Current Population: 242 (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: Teller is located on a spit between Port Clarence and Grantley Harbor, 72 miles northwest of Nome, on the Seward Peninsula. It lies at approximately 65.263610° North Latitude and -166.36083° 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. Culture: 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. Economy: 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. Over one-third of households produce crafts or artwork for sale, and some residents trap fox. Facilities: 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 ATV's 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. Preliminary work has begun on a piped water and sewer system, however, a new water source must first be developed. Wells have proven unsuccessful. 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. A new landfill is under construction. The community participates in hazardous waste collection. Transportation: 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. Climate: 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. *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.