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  Current Population: 413 (2003 State Demographer est.)
Incorporation Type: 2nd Class City
Borough Located In: Unorganized
School District: Bering Straits Schools
Regional Native Corporation: Bering Straits Native Corp.


Location:
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. It lies at approximately 63.478060° North Latitude and -162.03917° 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; winters average -4 to 16. Extremes from -55 to 70 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.

Culture:
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.

Economy:
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. Six 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.

Facilities:
Water is derived from Clear Lake, is treated and stored in a 1.2 million-gallon tank. A new sanitation system is under construction to provide water delivery/holding tanks for homes, a piped gravity and vacuum sewer system with septic treatment, and household plumbing. 44 homes are served by the new system, and another 37 houses are being connected. These unserved residents currently haul treated water and use honeybuckets. Funds have been requested to expand the washeteria. DEC has approved the landfill for use, although it is not permitted.

Transportation:
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.

Climate:
St. Michael has a subarctic climate with maritime influences during the summer. Summer temperatures average 40 to 60; winters average -4 to 16. Extremes from -55 to 70 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.



*Source: Alaska Department of Community & Economic Development

  
This information was made possible in part by a grant from the Technology Opportunities Program, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.