Kipnuk, Alaska

Kipnuk (Qipneq in Central Alaskan Yup'ik) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Bethel Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 639.

Kipnuk consists mostly Yupik speaking Eskimos; the name means a "bend" referring to the bend in the (Qukaqliq) Kugkaktlik River where it is situated. The original settlement was situated along "Nukallpiarcunarli", a slough feeding into the (Qukaqliq) Kugkaktlik. This slough was thus named, because it was hard to detect during the Eskimo Wars. It was ideal for ambushing "Nukallpiaqs" or warrior/providers.

Geography

Kipnuk is located at 59°56′15″N 164°2′38″W / 59.93750°N 164.04389°W / 59.93750; -164.04389 (59.937619, -164.043926).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 19.6 square miles (51 km²), of which, 19.4 square miles (50 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km²) of it (1.22%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 644 people, 137 households, and 122 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 33.2 people per square mile (12.8/km²). There were 154 housing units at an average density of 7.9/sq mi (3.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 2.02% White, 96.58% Native American, and 1.40% from two or more races.