| |
Saint Michael
For Photos of Saint Michael click here
For a Map of Saint Michael click here
| Current Population: |
434
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
|
| Incorporation Type: |
2nd Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
Unorganized |
| Taxes: |
Sales: None,
Property: None, Special: None
|
| Coastal Management District: |
Bering Straits CRSA |
|
| Location
and Climate |
|
St. Michael is located on the east coast of St. Michael Island in Norton Sound. It lies 125 miles southeast of Nome and 48 miles southwest of Unalakleet. The community
lies at approximately 63.478060° North Latitude
and -162.039170° West Longitude.
(Sec. 24, T023S, R018W, Kateel River Meridian.)
Saint Michael is located in the
Cape Nome Recording District.
The area encompasses 21.8
sq. miles of land and 6.3 sq. miles
of water.
St. Michael has a subarctic climate with maritime influences during the summer. Summer temperatures average 40 to 60 °F; winters average -4 to 16 °F. Extremes from -55 to 70 °F have been recorded. Annual precipitation is 12 inches, with snowfall of 38 inches. Summers are rainy, and fog is common. Norton Sound is ice free from early June to mid-November. |
Topographic
map of
Saint Michael
area
 |
| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| A fortified trading post called "Redoubt St. Michael" was built by the Russian-American Company at this location in 1833; it was the northernmost Russian settlement in Alaska. The Native village of "Tachik" stood to the northeast. When the Russians left Alaska in 1867, several of the post's traders remained. "Fort St. Michael," a U.S. military post, was established in 1897. During the gold rush of 1897, it was a major gateway to the interior via the Yukon River. As many as 10,000 persons were said to live in St. Michael during the gold rush. St. Michael was also a popular trading post for Eskimos to trade their goods for Western supplies. Centralization of many Yup'iks from the surrounding villages intensified after the measles epidemic of 1900 and the influenza epidemic of 1918. The village remained an important trans-shipment point until the Alaska Railroad was built. The city government was incorporated in 1969.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Native Village of Saint Michael.
The population of the community consists of 93.2%
Alaska Native or part Native.
St. Michael's population is largely Yup'ik Eskimo today, and many residents are descendants of Russian traders. Seal, beluga whale, moose, caribou, fish, and berries are important staples. The sale or importation of alcohol is banned in the village.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 93, and vacant housing units numbered 3.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 1.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 89 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
21.24 percent,
although
56.59 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $33,036, per capita income was $10,692, and
22.88 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
|
| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Water is derived from Clear Lake and is treated and stored in a 1.2 million-gallon tank. The system includes water delivery/holding tanks for homes, a piped gravity and vacuum sewer system with septic treatment, and household plumbing. DEC has approved the landfill for use, although it is not permitted.
Electricity is provided by AVEC.
There is one school located in the community,
attended by 150
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include St. Michael Clinic (907-923-3311).
Saint Michael is classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 5A in the Norton Sound Region. Emergency Services have coastal, air and floatplane access. Emergency service is provided by a health aide
|
| Economy
and Transportation |
The St. Michael economy is based on subsistence food harvests supplemented by part-time wage earning. Most cash positions are found in city government, the IRA council and village corporation, schools, and local stores. Seven residents hold commercial fishing permits, primarily for the herring fishery. The Stebbins/St. Michael Reindeer Corral Project was completed in 1993 for a herd on Stuart Island. The reindeer are essentially unmanaged.
St. Michael is accessible by air and sea only. The state owns a 4,000' long by 75' wide gravel airstrip, and a seaplane base is available. Regular and charter flights are available from Nome and Unalakleet. It is near the Yukon River delta and has a good natural harbor but no dock. Lighterage service is provided on a frequent basis from Nome, and St. Michael receives at least one annual shipment of bulk cargo. A 10.5-mile road exists to Stebbins. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Saint Michael
P.O. Box 59070
St. Michael, AK 99659
Phone 907-923-3222
Fax 907-923-2284
E-mail vrwshngtn@aol.com
Village Corporation -
St. Michael Native Corporation
P.O. Box 59049
St. Michael, AK 99659
Phone 907-923-3143
Fax 907-923-3142
Village Council -
Native Village of Saint Michael
P.O. Box 59050
St. Michael, AK 99659
Phone 907-923-2304
Fax 907-923-2406
E-mail ksmkira@aol.com or emily@kawerak.org
Web http://www.kawerak.org/tribalHomePages/stMichael/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
|
 |
|
