Kivalina, Alaska
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Kivalina is a city located in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 377.
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Geography
Kivalina is located at 67°43'8" North, 164°29'32" West (67.718754, -164.492337)Template:GR.
Kivalina is on the tip of an 12 km (8 mile) long barrier reef located between the Chukchi Sea and the Kivalina River. It lies 130 km (80 miles) northwest of Kotzebue.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.0 km² (3.9 mi²). 4.8 km² (1.9 mi²) of it is land and 5.2 km² (2.0 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 51.55% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 377 people, 78 households, and 64 families residing in the city. The population density is 77.8/km² (202.1/mi²). There are 80 housing units at an average density of 16.5/km² (42.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 3.45% White, 0.00% Black or African American, 96.55% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from other races, and 0.00% from two or more races. 0.00% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 78 households out of which 61.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% are married couples living together, 15.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 17.9% are non-families. 16.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 3.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 4.83 and the average family size is 5.50.
In the city the population is spread out with 44.0% under the age of 18, 13.3% from 18 to 24, 20.7% from 25 to 44, 15.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 21 years. For every 100 females there are 106.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 113.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $30,833, and the median income for a family is $30,179. Males have a median income of $31,875 versus $21,875 for females. The per capita income for the city is $8,360. 26.4% of the population and 25.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 27.9% of those under the age of 18 and 30.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
History
Kivalina is an Inupiat community. It has long been a stopping place for travelers between arctic coastal areas and Kotzebue Sound communities. It is the only village in the region where people hunt the bowhead whale. The original village was located at the north end of the Kivalina Lagoon but was relocated.
In about 1900, reindeer were brought to the area and some people were trained as reindeer herders.
An airstrip was built at Kivalina in 1960. Kivalina incorporated as a city in 1969. During the 1970s, a new school and an electric system were constructed in the village.
Due to severe erosion, the City intends to relocate again to a new site 12 km (7.5 miles) from the present site.