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Wainwright
(WANE-rite)
For a Map of Wainwright click here
| Current Population: |
534
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
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| Incorporation Type: |
2nd Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
North Slope Borough |
| Taxes: |
Sales: None,
Property: 18.5 mills (Borough), Special: None
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| Coastal Management District: |
North Slope Borough |
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| Location
and Climate |
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Wainwright is located on the Chukchi Sea coast, 3 miles northeast of the Kuk River estuary. The community
lies at approximately 70.636940° North Latitude
and -160.038330° West Longitude.
(Sec. 24, T015N, R032W, Umiat Meridian.)
Wainwright is located in the
Barrow Recording District.
The area encompasses 17.6
sq. miles of land and 24.9 sq. miles
of water.
The climate is arctic. Temperatures range from -56 to 80 °F. Precipitation is light, averaging 5 inches annually, with snowfall of 12 inches. The Chukchi Sea is ice-free from mid-July through September. |
Topographic
map of
Wainwright
area
 |
| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| In 1826, the Wainwright Lagoon was named by Capt. F.W. Beechey for his officer, Lt. John Wainwright. A map of 1853 indicates the name of the village as "Olrona." Its Inupiat name was "Olgoonik." The region around Wainwright was traditionally well-populated, though the present village was not established until 1904, when the Alaska Native Service built a school and instituted medical and other services. The site was reportedly chosen by the captain of the ship delivering school construction materials, because sea-ice conditions were favorable for landing. A post office was established in 1916, and a city was formed in 1962. Coal was mined at several nearby sites for village use, the closest about 7 miles away. Today, though, most houses are heated by fuel oil. A U.S. Air Force Distance Early Warning (DEW) Station was constructed nearby.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Village of Wainwright.
The population of the community consists of 93%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Most Wainwright inhabitants are Inupiat Eskimos who practice a subsistence lifestyle. Their ancestors were the Utukamiut (people of the Utukok River) and Kukmiut (people of the Kuk River). The sale or importation of alcohol is banned in the village.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 179, and vacant housing units numbered 31.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 4.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 204 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
21.84 percent,
although
47.01 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $54,722, per capita income was $16,710, and
12.54 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| The North Slope Borough provides all utilities in Wainwright. Water is obtained from Merekruak Lake 3 miles northeast of the community, then treated and stored in tanks. Water is hauled from this point or delivered to household tanks by truck. Hauling services are provided by the borough. The majority of homes have running water for the kitchen.
Electricity is provided by North Slope Borough.
There is one school located in the community,
attended by 158
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Wainwright Health Clinic (907-763-2714).
Wainwright 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 Wainwright Volunteer Fire Dept. (907-763-2728).
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| Economy
and Transportation |
Economic opportunities in Wainwright are influenced by its proximity to Barrow and the fact that it is one of the older, more established villages. Most of the year-round positions are in borough services. Sale of local Eskimo arts and crafts supplement income. Bowhead and beluga whale, seal, walrus, caribou, polar bear, birds, and fish are harvested.
Air travel provides Wainwright's only year-round access. The 4,494' long by 90' wide gravel airstrip is owned and operated by the North Slope Borough. A 3,000' gravel airstrip exists at the old Wainwright Air Station. Marine and land transportation provide seasonal access. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Wainwright
P.O. Box 9
Wainwright, AK 99782
Phone 907-763-2815
Fax 907-763-2811
E-mail wainwrightcity@gmail.com
Village Corporation -
Olgoonik Corporation
P.O. Box 29
Wainwright, AK 99782-
Phone 907-763-2614
Fax 907-763-2926
E-mail info@olgoonik.com
Web http://www.olgoonik.com
Village Council -
Village of Wainwright
P.O. Box 184
Wainwright, AK 99782
Phone 907-763-2726
Fax 907-763-2536
E-mail j.l.childress@arcticslope.org
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 - Tagiugmiullu Nunamiullu Housing Authority
P.O. Box 409
Barrow, AK 99723
Phone 907-852-7160
Fax 907-852-2038
E-mail daryl.kooley@tnha.net
Web http://www.tnha.info
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