Savoonga is a city located in Nome Census Area, Alaska, one of two on St Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea. As of the 2000 census, Savoonga had a total population of 643.

Savoonga was incorporated in 1969, and in 1971 became the joint owner with Gambell of the entire island.

The local economy consists largely of subsistence hunting for walrus, seals, fish, and bowhead whales; the city calls itself the "Walrus Capital of the World". A dogsled mail service operated here until 1963.

Geography

Savoonga is located at 63°41'48" North, 170°27'39" West (63.696732, -170.460907)¹.

Savoonga is on the northern coast of St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea. It is 63 km (39 miles) southeast of Gambell.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.8 km² (6.1 mi²). None of the area is covered with water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 643 people, 145 households, and 113 families residing in the city. The population density is 40.7/km² (105.5/mi²). There are 160 housing units at an average density of 10.1/km² (26.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 4.35% White, 0.00% Black or African American, 95.33% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from other races, and 0.16% from two or more races. 0.00% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 145 households out of which 55.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% are married couples living together, 15.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 21.4% are non-families. 16.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 0.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 4.43 and the average family size is 5.22.

In the city the population is spread out with 36.1% under the age of 18, 13.2% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 16.5% from 45 to 64, and 5.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 26 years. For every 100 females there are 101.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 115.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $23,438, and the median income for a family is $27,917. Males have a median income of $30,500 versus $29,167 for females. The per capita income for the city is $7,725. 29.1% of the population and 29.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 40.6% of those under the age of 18 and 9.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

History

St. Lawrence Island has been inhabited sporadically for the past 2,000 years by both Alaskan Yup'ik and Siberian Yupik people. In the 1700s and 1800s, the island had a population of about 4,000 in numerous villages.

Between 1878 and 1880 a famine decimated the island's population. Many who did not starve left. The remaining population of St. Lawrence Island was nearly all Siberian Yupik.

In 1900 reindeer were introduced on the island and by 1917, the herd had grown to over 10,000 animals. A reindeer camp was established near present-day Savoonga in 1916. The village of Savoonga was established near the camp in the 1930s. Good hunting and trapping in the area attracted more residents.

Gambell and Savoonga received joint title to most of the land on St. Lawrence Island under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971.

External link

• Alaska Communities page for Savoonga (http://www.dced.state.ak.us/cbd/commdb/CF_CIS.cfm?comm_boro_name=Savoonga)
• Savoonga info, plus more links (http://www.uark.edu/misc/jcdixon/Historic_Whaling/Villages/Savoonga.htm)

External links

• Maps and aerial photos
  • Street map from Mapquest (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=63.696732&longitude=-170.460907&zoom=6)
  • Topographic map from Topozone (http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=63.696732&lon=-170.460907&s=200&size=m&layer=DRG100)
  • Aerial photograph from Microsoft Terraserver (http://terraserver.microsoft.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=14&lon=-170.460907&lat=63.696732&w=750&h=500)