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Shishmaref
(SHISH-muh-reff)
For Photos of Shishmaref click here
For a Map of Shishmaref click here
| Current Population: |
587
(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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| National Flood Insurance Program Participant: |
Yes |
| Coastal Management District: |
Bering Straits CRSA |
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| Location
and Climate |
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Shishmaref is located on Sarichef Island, in the Chukchi Sea, just north of the Bering Strait. Shishmaref is five miles from the mainland, 126 miles north of Nome and 100 miles southwest of Kotzebue. The village is surrounded by the 2.6 million-acre Bering Land Bridge National Reserve. It is part of the Beringian National Heritage Park, endorsed by Presidents Bush and Gorbachev in 1990. The community
lies at approximately 66.256670° North Latitude
and -166.071940° West Longitude.
(Sec. 23, T010N, R035W, Kateel River Meridian.)
Shishmaref is located in the
Cape Nome Recording District.
The area encompasses 2.8
sq. miles of land and 4.5 sq. miles
of water.
The area experiences a transitional climate between the frozen Arctic and the continental Interior. Summers can be foggy, with average temperatures ranging from 47 to 54 °F; winter temperatures average -12 to 2 °F. Average annual precipitation is about 8 inches, including 33 inches of snow. The Chukchi Sea is frozen from mid-November through mid-June. |
Topographic
map of
Shishmaref
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| The original Inuit name for the island was "Kigiktaq." In 1816, Lt. Otto Von Kotzebue named the inlet "Shishmarev," after a member of his crew. Excavations at "Keekiktuk" by archaeologists around 1821 provided evidence of Inuit habitation from several centuries ago. Shishmaref has an excellent harbor, and, around 1900, it became a supply center for gold mining activities to the south. The village was named after the inlet, and a post office was established in 1901. The city government was incorporated in 1969. During October 1997, a severe storm eroded over 30 feet of the north shore, requiring 14 homes and the National Guard Armory to be relocated. Five additional homes were relocated in 2002. Other storms have continued to erode the shoreline an average of 3 to 5 feet per year on the north shore. In July 2002, residents voted to relocate the community.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Native Village of Shishmaref.
The population of the community consists of 94.5%
Alaska Native or part Native.
It is a traditional Inupiat village with a fishing and subsistence lifestyle. The sale or importation of alcohol is banned.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 148, and vacant housing units numbered 6.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 4.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 173 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
16.43 percent,
although
51.81 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $30,714, per capita income was $10,487, and
16.27 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Water is derived from a surface source, treated, and stored in a new tank. A flush/haul system provides services to some homes. Unserved homes continue to haul water. Honeybuckets and the flush tanks are hauled by the city. The school, clinic, Friendship Center, city hall, and fire hall are connected to a sewage lagoon.
Electricity is provided by AVEC.
There is one school located in the community,
attended by 173
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Katherine Miksruaq Olanna Health Clinic (907-649-3311).
The clinic is a qualified Emergency Care Center. Shishmaref 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
Auxiliary health care is provided by City Volunteer Fire Department/Emergency Services (649-2160).
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| Economy
and Transportation |
The Shishmaref economy is based on subsistence supplemented by part-time wage earnings. Two residents hold a commercial fishing permit. Year-round jobs are limited. Villagers rely on fish, walrus, seal, polar bear, rabbit, and other subsistence foods. Two reindeer herds are managed from here. Reindeer skins are tanned locally, and meat is available at the village store. The Friendship Center, a cultural center and carving facility, was constructed for local artisans.
Shishmaref's primary link to the rest of Alaska is by air. A state-owned 5,000' long by 70' wide paved runway is available. Charter and freight services are available from Nome. Most people own boats for trips to the mainland. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Shishmaref
P.O. Box 83
Shishmaref, AK 99772
Phone 907-649-3781
Fax 907-649-2131
E-mail shhcityclerk@yahoo.com
Community Non-Profit -
Shishmaref Erosion & Relocation Coalition
P.O. Box 72110
Shishmaref, AK 99772
Phone 907-649-2289
Fax 907-649-4461
E-mail beningowuk@kawerak.org
Web http://www.shishmarefrelocation.com
Village Corporation -
Shishmaref Native Corporation
General Delivery
Shishmaref, AK 99772
Phone 907-649-3751
Fax 907-649-3731
E-mail shishnc@nook.net
Village Council -
Native Village of Shishmaref
P.O. Box 72110
Shishmaref, AK 99772
Phone 907-649-3821
Fax 907-649-2104
E-mail tc.shh@kawerak.org
Web http://www.kawerak.org/tribalHomePages/shishmaref/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
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