Nuiqsut(Inupiaq:Nuiqsat,IPA:[nuiχsɐt]) is acity[4]inNorth Slope Borough,Alaska,United States.The population was 512 at the 2020 Census and 92.5% Alaska Native.[4]It is located in the midst of a vast quantity of oil reserves and the closest community toConocoPhillipsoil drilling project namedWillow Projectin theAlpine, Alaskaoil field of theNational Petroleum Reserve–Alaska.It owns the surface rights, but not thesubsurface rightsof the Alpine field, which are with the regionalArctic Slope Regional Corporation.
Nuiqsut
Nuiqsut | |
|---|---|
 A row of homes in the center of Nuiqsut, Alaska | |
  Nuiqsut Location in Alaska | |
| Coordinates:70°12′59″N151°00′21″W/ 70.21639°N 151.00583°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | North Slope |
| Incorporated | June 24, 1975[1] |
| Government | |
| •Mayor | Lillian Kaigelak[2] |
| •State senator | Donny Olson(D) |
| •State rep. | Tom Baker(R) |
| Area | |
• Total | 8.89 sq mi (23.02 km2) |
| • Land | 8.89 sq mi (23.02 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 23 ft (7 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 512 |
| • Density | 57.61/sq mi (22.24/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-9(Alaska (AKST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-8(AKDT) |
| ZIP code | 99789 |
| Area code | 907 |
| FIPScode | 02-56320 |
| GNISfeature ID | 1416680,2419439 |
Geography
editNuiqsut is located at70°12′59″N151°0′21″W/ 70.21639°N 151.00583°W(70.216338, -151.005725).[5]
Nuiqsut is in theNorth Slope Boroughon the Nechelik Channel, about 35 miles (56 km) from theBeaufort Seacoast. It is located on theColville River,about 5 miles north of its confluence with theItkillik River.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau,the city has a total area of 9.2 square miles (24 km2), all of it land. Air travel to theNuiqsut Airportprovides the only year-round access to Nuiqsut. Nuiqsut is accessible during the winter via anice road.It is about 10 miles South ofAlpine, Alaskaand about 80 miles West ofPrudhoe Bay, Alaska
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 208 | — | |
| 1990 | 354 | 70.2% | |
| 2000 | 433 | 22.3% | |
| 2010 | 402 | [6] | −7.2% |
| 2020 | 512 | [4] | 27.4% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7][8] | |||
Nuiqsut incorporated in 1975 and first appeared on the 1980 U.S. Census as anincorporated city.
As of the2000 census[9]there were 433 people, 110 households, and 90 families living in the city. The population density was 47.0 inhabitants per square mile (18.1/km2).
As of the2010 United States Census,there were 402 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 87.1% Native American, 10.0% White, 0.2% Black and 2.7% from two or more races.
There were 126 housing units at an average density of 13.7 per square mile (5.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 88.22%Native American,10.16% White, 0.23% Black or African American, 0.46% Asian, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.23% of the population.
There were 110 households, out of which 54.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% weremarried couplesliving together, 22.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.3% were non-families. 15.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 0.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.93 and the average family size was 4.24.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 42.0% under 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 13.6% from 45 to 64, and 4.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females, there were 147.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 130.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $48,036, and the median income for a family was $46,875. Males had a median income of $31,667 versus $25,625 for females. Theper capita incomefor the city was $14,876. About 3.2% of families and 2.4% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 1.1% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
In the 2020 Census, the Hispanic or Latino population dropped to zero.[10]
Economy, commerce and social centers
edit
There is one commercial store in Nuiqsut, one mail receiving location (operated by the City of Nuiqsut not the United States Postal Service), and one church (Presbyterian). Other areas of social activity include the city recreation center and the school. An elder's living center is also present.[citation needed]
Since 1973, Nuiqsut has anAlaska Native corporationin form of a village corporation named "Kuukpik", in which more than 600 shareholders are enrolled.
