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Community Type: 2nd Class City
- Current
Population: 3138
- Borough
Name: Northwest Arctic Borough
- Regional
Native Corporation: NANA Regional Corporation
- REAA/School
District: Northwest Arctic Schools
- Latitude:
66° 54' N
- Longitude:
162° 35' W
- See Map
of the region
- Land Area:
26.90
- Water Area:
17.50
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| Location:
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Location
Kotzebue is on the Baldwin Peninsula in Kotzebue Sound. It is
located near the discharges of the Kobuk and Noatak Rivers, 549
air miles northwest of Anchorage and 26 miles above the Arctic
Circle.
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| History:
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This site has been occupied by Inupiaq 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 community was later named after the
German Lt. Otto Von Kotzebue, who "discovered" Kotzebue
Sound in 1818 for Russia. In 1899 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.
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| Culture:
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The residents of Kotzebue are primarily Inupiaq 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. As a regional economic center, it offers a mixture of government,
transportation, and other private sector businesses. The sale
of alcohol is banned in the City, although importation or possession
are allowed.
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| Economy:
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Kotzebue is the service and transportation hub for all villages
in the northwest region. It has a healthy cash economy, a growing
private sector and a variety of public agencies. It is the transfer
point between ocean and inland water transportation, and the air
transport center. 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 spending,
the Maniilaq Association, and the Red Dog Mine. Commercial fishing
of chum salmon and trout, and processing at Kotzebue Sound Area
Fisheries provide some seasonal employment. 102 residents hold
commercial fishing permits. Funding for the State-owned Sikusuliaq
Springs Fish Hatchery was recently discontinued, and the City
is exploring alternatives to maintain the facility. Most residents
rely on
subsistence to supplement income.
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| Transportation:
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The State-owned Ralph Wien Memorial Airport supports daily jet
service to Anchorage, cargo delivery, and several air taxis to
outlying villages. It has a 6,000' asphalt runway and 4,000' crosswind
gravel runway. A seaplane base is also operated by the State.
Kotzebue is the transfer point between ocean and inland shipping
for northwest Alaska. Local barge services provide cargo to area
communities. Due to river sediments, the harbor is shallow and
is ice-free for only 3 months each year. Deep draft vessels anchor
15 miles out, and cargo is lightered to the docking facility.
A local priority is to examine the feasibility of developing a
deep water port. There are 26 miles of local gravel roads, used
by cars, trucks and motorcycles during the summer. Snowmachines
are preferred in winter for local transport.
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| Climate:
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Kotzebue is located in the transitional climate zone, which is
characterized by long, cold winters and cool summers. Temperatures
range from -52 to 85. Snowfall averages 47 inches, with total
precipitation of 9 inches per year.
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