Kipnuk is a census-designated place (CDP) in Bethel Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 644. Kipnuk consists mostly Yupik speaking Eskimos; the name means a "bend" referring to the bend in the Kukaktlik River where it is situated. The original settlement was situated along "Nukatlpiartsunarli", a slough feeding into the Kukaktlik. This slough was thus named, because it was hard to detect during the Eskimo Wars. It was ideal for ambushing "Nukatlpiaks" or warrior/providers.