Before 2001, Nuiqsut's economy was primarily subsistence-based. WhenConocoPhillipsfound oil and gas at theAlpine, Alaskaoil field to which and Kuukpik owns the surface rights, it negotiated a surface-use agreement. Since oil production began in 2001, Kuukpik has received a small royalty from ConocoPhillips. It was the first Native village impacted in this way.[11]Thesubsurface rightsof the Alpine field, however, are with the regionalArctic Slope Regional Corporation.
Since May 2018, ConocoPhillips has officially requested to develop the so calledWillow projectoil field from the Bureau of Land Management. Kuukpik submitted comments to the draftEnvironmental Impact Statementreducing drill sites to four, shorter gravel roads and requesting protection ofTeshekpuk Lakeamongst other things. In March 2023, then Mayor Rosemary Ahtuangaruak opposed the project, because of impacts on caribou and subsistence lifestyle.[12]
Education
editThere is one school in Nuiqsut for grades kindergarten through 12th grade, Nuiqsut Trapper School of theNorth Slope Borough School District.[13]The school also provides preschool. There are approximately 100 students. There are approximately 12 teachers and 6 other staff members. Many community functions are held in the school and it serves as social center as well as school. The school facilities also serve as an emergency shelter for the community in times of power outages.
Health
editThe sale, importation, and possession of alcohol are banned in the village.[14]
Culture and history
editThe native people of the village areIñupiat. In the early 1970s, the village was re-established,[clarification needed]when the residents moved to the region fromUtqiaġvik.For one year they lived in tents while housing was built. These original residents were the first to receive dividends from the oil companies in exchange for land use. The dividends are passed from the original shareholders on to the community member of their choice (often parent to child).[citation needed]
Native traditions such as hunting (whale, caribou, fox, ptarmigan, etc.) and the making of native clothes and crafts continues,[when?]although the influence of modern society has reduced both need and interest in these activities to some degree. The traditional whale hunted by the whalers of Nuiqsut is thebowhead whale.[citation needed]
In 2022, a gas leak forced some villagers to evacuate their homes.[15]
In 2023, Nuiqsut officials criticized the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) public input process forConocoPhillipsso calledWillow project,as the BLM denied to extend the public comment period without explanation.[15]
Natural resources
editNuiqsut is located in the midst of a vast quantity of oil. Many major oil companies have oil facilities in the region (ConocoPhillips,Hilcorp,etc.). The relationship with the community of Nuiqsut is such that the oil company using the land, considered to be the property of the native Nuiqsut residents (Inupiat Eskimos), pay dividends to residents in exchange for use of the land. For many native residents, the dividends are the primary, or only, source of income, but the region's local development and global fossil fuel-generated climate disruption has had major negative impacts on their traditional hunting, fishing and whaling activities.[16]Permafrostthawing, rising sea levels and warming of theArctic Oceanpresent a cash-versus-culture conundrum to the inhabitants.[16]
Climate
edit| Climate data for Nuiqsut, Alaska (Nuiqsut Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1998–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 35 (2) |
38 (3) |
34 (1) |
44 (7) |
67 (19) |
82 (28) |
84 (29) |
88 (31) |
67 (19) |
50 (10) |
38 (3) |
36 (2) |
88 (31) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 18.5 (−7.5) |
22.9 (−5.1) |
16.5 (−8.6) |
30.3 (−0.9) |
45.8 (7.7) |
71.0 (21.7) |
75.9 (24.4) |
68.3 (20.2) |
58.5 (14.7) |
38.8 (3.8) |
28.0 (−2.2) |
24.0 (−4.4) |
