St. Michael, Alaska

St. Michael
City
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Census Area	Nome
Area
• Total	28.1 sq mi (72.7 km2)
• Land	21.8 sq mi (56.4 km2)
• Water	6.3 sq mi (16.3 km2)
Elevation	26 ft (8 m)
Population  (2007)
• Total	370
• Density	16.9/sq mi (6.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-8 (AKDT)
Area code	907
FIPS code	02-66360

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 63°28′16″N 162°03′11″WTemplate:GR on the east side of St. Michael Island 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 (72.7 km²), of which, 21.8 square miles (56.4 km²) of it is land and 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²) of it (22.40%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR 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% White, 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.

Education

St. Michael is served by the Bering Strait School District. Anthony A. Andrews School serves grades Pre-K through 12 grades.

History

St. Michael was founded in 1833 by traders of the Russian-American Company, 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.

St. Michael's population today is largely Yupik. Many residents are descendants of Russian traders.

Economy

The St. Michael economy is based on subsistence food harvests (hunting, fishing and gardening) supplemented by part-time wage earning. Most wage-earning positions are in city government, the IRA council and village corporation, schools and local stores. Some residents hold commercial fishing permits, primarily for the herring fishery.