Barrow Alaska

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Current Population:	4,581 (certified December 2001, DCED)	Topographic map of Barrow
Incorporation Type:	1st Class City
Borough Located In:	North Slope Borough
School District:	North Slope Borough Schools
Regional Native Corporation:	Arctic Slope Regional Corp.

Location:
Barrow, the northernmost community in North America, is located on the Chukchi Sea coast, 10 miles south of Point Barrow from which it takes its name. It lies 725 air miles from Anchorage. It lies at approximately 71.29056° N Latitude and -156.78861° W Longitude.  (Sec. 06, T022N, R018W, Umiat Meridian.)   Barrow is located in the Barrow Recording District.  The area encompasses 18.4 sq. miles of land and 2.9 sq. miles of water.  The climate of Barrow is arctic. Precipitation is light, averaging 5 inches, with annual snowfall of 20 inches. Temperatures range from -56 to 78, averaging 40 during summer. The sun does not set between May 10th and August 2nd each summer, and does not rise between Nov. 18th and January 24th each winter. The daily minimum temperature is below freezing 324 days of the year. Prevailing winds are easterly and average 12 MPH. The Chukchi Sea is typically ice free from mid-June through October.

History:
Archaeological sites in the area indicate habitation from 500 to 900 A.D. Inupiat traditionally depend on subsistence marine mammal hunting, supplemented by inland hunting and fishing. Archaeological remains of sixteen dwelling mounds from the Birnirk culture exist today. Barrow was named for Sir John Barrow, 2nd Secretary of the British Admiralty. Barrow's Eskimo name is known as Ukpeagvik (place where owls are hunted.) In 1881, the U.S. Army established a meteorological and magnetic research station near Barrow. The Cape Smythe Whaling and Trading Station was constructed here in 1893. A Presbyterian Church was established in 1899, and a post office was opened in 1901. Exploration of the Naval Petroleum Reserve Number 4 (now National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, NPR-A) began in 1946. The Naval Arctic Research Laboratory, 3 miles north of Barrow, soon followed. The City was incorporated in 1958. Formation of the North Slope Borough in 1972, the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, and construction of the Prudhoe Bay oil fields and Trans-Alaska Pipeline have each contributed to the development of Barrow. Today, tax revenues from the North Slope oil fields fund borough-wide services.

Culture:
The majority of residents are Inupiat Eskimos. Traditional marine mammal hunts and other subsistence practices are an active part of the culture. Bowhead, gray, killer and beluga whales migrate near Barrow each summer. The sale of alcohol is banned in the community, although importation or possession is allowed.

Economy:
Barrow is the economic center of the North Slope Borough, the city's primary employer, and numerous businesses provide support services to oil field operations. State and federal agencies also provide employment. The midnight sun has attracted tourism, and arts and crafts provide some cash income. Seven residents hold commercial fishing permits. Many residents rely upon subsistence food sources: whale, seal, polar bear, walrus, duck, caribou and grayling and whitefish are harvested from the coast or nearby rivers and lakes.

Facilities:
Water is derived from a dam on Isatkoak Lagoon and is stored in a tank. Most residents have piped water, but nearly one-half use honeybuckets for sewage disposal. Funds have been requested to serve remaining houses and to construct a second water reservoir. The member-owned Barrow Utilities & Electric Cooperative operates the water and sewage treatment plants, generates and distributes electric power, and distributes piped natural gas for home heating. The North Slope Borough provides all other utilities. Refuse collection services are provided by the North Slope Borough. The Barrow Power Plant is fueled by natural gas.

Transportation:
Regularly-scheduled jet services provide Barrow's only year-round access. The State-owned Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport serves as the regional transportation center for the Borough. The airport has a 6,500' asphalt runway, and has recently undergone major improvements. Marine and land transportation provide seasonal access. The City has requested funds for construction of a small boat harbor.

