Wales, Alaska

City in Alaska, United States

Wales

Kiŋigin (Inupiaq)

City

View of the Wales Site, with the city of Wales in the background

Nickname:

Kingegan

Wales

Location in Alaska

Coordinates: 65°36′44″N 168°05′21″W﻿ / ﻿65.61222°N 168.08917°W﻿ / 65.61222; -168.08917
Country| United States
State| Alaska
Census Area| Nome
Incorporated| April 16, 1964[1]
Government

• Mayor| Dan Richard, Sr.[2]
• State senator| Donald Olson (D)
• State rep.| Neal Foster (D)
Area

[3]

• Total

| 2.30 sq mi (5.97 km2)
• Land| 2.30 sq mi (5.97 km2)
• Water| 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation

| 26 ft (8 m)
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 168
• Density| 72.92/sq mi (28.16/km2)
Time zone| UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
• Summer (DST)| UTC-8 (AKDT)
ZIP code|

99783

Area code| 907
FIPS code| 02-82860
GNIS feature ID| 1404755, 2418870

Wales (Inupiaq: Kiŋigin, IPA: [kiŋiɣin]) is a city[4][5] of approximately 168 people[6] in the Nome Census Area, Alaska, United States. It is the westernmost city on the North American mainland, although Adak, located on Adak Island, is the westernmost city in Alaska. Wales Airport serves Wales with flights on Bering Air and Ravn Alaska to Nome.

## History

[edit]

A burial mound from the Birnirk culture (500 to 900 AD) was discovered near Wales and is now a National Historic Landmark.

In 1827, a Russian Navy report listed the Inupiat villages of "Eidamoo" near the coast and "King-a-ghe" inland in the area.

In 1890, the American Missionary Association established a mission at the site of present-day Wales. In the 1890s, reindeer (domesticated caribou) were brought to the area and in 1894 a reindeer station was established. Wales became an important whaling center due to its location along whale migratory routes, and it was the region's largest and most prosperous village, with more than 500 residents. Wales is named after the country Wales.[citation needed]

The 1918 flu pandemic decimated the population and economy of Wales.[7]

In 2002 a wind-diesel system became operational.[citation needed]

On November 9, 2011, the city experienced the 2011 Bering Sea superstorm. Wind gusts of 89 miles per hour (143 km/h) were recorded in Wales.

On January 17, 2023, a polar bear entered the community of Wales and chased multiple residents. The bear fatally attacked a woman and her 1-year-old son. It was shot and killed by a local resident as it mauled the pair. This was Alaska's first reported polar bear attack in over 30 years.[8]

## Geography

[edit]

Summer in Wales, 1940s Wales in Winter, 1940s

Wales is located at 65°36′44″N 168°5′21″W﻿ / ﻿65.61222°N 168.08917°W﻿ / 65.61222; -168.08917 (65.612116, −168.089285).[9]

Wales is located on the westernmost point of the American mainland, Cape Prince of Wales, on the western tip of the Seward Peninsula. It is at the northern end of the Continental Divide where the Pacific Ocean and Arctic Ocean meet. It is 111 miles (179 km) northwest of Nome.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km2), all of it land.

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1880| 400| | —
1890| 488| | 22.0%
1900| 396| | −18.9%
1910| 337| | −14.9%
1920| 136| | −59.6%
1930| 170| | 25.0%
1940| 193| | 13.5%
1950| 141| | −26.9%
1960| 128| | −9.2%
1970| 131| | 2.3%
1980| 133| | 1.5%
1990| 161| | 21.1%
2000| 152| | −5.6%
2010| 145| | −4.6%
2020| 168| | 15.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
Population of Wales, Alaska

Wales first appeared on the 1880 U.S. Census as the unincorporated Inuit village of "Kingigamute."[11] It was returned in 1890 as "Kingaghee." In 1900 and 1910, it was returned as Cape Prince of Wales (Settlements). In 1920, it was shortened to its present name of Wales. It formally incorporated in 1964.

At the 2000 census there were 152 people in 50 households, including 28 families, in the city. The population density was 53.9 inhabitants per square mile (20.8/km2). There were 59 housing units at an average density of 20.9 per square mile (8.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 8.55% White, 0.66% Black or African American, 83.55% (127 people) Native American, 0.66% from other races, and 6.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66%.[12]

Of the 50 households 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.0% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.0% were non-families. 40.0% of households were one person and 6.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.04 and the average family size was 4.43.

The age distribution was 38.2% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 3.3% 65 or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 111.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 141.0 males.

The median household income was $33,333 and the median family income was $39,583. Wales had a median income of $29,375 versus $22,188 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,877. About 17.2% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.2% of those under the age of 18 and 50.0% of those 65 or over.

## Climate

[edit]

Wales is located within the polar climate zone (Köppen ET).

