Kiwalik, Alaska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kiwalik
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 Kiwalik
Location in Alaska
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Northwest Arctic |
| Time zone | UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-8 (AKDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1413351 |
Kiwalik (also called Keewalik) is a small, quiet place in Alaska. It's not a city or town with its own government. Instead, it's an unincorporated community in the Northwest Arctic Borough.
You can find Kiwalik where the Kiwalik River meets Kotzebue Sound. This area is part of the Seward Peninsula. It's about 97 kilometers (60 miles) south of Kotzebue.
Contents
A Look at Kiwalik's Past
Kiwalik used to be a busy little community. It helped support mining operations nearby. Miners worked at a place called Candle, which was only about 7 miles away.
What Kiwalik is Like Today
Today, Kiwalik is mostly abandoned. You might see old, broken-down buildings and rusty equipment. It's no longer a place where many people live.
However, it's still important for some people. Hunters use the area to find food. Travelers also stop there to use a public shelter cabin. This cabin is on a public road that connects Kiwalik to Candle. People also visit a graveyard in the area.
Kiwalik on TV
The Kiwalik River area is sometimes shown on the National Geographic Channel. It appears in a TV show called Life Below Zero. In the show, the Hailstone family visits this area. They hunt and gather food there. This shows how people use traditional skills to live in the Alaskan wilderness.
Who Lived in Kiwalik?
Early Census Records
The first time Kiwalik was counted in a U.S. Census was in 1880. Back then, it was called "Kugalukmute." It was listed as an Inuit village.
After 1880, it didn't appear on the census again until 1930. Then, it was called "Keewalik." It was also counted as Keewalik in 1940. Since then, it hasn't been listed separately in the census.
The Kugalukmute People
The "Kugalukmute" were a group of people. They lived along the Kuguruk River. This river is just west of the Kiwalik River.
