Barrow, Alaska
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Barrow is a city located in North Slope Borough, Alaska. Barrow is the northernmost settlement in the United States, and the northernmost town of more than 2,000 residents in the world. Nearby Point Barrow is the northernmost point of the United States (see Extreme Points of the United States and Northernmost settlements.) As of 2004, the population of the city was 4,680.
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Geography
Image:AKMap-doton-Barrow.PNG Barrow is located at 71°18'1" North, 156°44'9" West (71.300371, -156.735840)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 55 km² (21 mi²). 48 km² (18 mi²) of it is land and 8 km² (3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 14% water.
Demographics
Image:Barrow-icebow.jpgAs of 2004,there were 4,680 people, 1,400 households, and 980 families residing in the city. The population density was 100/km² (250/mi²). There were 1,620 housing units at an average density of 35/km² (90/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 22% white, 1% black or African American, 57% Native Alaskan, 9% Asian, 1% Pacific Islander, 1% from other races, and 9% from two or more races. 3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 1,400 households out of which 57% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45% were married couples living together, 15% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28% were non-families. 23% of all households were made up of individuals and 2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.4 and the average family size was 4.8. Image:Barrow beach.jpg In the city the population was spread out with 28% under the age of 18, 13% from 18 to 24, 32% from 25 to 44, 19% from 45 to 64, and 3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 107 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $63,100, and the median income for a family was $68,200. Males had a median income of $52,000 versus $46,400 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,900. 9% of the population and 8% of families were below the poverty line. 7% of those under the age of 18 and 13% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
History
Before it was Barrow, Barrow was known as Utqiagvik. The name means "place where owls are hunted" in Inupiaq.
Archaeological sites in the area indicate the Inupiat lived around Barrow as far back as AD 500. Some remains of 16 dwelling mounds from the Birnirk culture of about AD 800 are still in evidence today. Image:Barrow sod house remains.jpg Image:Barrow-alaska-terminal.jpg Barrow takes its current name from Point Barrow, which was named for Sir John Barrow of the British Admiralty in 1825. British Navy officers were in the area to explore and map the Arctic coastline of North America. The United States Army established a meteorological and magnetic research station at Barrow in 1881, and the Cape Smythe Whaling and Trading Station was established in 1893.
By 1888 there was a Presbyterian church at Barrow, and in 1901, a United States Post Office was opened.
In 1935, the famous humorist Will Rogers and pilot Wiley Post made a planned stop 25 km (15 miles) south of Barrow on an air trip. After they took off again, their plane stalled and plunged into a river, killing them both. Two monuments are located at the crash site.
The residents of the area cast the lone vote in opposition to passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, which passed in December 1971. In 1972, the North Slope Borough was established. The borough used millions of dollars in new revenues to create roads, sanitation services, water and electrical services, and health and educational services in the area.
In 1986, the North Slope Borough created the North Slope Higher Education Center, which later became Ilisagvik College, gaining accreditation in 2003. The two-year college is dedicated to providing an education based on the Inupiat culture.
| Image:Flag of Alaska.svg | State of Alaska |
|---|---|
| Capital | Juneau |
| Regions | Bush Alaska - Interior - North Slope - Panhandle - South Central - Tanana Valley |
| Largest cities | Anchorage - Barrow - Bethel - Fairbanks - Homer - Juneau - Kenai - Ketchikan - Kodiak - Kotzebue - Nome - Palmer - Petersburg - Seward - Sitka - Unalaska - Valdez - Wasilla |
| Boroughs | Aleutians East - Anchorage - Bristol Bay - Denali - Fairbanks North Star - Haines - Juneau - Kenai Peninsula - Ketchikan Gateway - Kodiak Island - Lake and Peninsula - Matanuska-Susitna - North Slope - Northwest Arctic - Sitka - Yakutat |
| Census Areas | Aleutians West - Bethel - Dillingham - Nome - Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan - Skagway-Hoonah-Angoon - Southeast Fairbanks - Valdez-Cordova - Wade Hampton - Wrangell-Petersburg - Yukon-Koyukuk |
Trivia
Barrow is the setting for a series of horror comics called 30 Days of Night. The stories center on vampires who take advantage of the month or so of darkness that takes place annually in the town. (This comic's depiction of Barrow bears no resemblance to Barrow in any way but name.)
Barrow has an AM/FM radio station, KBRW, broadcasting on 91.9 FM.