Kipnuk, Alaska

Kipnuk Qipneq
CDP
Houses in Kipnuk
Location of Kipnuk, Alaska
Coordinates: 59°56′15″N 164°2′38″W
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Census Area	Bethel
Government
• State senator	Lyman Hoffman (D)
• State rep.	Conrad McCormick (D)
Area
• Total	20.57 sq mi (53.28 km2)
• Land	20.26 sq mi (52.48 km2)
• Water	0.31 sq mi (0.80 km2)
Elevation	11 ft (3 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	704
• Density	34.74/sq mi (13.41/km2)
Time zone	UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-8 (AKDT)
ZIP code	99614
Area code	907
FIPS code	02-39740

Kipnuk (Central Yupik: Qipneq) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Bethel Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 639, down from 644 in 2000.

Kipnuk consists mostly of Yup'ik speaking Native Alaskans; 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. It was ideal for ambushing "Nukallpiaqs" or warrior/providers.

Geography

Kipnuk is located at 59°56′15″N 164°2′38″W (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.

Kipnuk is served by Kipnuk Airport.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1940	144		—
1950	185		28.5%
1960	221		19.5%
1970	325		47.1%
1980	371		14.2%
1990	470		26.7%
2000	644		37.0%
2010	639		−0.8%
2020	704		10.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

Kipnuk first appeared on the 1940 U.S. Census as an unincorporated native village. It was made a census-designated place (CDP) as of the 1980 census.

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 inhabitants per square mile (12.8/km²). There were 154 housing units at an average density of 7.9 per square mile (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.

There were 137 households, out of which 64.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.7% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 10.9% were non-families. 10.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.70 and the average family size was 5.04.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 45.3% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 13.2% from 45 to 64, and 5.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 21 years. For every 100 females, there were 130.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $34,375, and the median income for a family was $35,714. Males had a median income of $29,167 versus $23,333 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $8,589. About 21.5% of families and 20.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.7% of those under age 18 and 19.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Kipnuk has one school which is K-12 Chief Paul Memorial School, operated by the Lower Kuskokwim School District. As of 2018 it has 190 students.