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Saint George
For Photos of Saint George click here
For a Map of Saint George click here
| Current Population: |
112
(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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| Location
and Climate |
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St. George is located on the northeast shore of St. George Island, the southern-most of the five Pribilof Islands. Over 210 species of birds nest on the cliffs of St. George Island. It lies 47 miles south of St. Paul Island, 750 air miles west of Anchorage and 250 miles northwest of Unalaska. The community
lies at approximately 56.600000° North Latitude
and -169.541670° West Longitude.
(Sec. 29, T041S, R129W, Seward Meridian.)
Saint George is located in the
Aleutian Islands Recording District.
The area encompasses 34.8
sq. miles of land and 147.6 sq. miles
of water.
The climate of St. George is controlled by the cold waters of the Bering Sea. The maritime location results in cool weather year-round, and a narrow range of mean temperatures varying from 24 to 52 °F. Average precipitation is 23 inches, with 57 inches of snowfall. Cloudy, foggy weather is common during summer months. |
Topographic
map of
Saint George
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| For centuries, Aleuts traveled to St. George from the mainland for hunting and fishing. In 1786, Gavril Pribilof of the Russian Lebedov Lastochkin Company, while looking for the famed northern fur seal breeding grounds, became the first non-Native to travel to the island. The island was named Sveti Georgiy, and its larger neighbor to the north was originally called St. Peter and St. Paul Island. The Russian American Company enslaved Aleut hunters from Siberia, Unalaska, and Atka and relocated them to St. George and St. Paul to harvest the fur seal. Between 1870 and 1910, the U.S. Government leased the Pribilof Islands to private companies, who provided housing, food, and medical care to the Aleuts in exchange for work in the fur seal plant. In 1910, the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries took control of the islands, but poverty conditions ensued due to over-harvesting of the seals. During World War II, residents were moved to Funter Bay in Southeast Alaska as part of the areawide evacuation. Unlike other Aleutian residents, they were confined in an abandoned cannery and mine camp. In 1979, the Pribilof Aleuts received $8.5 million in partial compensation for the unfair and unjust treatment they were subjected to under federal administration between 1870 and 1946. In 1983, the U.S. government ended the commercial seal harvest and withdrew from the islands, providing $8 million to St. George to help develop and diversify the local economy. The city was incorporated in 1983. Today, residents are working to develop commercial fisheries and tourism.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Pribilof Islands Aleut Communities of St. Paul & St. George Islands.
The population of the community consists of 92.1%
Alaska Native or part Native.
St. George's population is predominantly Aleut and Eskimo. The Pribilof Island seal population and the community's dependence on it has been a major influence on the local culture. More than a million fur seals congregate on the islands every summer.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 67, and vacant housing units numbered 16.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 7.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 76 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
3.8 percent,
although
21.65 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $57,083, per capita income was $21,131, and
7.86 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| There is a piped water and sewer system with four wells with 250,000 gallons of storage, that provide water for the community and the harbor. All 60 residences are connected to the system and are plumbed. Sewage outfall discharges into the harbor. The city provides refuse collection services.
Electricity is provided by St. George Municipal Electric Utility.
There is one school located in the community,
attended by 18
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include St. George Clinic (907-859-2254).
The clinic is a qualified Emergency Care Center. St. George is classified as an isolated town/Sub-Regional Center, it is found in EMS Region 2H in the Aleutian/Pribilof Region. Emergency Services have coastal and air access. Emergency service is provided by volunteers
Auxiliary health care is provided by St. George EMS/First Responders (907-859-2255/2204/2232).
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| Economy
and Transportation |
The federally-controlled fur seal industry had dominated the economy of the Pribilofs until 1983; the two communities remain closely tied. Most employment is in government positions and commercial fishing. Six residents hold commercial fishing permits. The St. George Aquaculture Association has salmon and shellfish programs. Puffin Seafoods and Snopac Products operate in St. George. Villagers harvest 500 fur seals each year for subsistence purposes. Halibut, reindeer, marine invertebrates, plants, and berries also contribute to the local diet.
St. George is accessible only by air and sea. There are two airstrips, one owned by the city and one with a 5,000' long by 150' wide gravel runway, owned by the state. Scheduled flights are provided to St. Paul and the mainland. Most freight and supplies are delivered by ship from Anchorage on a monthly or bimonthly schedule; cargo from Seattle arrives five or six times a year. There are three docks; one is operated by the village corporation. An inner harbor and dock are in Zapadni Bay, 5 miles from the city. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Saint George
P.O. Box 929
St. George Island, AK 99591
Phone 907-859-2263
Fax 907-859-2212
Village Corporation -
St. George Tanaq Corporation
4000 Old Seward Highway Suite 104
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone 907-272-9886
Fax 907-272-9855
E-mail lrlittle@alaska.net
Village Council -
Aleut Community of St. George Island
P.O. Box 940
St. George Island, AK 99591-0940
Phone 907-859-2205
Fax 907-859-2242
E-mail stgcouncil@starband.net
Regional
Organizations
School District - Pribilof School District
P.O. Box 905
St. Paul Island, AK 99660
Phone 907-546-3337
Fax 907-546-2327
E-mail jamie_stacks@psd-k12.org
Web http://www.psd-k12.org
Native Housing Authority - Aleutian Housing Authority
520 E. 32nd Ave
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone 907-563-2146
Fax 907-563-3105
E-mail dand@aleutian-housing.com
Web http://www.aleutian-housing.com/
CDQ Group - Aleutian/Pribilof Island Comm. Dev. Assoc.
234 Gold Street
Juneau, AK 99801-1211
Phone 907-586-0161
Fax 907-586-0165
E-mail LCotter371@aol.com
Web http://www.apicda.com
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