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Teller
For a Map of Teller click here
| Current Population: |
260
(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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Teller is located on a spit between Port Clarence and Grantley Harbor, 72 miles northwest of Nome, on the Seward Peninsula. The community
lies at approximately 65.263610° North Latitude
and -166.360830° West Longitude.
(Sec. 01, T003S, R038W, Kateel River Meridian.)
Teller is located in the
Cape Nome Recording District.
The area encompasses 1.9
sq. miles of land and 0.2 sq. miles
of water.
The climate is maritime when ice-free, and then changes to a continental climate after freezing. Grantley Harbor is generally ice-free from early June to mid-October. Average summer temperatures range from 44 to 57; winter temperatures average -9 to 8. Extremes have been measured from -45 to 82. Annual precipitation is 11.5 inches, with 50 inches of snowfall. |
Topographic
map of
Teller
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| The Eskimo fishing camp called "Nook" was reported 20 miles south of Teller in 1827. A Western Union Telegraph expedition wintered at the present site in 1866 and 1867; it was then called "Libbyville" or "Libby Station." The Teller Reindeer Station was operated by the U.S. Government at a nearby site from 1892 to 1900. The station was named in 1892 by Sheldon Jackson for U.S. Senator and Secretary of the Interior Henry Moore Teller. Teller Mission, a Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Mission, was built in 1900 across the harbor at the current site of Brevig Mission. It was renamed Brevig Mission in 1903, after the Reverend T.L. Brevig. Present-day Teller was also established in 1900 after the Bluestone Placer Mine discovery 15 miles to the south. During these boom years, Teller had a population of about 5,000 and was a major regional trading center, attracting Natives from Diomede, Wales, Mary's Igloo and King Island. In May 1926, bad weather caused the dirigible "Norge" to detour to Teller on its first flight over the North Pole from Norway to Nome. A City was formed in 1963.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Native Village of Teller.
The population of the community consists of 92.5%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Teller is a traditional Kawerak Eskimo village with a subsistence lifestyle. Many residents today were originally from Mary's Igloo. Seals, beluga whales, fish, reindeer and other local resources are utilized. A herd of reindeer roam the area. Sale of alcohol is banned in the village.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 87, and vacant housing units numbered 11.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 10.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 58 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
14.71 percent,
although
64.42 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $23,000, per capita income was $8,618, and
37.7 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| During summer, water is hauled from the Gold Run River (20 miles away) by the City water truck, and delivered to home storage tanks. A few residents use their own ATVs or snowmachines to haul water. During winter, treated water is delivered from a large storage tank at the washeteria, or melt ice is used from area creeks. The school operates its own sewer system. 42 residents use honeybuckets, which are hauled by the City. A few homes and facilities have septic tanks. The community participates in hazardous waste collection.
Electricity is provided by AVEC.
There is one school located in the community,
attended by 65
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Teller Health Clinic (907-642-3311).
Teller is classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 5A in the Norton Sound Region. Emergency Services have limited highway, coastal and air access. Emergency service is provided by a health aide
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| Economy
and Transportation |
The Teller economy is based on subsistence activities supplemented by part-time wage earnings. Fish, seal, moose, beluga whale and reindeer are the primary meat sources. There is a herd of over 1,000 reindeer in the area, and the annual round-up provides meat and a cash product which is sold mainly on the Seward Peninsula. Five residents hold commercial fishing permits. Over one-third of households produce crafts or artwork for sale, and some residents trap fox.
Teller has a road link to Nome from May to September via a 72-mile gravel road. It is easily accessible by sea and air. There is a State-owned 3,000' long by 60' wide gravel runway with regular flights from Nome. There is no dock; goods are lightered from Nome and offloaded on the beach. Port Clarence is a natural harbor and has been considered for a deep water port. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Teller
P.O. Box 548
Teller, AK 99778
Phone 907-642-3401
Fax 907-642-2051
Electric Utility -
Teller Power Company
P.O. Box 243992
Anchorage, AK 99524
Phone 907-646-7351
Fax 907-770-2296
E-mail lkibbee@mcc-cpa.com
Village Corporation -
Teller Native Corporation
P.O. Box 509
Teller, AK 99778
Village Council -
Native Village of Teller
P.O. Box 567
Teller, AK 99778
Phone 907-642-3381
Fax 907-642-2072
E-mail tc.tla@kawerak.org
Web http://www.kawerak.org/tribalHomePages/teller/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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