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Atqasuk, Alaska Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

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The current estimated population of Atqasuk, Alaska, is 230, with a gender distribution of approximately 51% male and 49% female. The population fluctuates slightly due to the transient nature of work in the region, particularly in industries related to oil and natural resources.

City Facts

  • Year Founded: 1970
  • County Affiliation: North Slope Borough
  • Land Area: 42.1 square miles
  • Population Density: 5 people per square mile
  • Area Code: 907
  • Zip Codes: 99791

Geography and Location

Atqasuk, Alaska, is a small Iñupiat community located in the North Slope Borough, in the northern part of the state. Situated on the Meade River, Atqasuk is approximately 60 miles southwest of Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), the northernmost city in the United States. The village is part of the Arctic tundra, characterized by its flat, frozen landscape and permafrost conditions.

The geography of Atqasuk is dominated by its remote Arctic location, with vast expanses of tundra and wetlands, interrupted only by small rivers and lakes. The area experiences extreme cold, with temperatures often dropping well below freezing for much of the year. Winters are long and harsh, with little daylight, while summers bring continuous daylight during the “midnight sun” period.

Atqasuk is primarily accessible by air, with the village relying on a small airstrip for transportation and supply deliveries. The local economy is largely subsistence-based, with residents relying on hunting, fishing, and gathering to support their way of life. The nearby oil fields and natural gas reserves play a critical role in the regional economy, although Atqasuk itself remains a small and isolated community.

Demographics

Median resident age: 26.3 years
Median household income: $66,607
Median house value: $109,400

Population by Race

Races in Atqasuk:

  • American Indian (94.3%)
  • White Non-Hispanic (4.8%)

Ancestries: English (1.8%), French (1.8%), Irish (1.3%).

Land area: 38.9 square miles

Map of Atqasuk, AK

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Atqasuk

  • High school or higher: 54.5%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.0%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 2.0%
  • Unemployed: 5.7%
  • Mean travel time to work: 4.7 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Atqasuk city

  • Never married: 49.2%
  • Now married: 38.3%
  • Separated: 3.9%
  • Widowed: 4.7%
  • Divorced: 3.9%

2.2% Foreign born (2.2% Oceania).

Population change in the 1990s: +10 (+4.6%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Atqasuk:

  • SAMUEL SIMMONDS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 74 miles; BARROW, AK)
  • MANILAQ HEALTH CENTER (about 434 miles; KOTZEBUE, AK)
  • NORTON SOUND REGIONAL HOSPITAL (about 671 miles; NOME, AK)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Atqasuk:

  • WILEY POST-WILL ROGERS MEM (about 73 miles; BARROW, AK; Abbreviation: BRW)
  • RED DOG (about 416 miles; RED DOG, AK; Abbreviation: AED)
  • RALPH WIEN MEMORIAL (about 435 miles; KOTZEBUE, AK; Abbreviation: OTZ)

Other public-use airports nearest to Atqasuk:

  • ATQASUK EDWARD BURNELL SR MEMORIAL (about 2 miles; ATQASUK, AK; Abbreviation: ATK)
  • WAINWRIGHT (about 178 miles; WAINWRIGHT, AK; Abbreviation: AWI)
  • AMBLER (about 234 miles; AMBLER, AK; Abbreviation: AFM)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Atqasuk:

  • UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS (about 768 miles; FAIRBANKS, AK; Full-time enrollment: 5,034)
  • UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE (about 827 miles; ANCHORAGE, AK; Full-time enrollment: 9,453)
  • PENINSULA COLLEGE (about 2811 miles; PORT ANGELES, WA; Full-time enrollment: 2,374)
  • WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (about 2841 miles; BELLINGHAM, WA; Full-time enrollment: 11,889)
  • WHATCOM COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 2843 miles; BELLINGHAM, WA; Full-time enrollment: 2,656)
  • SKAGIT VALLEY COLLEGE (about 2860 miles; MT VERNON, WA; Full-time enrollment: 3,420)
  • EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE (about 2875 miles; OLYMPIA, WA; Full-time enrollment: 3,749)

Public primary/middle school in Atqasuk:

  • MEADE RIVER SCHOOL (Students: 85; Location: 4001 KIPPI ST.; Grades: PK – 12)

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