Noatak

Noatak established as a fishing and hunting camp in the 19th century, and the rich resources of this region helped turn the camp into a permanent settlement. The 1880 census listed the site as Noatagamut, which means “inland river people.” A post office was established in 1940. The village sits on the west bank of the Noatak River – 55 miles north of Kotzebue and 70 miles north of the Arctic Circle. With a population of 445, Noatak (“NO-uh-tak”) is the only settlement on the 396-mile-long Noatak River.