Kobuk is a city in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska

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 109.

Geography

Kobuk is located at 66°55′3"N 156°54′25"W (66.917579, -156.906829).

Kobuk is located on the bank of the Kobuk River

Kobuk River

The Kobuk River is a river located in the Arctic region of northwestern Alaska in the United States. It is approximately long...

, 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Shungnak

Shungnak, Alaska

Shungnak is a city in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 256.-History:...

. It is near Kobuk Valley National Park

Kobuk Valley National Park

Kobuk Valley National Park is in northwestern Alaska north of the Arctic Circle. It was designated a United States National Park in 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. It is noted for the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes and caribou migration routes. The park offers backcountry...

.

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 16.8 square miles (43.5 km²), of which, 16.1 square miles (41.7 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (4.34%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 109 people, 26 households, and 23 families residing in the city. The population density was 6.8 people per square mile (2.6/km²). There were 45 housing units at an average density of 2.8 per square mile (1.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 4.59% White

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...

, 93.58% 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...

, 0.92% 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...

, 0.92% from other races

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...

. 4.59% 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 26 households out of which 61.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 30.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 11.5% were non-families. 11.5% of all households were made up of individuals and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.19 and the average family size was 4.26.

In the city the age distribution of the population shows 52.3% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 18.3% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 2.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 17 years. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,750, and the median income for a family was $20,313. Males had a median income of $71,250 versus $21,875 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 $9,844. There were 32.0% of families and 28.6% of the population living below the poverty line, including 28.2% of under eighteens and 57.1% of those over 64.

History

Kobuk was founded in 1899 as a supply point for miners north of Kobuk. A trading post, school, and mission were built and residents came to the settlement. In May 1973, a flood covered the entire village.

The economy of Kobuk is based on subsistence hunting for caribou and moose.