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St. George, Alaska facts for kids

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St. George

Anĝaaxchalux̂
Aerial view of St. George harbor
Aerial view of St. George harbor
St. George, Alaska is located in Alaska
St. George, Alaska
St. George, Alaska
Location in Alaska
Country United States
State Alaska
Census Area Aleutians West
Incorporated September 13, 1983
Area
 • Total 182.31 sq mi (472.17 km2)
 • Land 34.78 sq mi (90.08 km2)
 • Water 147.52 sq mi (382.09 km2)
Elevation
197 ft (60 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 67
 • Density 1.93/sq mi (0.74/km2)
Time zone UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-8 (AKDT)
ZIP code
99591
Area code 907
FIPS code 02-65800
GNIS feature ID 1419161

St. George is a small city in Alaska, United States. It's also known as Anĝaaxchalux̂ or Sangiurgiix̂ in the local Aleut language. St. George is the main town on St. George Island, which is part of the Pribilof Islands. This group of islands is located in the Bering Sea. In 2020, only 67 people lived there.

History of St. George Island

St. George Island was found by a person named Gavriil Pribylov on June 25, 1786. He was looking for places where northern fur seals had their babies. The island was named after Pribylov's ship, which was called the St. George. It was the first island in the Pribilof group to be discovered.

The only church on the island is St. George Church. It was built in 1935 and is an Eastern Orthodox Church.

In 1996, a crab-fishing vessel called the All American got stuck on the island. Luckily, no one was hurt.

All American ship wreck St George Island 1996
The 1996 wreck of the crab-fishing vessel All American on St. George Island.

Geography and Climate

St. George is located in the Bering Sea. The city covers about 182 square miles (472 square kilometers). Most of this area is water, with about 34.8 square miles (90.08 square kilometers) being land.

The city has an airport that offers flights to nearby islands like St. Paul Island Airport and Unalaska Airport. These flights are provided by Grant Aviation. You can also fly to Anchorage from St. George with Alaska Central Express.

Climate in St. George

St. George has a cool and damp climate. The weather often has fog and strong winds. Temperatures usually stay cool throughout the year, even in summer. Winters are cold but not extremely harsh.

Population Changes

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 92
1890 93 1.1%
1910 90
1920 138 53.3%
1930 153 10.9%
1940 183 19.6%
1950 187 2.2%
1960 264 41.2%
1970 163 −38.3%
1980 158 −3.1%
1990 138 −12.7%
2000 152 10.1%
2010 102 −32.9%
2020 67 −34.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

St. George first appeared in the U.S. Census in 1880. Back then, it was a village with 92 people. Most of them were Aleut, who are native to Alaska. Over the years, the population has changed quite a bit. The city officially became a city in 1983.

In 2000, there were 152 people living in St. George. Most residents were Alaska Native, making up about 92% of the population. The rest were White. There were 51 households, and many of them had children living there. The average household had about three people.

The median age in the city was 33 years old. This means half the people were younger than 33 and half were older. The average income for a household was about $57,083 per year.

Education for Kids

School children on St. George - NARA - 297137
School children on St. George (April 15, 1920)

The Pribilof Island School District used to serve St. George. In 2004, students in grades 9-12 could take classes using video calls. This meant they could learn from home. Another option was to go to a boarding school like Mt. Edgecumbe High School.

In 2017, the St. George School closed down because there weren't enough students. Now, the school district offers a special program for students in kindergarten through 10th grade. This program lets students learn from home through a correspondence (mail-based or online) system.

Wildlife on St. George Island

St. George Island is very important for wildlife. It is a major breeding spot for a special bird called the red-legged kittiwake. More than 75% of all known red-legged kittiwakes in the world have their babies here.

In 2016, a brand new type of beaked whale was found near the island. It was named Berardius beringiae. This shows how unique the marine life around St. George Island is. The island itself is part of the Bering Sea Volcanic Province, which means it was formed by volcanoes.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: St. George (Alaska) para niños

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