St. Michael, Alaska
Encyclopedia
St. Michael is a city in Nome Census Area, Alaska
, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 368.
at the southeastern end of the Norton Sound
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 28.1 square miles (72.8 km²), of which, 21.8 square miles (56.5 km²) of it is land and 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²) of it (22.40%) is water.
, 92.66% Native American
, and 0.54% from two or more races. 0.27% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 90 households out of which 54.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples living together, 16.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.09 and the average family size was 4.79.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 43.8% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 14.1% from 45 to 64, and 3.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 114.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,036, and the median income for a family was $34,000. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $16,250 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $10,692. About 24.2% of families and 22.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.1% of those under age 18 and 41.7% of those age 65 or over.
. Anthony A. Andrews School serves grades Pre-K through 12 grades.
, as a trading post for trade with the Yupik people of the area. The trading settlement and the island were named after the archangel Michael
.
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.
St. Michael's population today is largely Yupik. Many residents are descendants of Russian traders.
Nome Census Area, Alaska
Nome Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 9,196. It is part of the unorganized borough and therefore has no borough seat. Its largest community by far is the city of Nome....
, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 368.
Geography
St. Michael is located at 63.471037°N 162.053181°W on the east side of St. Michael IslandSt. Michael Island, Alaska
St. Michael Island is an island on the southeast side of the Norton Sound in Alaska. The island is about long and wide.St. Michael Island contains two settlements, St. Michael, on the island's east side, and Stebbins, on the northwest side.St...
at the southeastern end of the Norton Sound
Norton Sound
Norton Sound is an inlet of the Bering Sea on the western coast of the U.S. state of Alaska, south of the Seward Peninsula. It is about 240 km long and 200 km wide. The Yukon River delta forms a portion of the south shore and water from the Yukon influences this body of water...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 28.1 square miles (72.8 km²), of which, 21.8 square miles (56.5 km²) of it is land and 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²) of it (22.40%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 368 people, 90 households, and 65 families residing in the city. The population density was 16.9 people per square mile (6.5/km²). There were 93 housing units at an average density of 4.3 per square mile (1.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 6.79% WhiteRace (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 92.66% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.54% from two or more races. 0.27% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 90 households out of which 54.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples living together, 16.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.09 and the average family size was 4.79.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 43.8% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 14.1% from 45 to 64, and 3.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 114.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,036, and the median income for a family was $34,000. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $16,250 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $10,692. About 24.2% of families and 22.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.1% of those under age 18 and 41.7% of those age 65 or over.
Education
St. Michael is served by the Bering Strait School DistrictBering Strait School District
Bering Strait School District is a school district in northwestern Alaska, United States, serving approximately 1,700 students in grades K-12 in fifteen isolated villages...
. Anthony A. Andrews School serves grades Pre-K through 12 grades.
History
St. Michael was founded in 1833 by traders of the Russian-American CompanyRussian-American Company
The Russian-American Company was a state-sponsored chartered company formed largely on the basis of the so-called Shelekhov-Golikov Company of Grigory Shelekhov and Ivan Larionovich Golikov The Russian-American Company (officially: Under His Imperial Majesty's Highest Protection (patronage)...
, as a trading post for trade with the Yupik people of the area. The trading settlement and the island were named after the archangel Michael
Michael (archangel)
Michael , Micha'el or Mîkhā'ēl; , Mikhaḗl; or Míchaël; , Mīkhā'īl) is an archangel in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic teachings. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans refer to him as Saint Michael the Archangel and also simply as Saint Michael...
.
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.
St. Michael's population today is largely Yupik. Many residents are descendants of Russian traders.