King Island, Alaska

Encyclopedia : K : KI : KIN : King Island, Alaska

King Island is an island in the Bering Sea, west of Alaska at 64°58'N, 168°05'W. It is about 64 km (40 miles) west of Cape Douglas and is south of Wales, Alaska.

The island is about 1.6 km (1 mile) long. It was once the winter home of a group of about 200 Inupiat who called themselves Aseuluk. The Aseuluk spent their winters engaging in subsistence hunting on King Island and their summers engaging in similar activities on the mainland near the location of present-day Nome, Alaska. Their name for the island was Ukiwuk. After the establishment of Nome, the islanders began to sell intricate carvings to residents of Nome during the summer. By 1970, all King Island people had moved to Nome year-round.

The island was "discovered" by Captain Cook in 1778 and named for Lt. James King, a member of his party.

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