Electricity is provided by AVEC.
There is one school located in the community,
attended by 274
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Selawik Health Clinic (907-484-2199).
Selawik is classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 4A in the Maniilaq Association Region. Emergency Services have lake and air access. Emergency service is provided by volunteers and a health aide
Auxiliary health care is provided by Selawik Area Vol. Emergency Rescue (484-2202).
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| Economy
and Transportation |
Inhabitants of Selawik subsist mainly on whitefish, sheefish, caribou, moose, ducks, ptarmigan, and berries. Occasionally, bartered seal and beluga whale supplement the diet. The primary employers in the community include the school, the city, the IRA, Maniilaq, and three grocery stores. Handicrafts are made and sold locally and at gift shops in larger cities. Seasonal work is also found outside of Selawik at the Red Dog Mine, BLM firefighting, or in lighterage operations. Four residents hold commercial fishing permits.
Selawik is accessible by plane and barge. The Roland Norton Memorial Airport provides a 3,000' long by 70' wide gravel runway owned by the city. The state also owns a 3,000' long by 60' wide gravel airstrip with a 2,670' long by 60' wide crosswind strip. Scheduled flights are available to Kotzebue and area villages. Docking facilities and a barge landing area exist; freight is shipped upriver from Kotzebue each summer by Crowley Marine Services. Boardwalks have been constructed within the village. Boats, ATVs, and snowmachines are prevalent forms of local travel. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Selawik
P.O. Box 99
Selawik, AK 99770
Phone 907-484-2132
Fax 907-484-2209
E-mail city_of_selawik@hotmail.com; cos1@gci.net
Village Council -
Native Village of Selawik
P.O. Box 59
Selawik, AK 99770
Phone 907-484-2165
Fax 907-484-2226
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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