Lt. L.A. Zagoskin of the Imperial Russian Navy first reported the village in the 1840s as "Chilivik." Ivan Petroff counted 100 "Selawigamute" people in his 1880 census. Selawik is an Eskimo name for a species of fish. Around 1908, the site had a small wooden schoolhouse and church. The village has continued to grow and has expanded across the Selawik River onto three banks, linked by bridges. Selawik incorporated as a First Class City in 1974, but in 1977, changed to a Second Class City government.
A federally recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Native Village of Selawik. 95.3% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native. Selawik is an Inupiat Eskimo community active in traditional subsistence fishing and hunting. The sale or importation of alcohol is banned in the village.

During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 188 total housing units, and 16 were vacant. 1 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 130 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 34.34%, although 70.85% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $25,625, per capita income was $8,170, and 34.38% of residents were living below the poverty level.

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