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Nunam Iqua

(NOO-nam ICK-wa); formerly Sheldon Point

For Photos of Nunam Iqua click here

For a Map of Nunam Iqua click here
Current Population: 190   (2011 Alaska Department of Labor Estimate)
Incorporation Type: 2nd Class City
Borough Located In: Unorganized
Taxes: Sales: 4%, Property: None, Special: None
Coastal Management District: Ceñaliulriit CRSA

 

Location and Climate
Nunam Iqua is on a south fork of the Yukon River, about 9 miles south of Alakanuk and 18 miles southwest of Emmonak on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. It lies 500 miles northwest of Anchorage. The community lies at approximately 62.533610° North Latitude and -164.841110° West Longitude.  (Sec. 10, T028N, R084W, Seward Meridian.)   Nunam Iqua is located in the Bethel Recording District.  The area encompasses 13.2 sq. miles of land and 5.3 sq. miles of water. 

The climate is maritime, averaging 60 inches of snowfall and 18 inches of precipitation per year. Temperatures range from -25 to 78 °F. Heavy winds in the fall and winter often limit accessibility. The Bering Sea is ice-free from mid-June through October.


Topographic
map of
Nunam Iqua
area


History, Culture and Demographics
Nunam Iqua was historically the location of summer fish camps, due to its location near the Black River. In Yup'ik, the name means "end of the tundra." A man called Sheldon owned and operated a fish saltery at the site in the late 30s and early 40s. The saltery was later operated by Northern Commercial Company. The village was first measured in 1950 by the U.S. Census, which recorded a population of 43 residents. The City of Sheldon Point was formed in 1974. In November 1999, residents voted to change the city name to the City of Nunam Iqua. 

A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Native Village of Nunam Iqua. Commercial fishing and subsistence activities are the means of support in this Yup'ik Eskimo village. The sale and importation of alcohol is banned in the village.

According to Census 2010, there were 46 housing units in the community and 43 were occupied. Its population was 91.4 percent American Indian or Alaska Native; 5.9 percent white; 1.1 percent Asian; 1.6 percent of the local residents had multi-racial backgrounds.


Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care 
Residents haul treated well water from a new storage tank. Water delivery is also available. Honeybuckets are disposed into bunkers and hauled to a waste site by the city. A few homes are connected to a community septic tank and have plumbing. Electricity is provided by Nunam Iqua Electric Co.. There is one school located in the community,  attended by 67 students. Local hospitals or health clinics include Nunam Iqua Clinic.  Emergency Services have coastal floatplane and air access. Emergency service is provided by a health aide. 

Economy
Commercial fishing is the economic foundation of the community. In 2010, 13 residents held commercial fishing permits. There are a few year-round positions with government organizations and the private sector. Subsistence activities and trapping supplement income. Salmon, beluga whale, seal, moose, and waterfowl are harvested.

The 2006-2010 American Community Survey (ACS) estimated 581 residents as employed. The public sector employed 43.1%1 of all workers. The percentage of workers not in labor force was 45.8%1. The ACS surveys established that average median household income (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) was $49,167 (MOE +/-$15,280)1. The per capita income (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) was $12,592 (MOE +/-$4,167)1. About 32.5%1 of all residents had incomes below the poverty level.

1 All ACS statistics are published with their repective margin of error (MOE). Some of the statistics here are calculated from the original ACS data. The MOE was unable to be carried through the calculations.

For additional ACS information please click here.

For current Local Labor Market Information please click here
Transportation
Nunam Iqua has easy access by boat and barge. It has a state-owned, city-operated 3,015' long by 60' wide gravel airstrip. Float plane landing sites are available at Kwemeluk Pass and Swan Lake. In the winter, snowmachines serve as the primary mode of inter-village transportation.

Organizations with Local Offices

City - City of Nunam Iqua
P.O. Box 26
Nunam Iqua, AK 99666-0026
Phone 907-498-4226
Fax 907-498-4250
E-mail cityofnunam@gmail.com

Electric Utility - Nunam Iqua Electric Co.
P.O. Box 26
Nunam Iqua, AK 99666
Phone 907-498-4226

Tribe - federally recognized - Native Village of Nunam Iqua
P.O. Box 27
Nunam Iqua, AK 99666-0027
Phone 907-498-4184
Fax 907-498-4185

Village Corporation - Swan Lake Corporation
P.O. Box 31
Nunam Iqua, AK 99666
Phone 907-498-4227
Fax 907-498-4242



Regional Organizations

Regional Native Corporation - Calista Corporation
301 Calista Court # A
Anchorage, AK 99518-3000
Phone 907-279-5516
Fax 907-272-5060
E-mail calista@calistacorp.com
Web http://www.calistacorp.com

Regional Native Health Corporation - Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp.
P.O. Box 528
Bethel, AK 99559
Phone 907-543-6020
Fax 907-543-6006
E-mail gene_peltola@ykhc.org
Web http://www.ykhc.org/


Economic Development - CDQ Group - Yukon Delta Fisheries Dev. Assoc.
301 Calista Court, Suite C
Anchorage, AK 99518
Phone 907-644-0326
Fax 907-644-0327
E-mail ragnaraydf@aol.com
Web http://www.ydfda.org

 



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