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White Mountain
For Photos of White Mountain click here
For a Map of White Mountain click here
| Current Population: |
191
(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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White Mountain is located on the west bank of the Fish River, near the head of Golovin Lagoon, on the Seward Peninsula. It is 63 miles east of Nome. The community
lies at approximately 64.681390° North Latitude
and -163.405560° West Longitude.
(Sec. 26, T009S, R024W, Kateel River Meridian.)
White Mountain is located in the
Cape Nome Recording District.
The area encompasses 1.8
sq. miles of land and 0.2 sq. miles
of water.
White Mountain has a transitional climate with less extreme seasonal and daily temperatures than Interior Alaska. Continental influences prevail in the ice-bound winter. Average summer temperatures range from 43 to 80 °F; winter temperatures average -7 to 15 °F. Annual precipitation is 15 inches, with 60 inches of snow. The Fish River freezes up in November; break-up occurs in mid to late May. |
Topographic
map of
White Mountain
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| The Inupiat fish camp of "Nutchirviq" was located here. The bountiful resources of both the Fish and Niukluk Rivers supported the area's Native populations. White Mountain grew after the influx of prospectors during the gold rush of 1900. The first structure was a warehouse built by the miner Charles Lane to store supplies for his claim in the Council District. It was the site of a government-subsidized orphanage, which became an industrial school in 1926. A post office was opened in 1932. The city government was incorporated in 1969.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Native Village of White Mountain.
The population of the community consists of 86.2%
Alaska Native or part Native.
White Mountain is a Kawerak Eskimo village, with historical influences from the gold rush. Subsistence activities are prevalent.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 75, and vacant housing units numbered 6.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 5.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 39 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
18.75 percent,
although
69.77 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $25,833, per capita income was $10,034, and
22.38 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Water is derived from a well near the Fish River and is treated. 48 households and facilities are connected to the piped water and sewer system. 18 additional households haul honeybuckets. The school operates its own water and sewer system.
Electricity is provided by White Mountain Utilities.
There is one school located in the community,
attended by 51
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include White Mountain Clinic (907-638-3311).
White Mountain is classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 5A in the Norton Sound Region. Emergency Services have river and air access. Emergency service is provided by a health aide
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| Economy
and Transportation |
The entire population depends on subsistence hunting and fishing, and most spend the entire summer at fish camps. Salmon, other fish, beluga whale, seal, moose, reindeer, caribou, and brown bear are utilized. The school, store, post office, city, IRA, and airport provide the only local employment. Construction outside of town and firefighting provide seasonal employment. One resident holds a commercial fishing permit. Ivory and bone carvings contribute some cash. A reindeer farm is run by a local resident.
Access to White Mountain is by air and sea. There are no roads. The 3,000' gravel runway is operated by the state, and scheduled flights are available daily from Nome. There is no dock in the village; supplies are lightered from Nome and offloaded on the beach. Cargo barges cannot currently land at White Mountain. Locals are interested in a road to Golovin to permit fuel deliveries or the construction of a docking facility for barges. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of White Mountain
P.O. Box 130
White Mountain, AK 99784
Phone 907-638-3411
Fax 907-638-3421
E-mail wmocity@gci.net
Village Corporation -
White Mountain Native Corp.
P.O. Box 81
White Mountain, AK 99784
Phone 907-638-3651
Fax 907-638-3652
Village Council -
Native Village of White Mountain
P.O. Box 84082
White Mountain, AK 99784
Phone 907-638-3651
Fax 907-638-3652
E-mail tc.wmo@kawerak.org
Web http://www.kawerak.org/tribalHomePages/whiteMountain/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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