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Gambell
(GAM-bull); a.k.a. Sivuqaq
For Photos of Gambell click here
For a Map of Gambell click here
| Current Population: |
673
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
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| Incorporation Type: |
2nd Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
Unorganized |
| Taxes: |
Sales: None,
Property: None, Special: None
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| Coastal Management District: |
Bering Straits CRSA |
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| Location
and Climate |
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Gambell is located on the northwest cape of St. Lawrence Island, 200 miles southwest of Nome, in the Bering Sea. The city is 36 miles from the Chukotsk Peninsula, Siberia. The community
lies at approximately 63.779720° North Latitude
and -171.741110° West Longitude.
(Sec. 03, T020S, R067W, Kateel River Meridian.)
Gambell is located in the
Cape Nome Recording District.
The area encompasses 10.9
sq. miles of land and 19.5 sq. miles
of water.
Gambell has a maritime climate with continental influences in the winter. Winds and fog are common, and precipitation occurs 300 days per year. Average annual precipitation is 15 inches, including 80 inches of snowfall. The Bering Sea freezes during mid-November, with break-up at the end of May. Average summer temperatures are 34 to 48 °F; average winter temperatures are -2 to 10 °F. Extremes from -30 to 65 °F have been recorded. |
Topographic
map of
Gambell
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| St. Lawrence Island has been inhabited intermittently for the past 2,000 years by Yup'ik Eskimos. In the 18th and 19th centuries, over 4,000 people inhabited the island in 35 villages. Sivuqaq is the Yup'ik name for the village and for the island. The city was renamed for Mr. and Mrs. Vene C. Gambell. A tragic famine between 1878 and 1880 decimated the population. In 1900, reindeer were introduced to the island for local use, and in 1903, President Roosevelt established a reindeer reservation. During the 1930s, some residents moved to Savoonga to establish a permanent settlement there. The city was incorporated in 1963. When the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) was passed in 1971, Gambell and Savoonga decided not to participate and instead opted for title to the 1.136 million acres of land in the former St. Lawrence Island Reserve. The island is jointly owned by Savoonga and Gambell.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Native Village of Gambell.
The population of the community consists of 95.8%
Alaska Native or part Native.
The isolation of Gambell has helped to maintain their traditional St. Lawrence Yup'ik culture, their language, and their subsistence lifestyle, which is based on marine mammals. Residents are almost completely bilingual. Walrus-hide boats are still used to hunt. The sale, importation, or possession of alcohol is banned in the village.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 187, and vacant housing units numbered 28.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 11.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 124 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
19.48 percent,
although
67.88 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $31,458, per capita income was $8,764, and
28.47 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Water is derived from wells and Troutman Lake and is treated and stored in three storage tanks. 116 homes are now connected to the piped water and sewer system. The schools and washeteria have individual water wells and septic tank systems. 37 homes in the original townsite still haul water and honeybuckets. The landfill is not permitted.
Electricity is provided by AVEC.
There is one school located in the community,
attended by 189
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Bessie A. Kaningok Health Clinic (985-5346).
The clinic is a qualified Emergency Care Center. Major clinic improvements in 1979. Gambell is classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 5A in the Norton Sound Region. Emergency Services have coastal and air access. Emergency service is provided by a health aide
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| Economy
and Transportation |
The economy in Gambell is largely based upon subsistence harvests from the sea -- seal, walrus, fish, and bowhead and gray whales. Fox are trapped as a secondary source of cash income. Some reindeer roam free on the island, but most harvesting occurs out of Savoonga. Ivory carving is a popular source of income. The abundant number of seabird colonies provide an opportunity for limited tourism by bird-watchers.
Gambell's isolated location on an island with no seaport results in heavy dependence upon air transport. The state-owned airport is currently under major improvements; it provides a 4,500' long by 96' wide asphalt runway. Regular flights from Nome and charters from Unalakleet are available. Lighterage services bring freight from Kotzebue and Shishmaref. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Gambell
P.O. Box 189
Gambell, AK 99742
Phone 907-985-5112 or 5715
Fax 907-985-5927
E-mail cityofgambell@yahoo.com
Village Corporation -
Sivuqaq Incorporated
P.O. Box 101
Gambell, AK 99742
Phone 907-985-5826
Fax 907-985-5426
E-mail sivuqaq@gci.net
Village Council -
Native Village of Gambell
P.O. Box 99
Gambell, AK 99742
Phone 907-985-5346
Fax 907-985-5014
E-mail gambell.ira@gci.net
Web http://www.kawerak.org/tribalHomePages/gambell/index.html
Regional
Organizations
Regional Native Non-Profit - Kawerak, Incorporated
P.O. Box 948
Nome, AK 99762
Phone 907-443-5231
Fax 907-443-4452
E-mail exec.sec@kawerak.org
Web http://www.kawerak.org
CDQ Group - Norton Sound Econ. Dev. Corp.
420 L St., Suite 310
Anchorage, AK 99501-1971
Phone 907-274-2248
Fax 907-274-2249
E-mail eugene@nsedc.com
Web http://www.nsedc.com
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