Climate:
The climate of Barrow is arctic. Precipitation is light, averaging 5 inches, with annual snowfall of 20 inches. Temperatures range from -56 to 78, averaging 40 during summer. The sun does not set between May 10th and August 2nd each summer, and does not rise between Nov. 18th and January 24th each winter. The daily minimum temperature is below freezing 324 days of the year. Prevailing winds are easterly and average 12 MPH. The Chukchi Sea is typically ice free from mid-June through mid-October.

Population by Gender and Age:
Male:	2,369
Female:	2,212
Age 4 and under:	450
Age 5 - 9:	455
Age 10 - 14:	508
Age 15 - 19:	409
Age 20 - 24:	262
Age 25 - 34:	633
Age 35 - 44:	816
Age 45 - 54:	628
Age 55 - 59:	168
Age 60 - 64:	95
Age 65 - 74:	97
Age 75 - 84:	49
Age 85 and over:	11
Median Age:	28.8
Pop. Age 18 and over:	2,901
Pop. Age 21 and over:	2,720
Pop. Age 62 and over:	212

Census Population History:
1880:	200
1890:	152
1900:	0
1910:	446
1920:	322
1930:	330
1940:	363
1950:	951
1960:	1,314
1970:	2,104
1980:	2,267
1990:	3,469
2000:	4,581
Comments:

General Description of the Local Economy:

Barrow is the economic center of the North Slope Borough, the city's primary employer, and numerous businesses provide support services to oil field operations. State and federal agencies also provide employment. The midnight sun has attracted tourism, and arts and crafts provide some cash income. Seven residents hold commercial fishing permits. Many residents rely upon subsistence food sources: whale, seal, polar bear, walrus, duck, caribou and grayling and whitefish are harvested from the coast or nearby rivers and lakes.

The following Income and Employment data is from the 2000 U.S. Census. Additional detail is available from the Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development, Census and Geographic Information Network and the U.S. Census Bureau's American FactFinder.
Income and Poverty Levels: These figures are estimates based on a sample, and are subject to sampling variability. The percent of all households sampled in Barrow was 45.4%. Current socio-economic measures could differ significantly.
Per Capita Income:	$22,902
Median Household Income:	$67,097
Median Family Income:	$68,203
Persons in Poverty:	390
Percent Below Poverty:	8.6%

Employment:
Total Potential Work Force (Age 16+):	3,069
Total Employment:	1,986
Civilian Employment:	1,986
Military Employment:	0
Civilian Unemployed (And Seeking Work):	290
Percent Unemployed:	12.7%
Adults Not in Labor Force (Not Seeking Work):	793
Percent of All 16+ Not Working (Unemployed + Not Seeking):	35.3%
Private Wage & Salary Workers:	765
Self-Employed Workers (in own not incorporated business):	43
Government Workers (City, Borough, State, Federal):	1,176
Unpaid Family Workers:	2

Employment by Occupation:
Management, Professional & Related:	783
Service:	301
Sales & Office:	479
Farming, Fishing & Forestry:	2
Construction, Extraction & Maintenance:	254
Production, Transportation & Material Moving:	167
Employment by Industry:
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, Mining:	38
Construction:	103
Manufacturing:	9
Wholesale Trade:	3
Retail Trade:	123
Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities:	167
Information:	38
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Rental & Leasing:	62
Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative & Waste Mgmt:	85
Education, Health & Social Services:	718
Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, Accomodation & Food Services:	57
Other Services (Except Public Admin):	136
Public Administration:	447

Facilities, Utilities and Services

General Description of Sanitation Facilities:

Water is derived from a dam on Isatkoak Lagoon and is stored in a tank. Most residents have piped water, but nearly one-half use honeybuckets for sewage disposal. Funds have been requested to serve remaining houses and to construct a second water reservoir. The member-owned Barrow Utilities & Electric Cooperative operates the water and sewage treatment plants, generates and distributes electric power, and distributes piped natural gas for home heating. The North Slope Borough provides all other utilities. Refuse collection services are provided by the North Slope Borough. The Barrow Power Plant is fueled by natural gas.

