Stebbins, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Stebbins is a city in Nome Census Area, Alaska
, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 547.
, which is on the south side of the Norton Sound
in western Alaska.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 36.9 square miles (95.6 km²), of which, 35.2 square miles (91.2 km²) of it is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²) of it (4.71%) is water.
, 0.18% Black
or African American
, 93.97% Native American
, and 0.73% from two or more races.
There were 123 households out of which 64.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.4% were non-families. 12.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 0.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.45 and the average family size was 4.86.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 47.2% under the age of 18, 12.4% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 13.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 20 years. For every 100 females there were 115.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,125, and the median income for a family was $28,214. Males had a median income of $33,125 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $8,249. About 40.4% of families and 41.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.5% of those under age 18 and 33.3% of those age 65 or over.
. Tukurngailnguq School is the only school in town and serves grades K through 12.
by the Russian-American Company
in 1833. The name Stebbins was first recorded in 1900; the Yupik
name for the village is Tapraq. The first census
in the area, in 1950, listed 80 Yupiks residing in Stebbins. The city was incorporated in 1969.
The Stebbins economy depends on commercial fishing, for herring
and other fish, and subsistence fishing, gardening and hunting, supplemented by part-time wage earnings. Hunting is for seal
, walrus
, caribou, and beluga whale. The city government and school of about 200 students provide the only full-time positions.
The Stebbins/St. Michael Reindeer Corral Project was completed in 1993 for a herd on Stuart Island
, just north of Stebbins. The reindeer are currently unmanaged.
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 547.
Geography
Stebbins is located at 63°30′43"N 162°16′29"W (63.511893, -162.274632), on the north 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...
, which is on the south side 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...
in western Alaska.
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 36.9 square miles (95.6 km²), of which, 35.2 square miles (91.2 km²) of it is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²) of it (4.71%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 547 people, 123 households, and 104 families residing in the city. The population density was 15.6 people per square mile (6.0/km²). There were 134 housing units at an average density of 3.8 per square mile (1.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 5.12% 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...
, 0.18% Black
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 African 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...
, 93.97% 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 0.73% from two or more races.
There were 123 households out of which 64.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.4% were non-families. 12.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 0.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.45 and the average family size was 4.86.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 47.2% under the age of 18, 12.4% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 13.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 20 years. For every 100 females there were 115.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,125, and the median income for a family was $28,214. Males had a median income of $33,125 versus $20,000 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 $8,249. About 40.4% of families and 41.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.5% of those under age 18 and 33.3% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Stebbins 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...
. Tukurngailnguq School is the only school in town and serves grades K through 12.
History
A Russian fort, Redoubt St. Michael, was built at nearby St. MichaelSt. Michael, Alaska
St. Michael is a city in Nome Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 368.-Geography:St. Michael is located at on the east side of St...
by the Russian-American Company
Russian-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)...
in 1833. The name Stebbins was first recorded in 1900; the Yupik
Yupik language
The Yupik languages are the several distinct languages of the several Yupik peoples of western and southcentral Alaska and northeastern Siberia. The Yupik languages differ enough from one another that speakers of different ones cannot understand each other, although they may understand the general...
name for the village is Tapraq. The first census
United States Census
The United States Census is a decennial census mandated by the United States Constitution. The population is enumerated every 10 years and the results are used to allocate Congressional seats , electoral votes, and government program funding. The United States Census Bureau The United States Census...
in the area, in 1950, listed 80 Yupiks residing in Stebbins. The city was incorporated in 1969.
The Stebbins economy depends on commercial fishing, for herring
Herring
Herring is an oily fish of the genus Clupea, found in the shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans, including the Baltic Sea. Three species of Clupea are recognized. The main taxa, the Atlantic herring and the Pacific herring may each be divided into subspecies...
and other fish, and subsistence fishing, gardening and hunting, supplemented by part-time wage earnings. Hunting is for seal
Seal (musician)
Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel , known simply as Seal, is a British soul and R&B singer-songwriter, of Nigerian and Brazilian background. Seal has won numerous music awards throughout his career, including three Brit Awards—winning Best British Male in 1992, four Grammy Awards, and an...
, walrus
Walrus
The walrus is a large flippered marine mammal with a discontinuous circumpolar distribution in the Arctic Ocean and sub-Arctic seas of the Northern Hemisphere. The walrus is the only living species in the Odobenidae family and Odobenus genus. It is subdivided into three subspecies: the Atlantic...
, caribou, and beluga whale. The city government and school of about 200 students provide the only full-time positions.
The Stebbins/St. Michael Reindeer Corral Project was completed in 1993 for a herd on Stuart Island
Stuart Island, Alaska
Stuart Island is a small island on the southeast side of the Norton Sound of Alaska. The island is about long and wide with a land area of 52.195 sq mi and had no resident population at the 2000 census....
, just north of Stebbins. The reindeer are currently unmanaged.