Kikiktagruk (Kotzebue, Alaska)

Kotzebue, Alaska is the home of the Alaska Technical Center. The Iñupiaq name for Kotzebue is Kikiktagruk (ki-kik-tug-rook), which means “a place that is shaped like a long island”. Kotzebue is located approximately 30 miles above of the Arctic Circle and the current population of Kotzebue is approximately 3,600 people.

Kotzebue has been an active trade center for hundreds of years and still functions as such today due to its strategic location. Three major river systems drain into the Kotzebue Sound; they are the Noatak River, Kobuk River, and Selawik River. These river systems are easily accessible from Kotzebue. Kotzebue is the economic, social, and cultural center of Northwest Alaska. Kotzebue has amenities available such as water and sewer services and the Maniilaq Health Center provides modern medical services. A variety of programs and services are provided by the city, tribal, and borough governments to meet most needs of the residents of Kotzebue.

With a present population of over 3,600 people, Kotzebue continues a steady growth. As a transportation center, Kotzebue provides a stepping-off place for many villages, Red Dog Mine, and vast areas of wilderness and mountains. There are scheduled passenger flights daily to Nome, Anchorage, Fairbanks and to area villages as well. The local Nullagvik (pronounced “noo-lug-vik” and means a place to stay) Hotel offers accommodations for visitors and friends as well as other local bed and breakfast facilities.

Barge service and air cargo services are available for shipment of large or bulk items to Kotzebue and outlying villages. Grocery/Department stores such as the newly remodeled AC Company provide all the necessary groceries and household supplies. Many restaurants serve a variety of foods from Chinese and Japanese foods to pizza and burgers, while nature provides a bountiful food source from the land and sea for those who choose a subsistence lifestyle.