The History of Kaktovik
Kaktovik lies on the north shore of Barter Island, between the Okpilak and Jago Rivers on the Beaufort Sea coast. It lies in the 19.6-million-acre
Arctic National Wildlife Refuse, home to the Porcupine caribou herd. It lies at approximately 70° 08' N Latitude, 143° 38' W Longitude
(Sec. 13, T009N, R033E, Umiat Meridian). The community is located in the Barrow Recording District. The area encompasses 1 sq. miles of land and
0 sq. miles of water.
Until the late nineteenth century the island was a major trade center for the Inupiat and was especially important as a bartering place for Inupiat
from Alaska and Inuit from Canada.
To Community Histories Index
Alaska DCCED Community Database Online
History and map graphic used with permission from the Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development