77.3 (25.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | −8.5 (−22.5) |
−8.6 (−22.6) |
−6.9 (−21.6) |
9.9 (−12.3) |
29.2 (−1.6) |
49.9 (9.9) |
57.9 (14.4) |
51.1 (10.6) |
39.8 (4.3) |
24.0 (−4.4) |
8.2 (−13.2) |
−3.5 (−19.7) |
20.2 (−6.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | −15.7 (−26.5) |
−15.7 (−26.5) |
−14.2 (−25.7) |
2.3 (−16.5) |
24.1 (−4.4) |
42.3 (5.7) |
49.5 (9.7) |
44.4 (6.9) |
34.8 (1.6) |
18.5 (−7.5) |
1.2 (−17.1) |
−10.2 (−23.4) |
13.4 (−10.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | −23.0 (−30.6) |
−22.8 (−30.4) |
−21.4 (−29.7) |
−5.3 (−20.7) |
19.0 (−7.2) |
34.7 (1.5) |
41.2 (5.1) |
37.7 (3.2) |
29.7 (−1.3) |
13.1 (−10.5) |
−5.9 (−21.1) |
−16.9 (−27.2) |
6.7 (−14.1) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −44.6 (−42.6) |
−44.1 (−42.3) |
−40.3 (−40.2) |
−25.7 (−32.1) |
0.3 (−17.6) |
25.9 (−3.4) |
32.9 (0.5) |
30.5 (−0.8) |
19.2 (−7.1) |
−5.1 (−20.6) |
−25.2 (−31.8) |
−38.1 (−38.9) |
−48.0 (−44.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −62 (−52) |
−56 (−49) |
−53 (−47) |
−39 (−39) |
−23 (−31) |
21 (−6) |
29 (−2) |
25 (−4) |
5 (−15) |
−21 (−29) |
−46 (−43) |
−50 (−46) |
−62 (−52) |
| Averageprecipitationinches (mm) | 0.32 (8.1) |
0.20 (5.1) |
0.15 (3.8) |
0.40 (10) |
0.38 (9.7) |
0.57 (14) |
1.14 (29) |
1.21 (31) |
0.58 (15) |
0.16 (4.1) |
0.26 (6.6) |
0.31 (7.9) |
5.68 (144.3) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 0.0 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 4.1 | 4.6 | 8.5 | 11.4 | 8.9 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 43.9 |
| Source 1: NOAA[17] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service (mean maxima and minima, precip days 2006–2020)[18] | |||||||||||||
In popular culture
editNuiqsut was featured in season four episode one of theHistorytelevision channel seriesIce Road Truckers,when a convoy of truckers delivered supplies to the village.[citation needed]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^1996 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory.Juneau:Alaska Municipal League/Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs.January 1996. p. 110.
- ^"CityOfNuiqsut".
- ^"2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedOctober 29,2021.
- ^abcd"Nuiqsut city, Alaska".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedMarch 19,2023.
- ^"US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990".United States Census Bureau.February 12, 2011.RetrievedApril 23,2011.
- ^"Nuiqsut city, Alaska".Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data.United States Census Bureau.Archived fromthe originalon February 12, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 23,2013.
- ^"Census of Population and Housing".Census.gov.RetrievedJune 4,2016.
- ^https://data.census.gov/profile/Nuiqsut_city,_Alaska?g=160XX00US0256320[bare URL]
- ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 31,2008.
- ^"Explore Census Data".data.census.gov.RetrievedJanuary 13,2024.
- ^Kuukpik Corporation (n.d.)."About Us – Village Corporation for Nuiqsut, Alaska".www.kuukpik.com.RetrievedFebruary 6,2023.
- ^Brown and Daly (March 13, 2023)."What is the controversy behind the Alaska Willow oil project?".PBS.RetrievedMarch 13,2023.
- ^"Nuiqsuit."North Slope Borough School District.Retrieved on February 14, 2017.
- ^"Schedule of Local Option Communities"(PDF).Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.RetrievedMay 3,2023.
- ^abNilsen, Ella (February 1, 2023)."Biden administration takes another step toward advancing a controversial oil drilling project in Alaska".CNN.RetrievedFebruary 5,2023.
- ^abEilperin, Juliet (December 13, 2019)."Facing catastrophic climate change, they still can't quit Big Oil".Washington Post.RetrievedDecember 20,2019.
- ^"U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access - Station: Nuiqsut AP, AK".National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedOctober 21,2022.
- ^"NOAA Online Weather Data - NWS Fairbanks".National Weather Service.RetrievedOctober 21,2022.