City of Barrow, North Slope Borough, Alaska, United States

Overview of Barrow

• Name:
  Barrow
• Official Name:
  City of Barrow
• Place Type:
  Incorporated City
• Located In:
  North Slope Borough, Alaska, United States
  
• Description (GNIS):
  On Chukchi Sea coast, 10 mi. SW of Point Barrow, Arctic Plain.
• History (GNIS):
  The former name Barrow was derived from Point Barrow, and was originally a general designation, because non-native residents found it easier to pronounce than the native name. A post office established in 1901 helped the name "Barrow" to become dominant. The native name, also rendered "Utkiakvik," refers to a "high place for viewing," because the community was situated on relatively high (30 ft) land at Cape Smyth. Although Captain Beechey's party (1831, p307), Royal Navy (RN), mentions a village at Cape Smyth in 1826, the name was first recorded in 1853 as "Ot-ki-a-wing" by Commander Maguire, Royal Navy (RN), (Great Britain, 1854, map facing p186). John Simpson's native map dated 1855 records the name "Otkiawik," which was misprinted on the subsequent British Admiralty (Brit. Adm.) Chart as "Otkiovik." Lieutenant P.H. Ray's party established a station located one-half mile northeast of the native village for meteorologic and magnetic observations in 1881. They called the station "Ooglaamie" or "Uglaamie," a name that was later often transferred to the village (Murdoch, 1892, p26), USA. See Cape Smyth and Browerville.
• Surveys:
  Umiat Principal Meridian
  

  Range 18 West
  

  Townships: 22 North, 23 North

  Range 19 West
  

  Townships: 22 North
• Borough Seat of:
  North Slope Borough
• Coordinates:
  Latitude:71.290555671° 17' 26.0"N

  Longitude:-156.7886111156° 47' 19.0"W
• Nearby Cities:
  • Browerville 0.7 mi. NE
  • Nuwuk 9.6 mi. NE
• Nearby Cemeteries:
  • Imaiqsaun 1.5 mi. S
• Population:
  4,336
• Elevation:
  3 m
• Histopolis Place ID:
  912094189
• Updated Apr 24, 2020