Alaska's cities
St. George, Alaska
Pribilof community counts on fur seals and birders
Alaska.com
St. George, Alaska, sits on the northeast shore of St. George Island, the southern-most of five islands in the Pribilofs.
Predominantly an Aleut community, St. George has a Eskimo and Indian population of about 165.
The federally controlled fur seal industry had dominated the economy of the Pribilofs until 1983.
More than a million fur seals congregate on the islands every summer. St. George harvests 500 fur seals each year for subsistence purposes. Most employment is in government positions and commercial fishing.
The island is popular with birders, who come to see birds from several continents as they nest or fly through. Air transportation is available from Bethel.
History
St. George was discovered in 1786 by Gavrill Pribilof. The Russian American Company enslaved Aleut hunters from Siberia, Unalaska and Atka and relocated them to the Pribilofs to harvest seal. Between 1870 and 1910, the U.S. government leased the Pribilof Islands to private companies, which provided housing, food and medical care to the Aleuts in exchange for work in the fur seal plant.
During World War II, residents were evacuated to Southeast Alaska and confined in an abandoned cannery and mine camp at Funter Bay. In 1979, the Pribilof Aleuts received $8.5 million in partial compensation for the unfair and unjust treatment they were subjected to by the federal government between 1870 and 1946.
In 1983, the U.S. government ended the commercial seal harvest and withdrew from the islands, providing $20 million to help develop and diversify the local economy. The city was incorporated in 1983.
Source: Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development
More on this topic
 Adak, Alaska
Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska
Anchor Point, Alaska
Anderson, Alaska
Angoon, Alaska
Barrow, Alaska
Bethel, Alaska
Big Lake, Alaska
Cantwell, Alaska
Central, Alaska
Chitina, Alaska
Circle, Alaska
Coldfoot, Alaska
Cooper Landing, Alaska
Copper Center, Alaska
Cordova, Alaska
Craig, Alaska
Delta Junction, Alaska
Dillingham, Alaska
Diomede, Alaska
Eklutna, Alaska
Eagle River, Alaska
Elfin Cove, Alaska
Ester, Alaska
Fort Yukon, Alaska
Fox, Alaska
Gakona, Alaska
Galena, Alaska
Girdwood, Alaska
Glennallen, Alaska
Gulkana, Alaska
Gustavus / Glacier Bay, Alaska
Haines, Alaska
Halibut Cove, Alaska
Healy, Alaska
Hollis, Alaska
Homer, Alaska
Hoonah, Alaska
Hope, Alaska
Houston, Alaska
Hyder, Alaska
Kake, Alaska
Kasilof, Alaska
Kenai, Alaska
Ketchikan, Alaska
King Salmon, Alaska
Knik, Alaska
Kodiak, Alaska
Kotzebue, Alaska
Livengood, Alaska
Manley Hot Springs, Alaska
McGrath, Alaska
McKinley Park, Alaska
Mentasta Lake, Alaska
Metlakatla, Alaska
Moose Pass, Alaska
Nenana, Alaska
Nikiski, Alaska
Ninilchik, Alaska
Nome, Alaska
North Pole, Alaska
Northway, Alaska
Palmer, Alaska
Paxson, Alaska
Pelican, Alaska
Petersburg, Alaska
Petersville, Alaska
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska
Seldovia, Alaska
Seward, Alaska
Sitka, Alaska
Skagway, Alaska
Soldotna, Alaska
Sterling, Alaska
Talkeetna, Alaska
Tok, Alaska
Trapper Creek, Alaska
Unalaska/Dutch Harbor, Alaska
Valdez, Alaska
Wasilla, Alaska
Whittier, Alaska
Willow, Alaska
Wrangell, Alaska
Yakutat, Alaska
Page 1
|
