- Community Type: 2nd Class City
- Current
Population: 739
- Borough
Name: Unorganized
- Regional
Native Corporation: Aleut Corporation
- REAA/School
District: Pribilof Island Schools
- Latitude:
57° 07' N
- Longitude:
170° 16' W
- See Map
of the region
- Land Area:
40.40
- Water Area:
255.20
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| Location:
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St. Paul is located on a narrow peninsula on the southern tip
of St. Paul Island, the largest of five islands in the Pribilofs.
It lies 47 miles north of St. George Island, 240 miles north of
the Aleutian Islands, 300 miles west of the Alaska mainland, and
750 air miles west of Anchorage.
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| History:
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The Pribilofs were discovered in 1786 by Russian fur traders.
They landed first on St. George, and named this larger island
to the north St. Peter and St. Paul Island. In 1788, the Russian
American Company enslaved and relocated Aleuts from Siberia, Atka
and Unalaska to the Pribilofs to hunt fur seals; their descendants
live on the two islands today. In 1870, the Alaska Commercial
Company was awarded a 20-year sealing lease by the U.S. Government,
and provided housing, food and medical care to the Aleuts in exchange
for seal harvesting. In 1890, a second 20-year lease was awarded
to the North American Commercial Company, however, the fur seals
had been severely over-harvested and poverty ensued. The 1910
Fur Seal Act ended private leasing on the Islands and placed the
community and fur seals under the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries. Food
and clothing were scarce, social and racial segregation were practiced,
and working conditions were poor. During World War II, the Pribilof
Aleuts were moved to Funter Bay on Admiralty Island in Southeast
Alaska as part of the emergency evacuation of residents from the
Bering Sea. In 1979, the Aleut Islanders received $8.5 million
in partial compensation for the unfair and unjust treatment they
were subject to under federal administration between 1870 and
1946. In 1983, Congress passed the Fur Seal Act Amendments, which
ended government control of the commercial seal harvest and the
federal presence on the island. Responsibility for providing community
services and management of the fur seals was left to local entities.
$20 million was provided to help develop and diversify the Island
economy - $12 million to St. Paul and $8 million to St. George.
Commercial
harvesting on St. Paul ceased in 1985. Ownership of fur seal pelts
is now prohibited except for subsistence purposes. Local residents
are working to develop a commercial fishing industry.
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| Culture:
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St. Paul is predominantly Aleut, with a small Eskimo and Indian
population. Although subsistence has not historically been the
focus of the local culture, today halibut and seal are shared
and exchanged with relatives living in other communities for salmon
and reindeer. The Russian Orthodox Church plays a strong role
in community cohesiveness.
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| Economy:
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The federally-controlled fur seal industry dominated the economy
of the Pribilofs until 1985. St. Paul is a port for the Central
Bering Sea fishing fleet, and recent port and harbor improvements
have fueled economic growth. The local commercial halibut fishery
got its start in 1981, and a crab processing plant and support
facilities were built in 1989. Cold storage and a second on-shore
processing facility were also recently completed. Several floating
fish processors operate near the harbor. 33 residents hold commercial
fishing permits for halibut. Fur seal rookeries and more than
210 species of nesting sea birds attract almost 700 tourists annually.
The community is working to develop eco-tourism. There is also
a reindeer herd on the island,
from a previous commercial venture. Residents subsist on halibut,
fur seals (1,645 may be taken each year), reindeer, marine invertebrates,
plants and berries.
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| Transportation:
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St. Paul is accessible by sea and air. The State-owned gravel
runway is 5,075' in length, and is undergoing major improvements.
Regularly-scheduled flights are provided, under Visual Flight
Rule conditions. Most supplies and freight arrive by ship. The
harbor and 700' of dock space were recently completed. A small
boat harbor will be constructed by the Corps of Engineers in 1998.
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| Climate:
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The climate of St. Paul is arctic maritime. The Bering Sea location
results in cool weather year round and a narrow range of mean
temperatures varying from 19 to 51. Average precipitation is 25
inches, with snowfall of 56 inches.
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