Wales, Alaska
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Wales Kiŋigin |
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| City | |
View of the Wales Site, with the city of Wales in the background
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| Nickname(s): Kingegan | |
 Wales
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| Coordinates: 65°36′44″N 168°05′21″W / 65.61222°N 168.08917°WCoordinates: 65°36′44″N 168°05′21″W / 65.61222°N 168.08917°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Census Area | Nome |
| Incorporated | April 16, 1964 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Dan Richard, Sr. |
| • State senator | Donald Olson (D) |
| • State rep. | Neal Foster (D) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.8 sq mi (7.3 km2) |
| • Land | 2.8 sq mi (7.3 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 26 ft (8 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 145 |
| • Density | 53.9/sq mi (20.8/km2) |
| Time zone | Alaska (AKST) (UTC-9) |
| • Summer (DST) | AKDT (UTC-8) |
| ZIP code | 99783 |
| Area code | 907 |
| FIPS code | 02-82860 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1404755, 2418870 |
Wales (Kiŋigin in Iñupiaq) is a city in the Nome Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 145. It is the westernmost city on mainland North America. The westernmost city in Alaska, however, is Adak, located on Adak Island, in the Aleutians West Census Area. Wales Airport serves Wales with flights on Bering Air and Ravn Alaska to Nome.
A burial mound from the Birnirk culture (A.D. 500 to 900) 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 in Western Europe.
The influenza epidemic from 1918 to 1919 decimated the population and economy of Wales.
In 2002 a wind-diesel system became operational.
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.
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Wikipedia