Climate data for Wales, Alaska (1971–2000 normals, extremes 1925–1995)

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °F (°C)  | 53
(12)  | 49
(9)  | 42
(6)  | 48
(9)  | 57
(14)  | 72
(22)  | 75
(24)  | 73
(23)  | 66
(19)  | 54
(12)  | 67
(19)  | 44
(7)  | 75
(24)
Mean maximum °F (°C)  | 35.1
(1.7)  | 30.1
(−1.1)  | 30.2
(−1.0)  | 34.7
(1.5)  | 44.8
(7.1)  | 57.4
(14.1)  | 63.7
(17.6)  | 61.5
(16.4)  | 53.3
(11.8)  | 43.0
(6.1)  | 37.7
(3.2)  | 33.3
(0.7)  | 65.2
(18.4)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)  | 7.2
(−13.8)  | 4.3
(−15.4)  | 5.4
(−14.8)  | 16.0
(−8.9)  | 32.2
(0.1)  | 43.4
(6.3)  | 51.9
(11.1)  | 51.0
(10.6)  | 44.1
(6.7)  | 32.6
(0.3)  | 22.0
(−5.6)  | 9.9
(−12.3)  | 26.7
(−2.9)
Daily mean °F (°C)  | 3.0
(−16.1)  | −2.5
(−19.2)  | −1.4
(−18.6)  | 9.7
(−12.4)  | 27.5
(−2.5)  | 38.5
(3.6)  | 47.4
(8.6)  | 47.0
(8.3)  | 40.5
(4.7)  | 28.6
(−1.9)  | 16.5
(−8.6)  | 3.8
(−15.7)  | 21.5
(−5.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)  | −6.7
(−21.5)  | −9.3
(−22.9)  | −8.2
(−22.3)  | 3.4
(−15.9)  | 22.8
(−5.1)  | 33.5
(0.8)  | 42.9
(6.1)  | 43.0
(6.1)  | 36.8
(2.7)  | 24.6
(−4.1)  | 10.9
(−11.7)  | −2.3
(−19.1)  | 16.0
(−8.9)
Mean minimum °F (°C)  | −27.0
(−32.8)  | −30.5
(−34.7)  | −28.2
(−33.4)  | −16.7
(−27.1)  | 4.2
(−15.4)  | 25.6
(−3.6)  | 34.8
(1.6)  | 36.1
(2.3)  | 28.1
(−2.2)  | 9.7
(−12.4)  | −8.0
(−22.2)  | −20.9
(−29.4)  | −33.3
(−36.3)
Record low °F (°C)  | −44
(−42)  | −44
(−42)  | −42
(−41)  | −32
(−36)  | −11
(−24)  | 20
(−7)  | 23
(−5)  | 30
(−1)  | 19
(−7)  | −7
(−22)  | −28
(−33)  | −35
(−37)  | −44
(−42)
Average precipitation inches (mm)  | 0.41
(10)  | 0.45
(11)  | 0.48
(12)  | 0.27
(6.9)  | 0.54
(14)  | 0.73
(19)  | 1.47
(37)  | 2.46
(62)  | 1.99
(51)  | 1.41
(36)  | 0.68
(17)  | 0.52
(13)  | 11.41
(290)
Average snowfall inches (cm)  | 4.1
(10)  | 3.8
(9.7)  | 4.5
(11)  | 3.3
(8.4)  | 2.2
(5.6)  | 0.2
(0.51)  | 0.2
(0.51)  | 0.0
(0.0)  | 1.4
(3.6)  | 6.2
(16)  | 7.7
(20)  | 4.6
(12)  | 38.2
(97.32)
Source 1: NOAA (normals, 1971–2000),[13] Weather.com (extremes)[14]
Source 2: WRCC [15]

## Education

[edit]

Wales is served by the Bering Strait School District. Wales Kingikmiut School serves grades Pre-K through 12.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Directory of Borough and City Officials 1974". Alaska Local Government. XIII (2). Juneau: Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs: 85. January 1974.
2. ^ 2015 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory. Juneau: Alaska Municipal League. 2015. p. 162.
3. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
4. ^ "Wales city, Alaska". Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
5. ^ "Alaska Taxable 2011: Municipal Taxation – Rates and Policies" (PDF). Division of Community and Regional Affairs, Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. January 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 25, 2013.
6. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
7. ^ "Life on the edge of America: Scenes from the village of Wales, Alaska". USA Today. April 21, 2016. "... an estimated 200 residents of Wales, Alaska were buried after being killed in the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic. Wales was once one of the largest Eskimo villages in Alaska; today only about 150 people live there, and the town never recovered from the massive losses it suffered during the flu epidemic."
8. ^ Whittle, Patrick (January 18, 2023). "Mother, 1-year-old son killed in Alaska polar bear attack". Associated Press. p. 1. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
9. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
10. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
11. ^ "Geological Survey Professional Paper". U.S. Government Printing Office. August 26, 2018 - via Google Books.
12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
13. ^ "Climatology of the United States No. 20 1971–2000: Wales, AK". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original (txt) on December 14, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
14. ^ "Daily Climate Summary for Wales, AK − Temperature and Precipitation". Weather.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
15. ^ Wales, Alaska – Period of Record : 10/10/1925 to 8/31/1995 Archived May 25, 2017, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 14, 2019.

## External links

[edit]

* Native Village of Wales
* Alaska Division of Community and Regional Affairs: Wales
* Alaska Dispatch: Wales Image Gallery
* Topix: Wales News

* v
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Municipalities and communities of Nome Census Area, Alaska, United States

Cities|

* Brevig Mission
* Diomede
* Elim
* Gambell
* Golovin
* Koyuk
* Nome
* St. Michael
* Savoonga
* Shaktoolik
* Shishmaref
* Stebbins
* Teller
* Unalakleet
* Wales
* White Mountain

Nome Census Area map

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* Port Clarence

Unincorporated
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* Haycock
* Solomon

Ghost towns|

* Bluff
* Council
* Dickson
* Mary's Igloo
* Pilgrim Hot Springs
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