Water Distribution, Source & Treatment Systems:
Water System Operator:	Co-op
Washeteria Operator:	Private
Piped Water System:	Yes
Central Watering Point (Haul):	No
Multiple Watering Points:	Yes
Water Truck (Delivery):	No
Individual Wells:	No
Community Well Source:	No
Surface Water Source:	Yes
DEC Water Permit Number:	320078
Water Is Filte0000FF:	Yes
Water Is Chlorinated:	Yes
Sewage Collection Systems:
Sewer System Operator:	Co-op; Individuals
Piped Sewer System:	Yes
Honeybucket Haul:	Yes
Honeybucket Pits:	No
Individual Septic Tanks:	No
Community Septic Tank:	No
Sewage Pumper:	No
Sewage Lagoon:	Yes
Sewage Lift Station:	No
Outhouses:	No
Refuse/Landfill System:
Refuse Collector:	Borough
Landfill Operator:	Borough
DEC Landfill Permit:	Yes
Type of Landfill:	Class 2
Electric Utility:
Electric Utility Name:	Barrow Utilities & Electric Cooperative
Utility Operator:	Co-op
Power Source:	Natural Gas
KiloWatt Capacity:	12,000
Rate/KiloWatt Hour:	9.9 cents/KWH
Power Cost Equalization (PCE) Subsidy:	No
Bulk Fuel:
Tank Owners (Number of tanks and capacity of each): Eskimos Inc./Barrow Airport (27,000 gals.); Airport (240,000)
Health Care:
Clinic/Hospital in Community:	Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital (852-4611); North Slope Borough Clinic (852-0260)
Clinic/Hospital:	(907) 852-4611
Operator:	U.S. Public Health Service
Owner:	U.S. Public Health Service
Facility Status:	Construction of a new hospital is a local priority.
Alternate Health Care:	Borough Volunteer Fire Dept./EMS/Search & Rescue/Medevac (852-0234/852-6111); flight to Fairbanks
Health Comments:	The hospital is a qualified Acute Care facility and State-certified Medevac Service. The Clinic is a qualified Emergency Care Center. NSB Search & Rescue provides Critical Care Air Ambulance Service. Specialized Care: NSB Substance Abuse Treatment Center 852-0260 NSB Community Counseling Center
Visitor Accomodations/Information:
Airline Services:	Alaska Airlines; N.A.C.; Cape Smythe Air Service; Alaska Island Air; Evert Air
Taxis:	North Slope Borough Bus Service; Qilamik Cab; Barrow Taxi; Arcticab; City Cab
Car Rentals:	King Eider Inn Vehicle Rental
Accomodations:	The King Eider Inn (907-852-4700)
Local Tours:	Alaskan Arctic Adventures (907-852-3800)
Visitor Attractions:	Inupiat Heritage Center; Wiley Post Will Rogers Monument; Arctic Ocean; Point Barrow; Cape Smythe Whaling Station; Birnirk archaeological site
Cultural Events:	Nalukatag/Whaling Festival (June); Kivgiq Dance (January); Piuraagiaqta/Spring Festival (April)
Local Services & Facilities:
Police:	Public Safety Police (852-6111); State Troopers Post (852-3783)
Fire/Rescue:	Borough Volunteer Fire Dept./EMS/Ambulance
Court/Magistrate:	State District Court (pres.2nd District)
Youth Center:	Borough
Community Hall:	North Slope Borough Building
Senior Services:	North Slope Senior Housing & services
Gym or Pool:	School Gym; Ipalook Roller Rink
Bingo:	City
Movie Theater:	School Auditorium
Museum:	Barrow Museum
Library:	Borough Public Library & School Libraries
Communications:
In-State Phone:	Arctic Slope Telephone Assoc. Co-op
Long-Distance Phone:	AT&T Alascom; GCI; Arctic Slope Telephone
Internet Service Provider:	GCI (www.gci.net); Arctic Slope Telephone Association Cooperative (www.barrow.com)
TV Stations:	ARCS; KUAC; KYAC
Radio Stations:	KBRW-AM; KBRW-FM; KJNP-AM
Cable Provider:	Barrow Cable TV
Teleconferencing:	Alaska Teleconferencing Network; Legislative Information Office; North Slope Borough Teleconference Center