Selawik, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Selawik is a city in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska
, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 772.
Selawik comes from "siilvik" which means "place of sheefish" in Inupiaq.
Selawik is located at the mouth of the Selawik River
where it empties into Selawik Lake
, about 112 km (69.6 mi) southeast of Kotzebue
.
Selawik is near the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge
, a breeding and resting area for migratory waterfowl.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²), of which, 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (26.24%) is water.
, 0.13% Black
or African American
, 94.82% Native American
, 0.78% Asian
, 0.13% Pacific Islander
, and 0.91% from two or more races. 0.13% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 172 households out of which 68.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.9% were married couples living together, 29.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.5% were non-families. 12.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.49 and the average family size was 4.78.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 48.1% under the age of 18, 12.7% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 10.6% from 45 to 64, and 5.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 19 years. For every 100 females there were 108.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,625, and the median income for a family was $27,639. Males had a median income of $50,278 versus $40,417 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $8,170. About 34.6% of families and 34.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.2% of those under age 18 and 22.7% of those age 65 or over.
of the Imperial Russian Navy first reported the village in the 1840s as "Chilivik." In his census study in 1880, Ivan Petrof counted 100 "Selawigamute" people.
Around 1908, the village site had a small wooden schoolhouse and church. The village now has expanded across the Selawik River onto three banks, linked by bridges.
Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska
-National protected areas:* Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge ** Chamisso Wilderness* Bering Land Bridge National Preserve * Cape Krusenstern National Monument* Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve...
, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 772.
Selawik comes from "siilvik" which means "place of sheefish" in Inupiaq.
Geography
Selawik is located at 66°35′49"N 160°0′49"W (66.597043, -160.013674).Selawik is located at the mouth of the Selawik River
Selawik River
The Selawik River is a river in northwestern Alaska. It is about long. It runs from its origin in the Purcell Mountains through the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge and empties into Selawik Lake, which empties into the Kotzebue Sound in the Chukchi Sea. The river is approximately at the...
where it empties into Selawik Lake
Selawik Lake
Selawik Lake is a lake located southwest of Selawik, Alaska. It is long. It is adjacent to the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge and the Baldwin Peninsula, feeding into the Hotham Inlet and Kotzebue Sound....
, about 112 km (69.6 mi) southeast of Kotzebue
Kotzebue, Alaska
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,082 people, 889 households, and 656 families residing in the city. The population density was 114.1 people per square mile . There were 1,007 housing units at an average density of 37.3 per square mile...
.
Selawik is near the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge
Selawik National Wildlife Refuge
Selawik National Wildlife Refuge in northwest Alaska in the Waring Mountains was officially established in 1980 with the passage of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act ....
, a breeding and resting area for migratory waterfowl.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²), of which, 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (26.24%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 772 people, 172 households, and 147 families residing in the city. The population density was 306.1 people per square mile (118.3/km²). There were 188 housing units at an average density of 74.5 per square mile (28.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 3.24% WhiteRace (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.13% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 94.82% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.78% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.13% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.91% from two or more races. 0.13% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 172 households out of which 68.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.9% were married couples living together, 29.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.5% were non-families. 12.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.49 and the average family size was 4.78.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 48.1% under the age of 18, 12.7% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 10.6% from 45 to 64, and 5.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 19 years. For every 100 females there were 108.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,625, and the median income for a family was $27,639. Males had a median income of $50,278 versus $40,417 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $8,170. About 34.6% of families and 34.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.2% of those under age 18 and 22.7% of those age 65 or over.
History
A Lt. Lavrenty ZagoskinLavrenty Zagoskin
Lavrenty Alekseyevich Zagoskin was a Russian naval officer and explorer of Alaska.Zagoskin was born in 1808 in the Russian district of Penza in a village named Nikolayevka. Even though Nikolayevka was not near the ocean, Zagoskin would eventually train for the Russian Navy and served as a naval...
of the Imperial Russian Navy first reported the village in the 1840s as "Chilivik." In his census study in 1880, Ivan Petrof counted 100 "Selawigamute" people.
Around 1908, the village site had a small wooden schoolhouse and church. The village now has expanded across the Selawik River onto three banks, linked by bridges.