Gambell, Alaska

Sivuqaq is the Yupik language name for St. Lawrence Island and for Gambell. It has also been called Chibuchack and Sevuokok.

St. Lawrence Island has been inhabited sporadically for the past 2,000 years by both Alaskan Yup'ik and Siberian Yupik people. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the island had a population of about 4,000.

File:Gambell, Alaska with the Chukotkan mountains.jpg in the background.]]

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 1887, the Reformed Episcopal Church of America opened a mission on St. Lawrence Island. That year, a carpenter, lumber and tools were left at Sivuqaq by a ship. The carpenter worked with local Yupik to build a wood building, the first they had ever seen. When the building was finished, the carpenter left the keys to the door with a local chief and departed. Since the carpenter had not spoken Siberian Yupik, the residents did not know the purpose of the building.

The Reformed Episcopal Church had not been able to find missionaries willing to live on St. Lawrence Island, so the building built for the mission was left unoccupied. In 1890, the building was acquired by Sheldon Jackson. He spoke to the Reverend Vene and Nellie Gambell, of Wapello, Iowa, about moving to St. Lawrence Island. Gambell was hired as a schoolteacher and the Gambells came to the island in 1894. They had a daughter in 1897. Nellie Gambell became ill and the Gambells spent the winter of 1897–1898 in the United States, where Nellie was hospitalized. In the spring of 1898, on the return journey to St. Lawrence Island, their ship sank in a storm and 37 people on it drowned, including the Gambells and their daughter. After their death, Sivuqaq was renamed in the Gambells' honor.

On June 22, 1955, during the Cold War, a US Navy P2V Neptune with a crew of 11 was attacked by two Soviet fighters in international waters over the Bering Straits between Siberia and Alaska, and crashed near Gambell. Locals from Gambell rescued the crew, 3 of whom were wounded by Soviet fire, and 4 of whom were injured in the crash. The Soviet government, in response to a US diplomatic protest, was unusually conciliatory, stating:

{{blockquote|There was an exchange of shots after a Soviet fighter advised the US plane that it was over Soviet territory and should leave (the US denied that the US plane fired at all).

The incident took place under heavy cloud cover and poor visibility, although the alleged violation of Soviet airspace could be the responsibility of US commanders not interested in preventing such violations.|}}

The Soviet military was under strict orders to "avoid any action beyond the limits of the Soviet state frontiers."

The Soviet government "expressed regret in regard to the incident", adding that "taking into account... conditions which do not exclude the possibility of a mistake from one side or the other," it was willing to compensate the US for 50% of damages sustained—the first such offer ever made by the Soviets for any Cold War shootdown incident. The US government said it was satisfied with the Soviet expression of regret and the offer of partial compensation, although it said that the Soviet statement fell short of what the available information indicated.{{cite web|url= http://www.vpnavy.com/vp9_mishap.html|title= VP-9 Mishap|access-date= April 7, 2011|date= January 24, 2011|work=June 22, 1955: US Navy Aircraft Attacked Over Bering Sea.|publisher=U. S. Navy Patrol Squadrons}}

File:Gambell Alaska June 16 '06.jpg

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

The Gambell incident occurred on February 27, 1974, when a Soviet Antonov An-24LR "Toros" (CCCP-47195) ice reconnaissance aircraft landed at Gambell.

On August 30, 1975, Wien Air Alaska Flight 99 crashed when trying to land in Gambell. 10 of the 32 passengers and crew on board were killed.

In October 2022, two Russian citizens arrived in Gambell by small boat and sought political asylum, saying they wanted to avoid compulsory military service during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It was an unusual and dangerous trip; Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy said he did not expect a continual stream of other arrivals.{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-immigration-coast-guard-lisa-murkowski-alaska-d6df61f70056645283b0b384087d7486 |title=2 Russians seek asylum after reaching remote Alaska island |author=Becky Bohrer |date=October 6, 2022 |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=October 6, 2022}} US Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski later revealed that the two refugees were members of a group indigenous to Siberia.{{cite news |title=Two Russians Seeking Asylum In Alaska Are Indigenous Siberians Fleeing Mobilization, Senator Says |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-alaska-asylum-seekers-ukraine-mobilization/32096745.html |date=October 23, 2022 |publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |access-date=October 25, 2022}}

Gambell is on the northwest cape of St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea, {{convert|325|km|mi|abbr=on}} southwest of Nome. It is {{convert|58|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the Chukchi Peninsula in the Russian Far East.

Image:GambellAlaska.jpg

File:Skin boat frame and moon.jpg

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of {{convert|30.4|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|10.9|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|19.5|sqmi|km2}} (64.10%) is water.

File:West beach of Gambell, Alaska.jpg

The town is served by Gambell Airport.

Owing to the influence of the cold Bering Sea, Gambell has a polar climate (Köppen ET). Its hottest month averages cooler than {{convert|50|F|C|disp=or}}. The climate features long, frigid and snowy winters alongside short cool summers. The cold sea creates pronounced seasonal lag, sufficient that April averages colder than December and May colder than October.

Compared to most northern hemisphere polar climates, Gambell is relatively moderate, featuring only discontinuous permafrost and despite the freezing of the Bering Sea less frigid winters than typical for Asia and North America at similar latitudes. As an example, Iqaluit on the other side of North America averages {{convert|9.8|F-change|C-change|disp=or}} colder over the year at a similar latitude, and Arviat on northern Hudson Bay {{convert|12|F-change|C-change|1|disp=or}} colder despite being two degrees farther south.

{{Weather box

|width = auto

|location = Gambell (1961–1990 normals, extremes 1936–1988)

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 39

|Feb record high F = 41

|Mar record high F = 36

|Apr record high F = 45

|May record high F = 54

|Jun record high F = 64

|Jul record high F = 71

|Aug record high F = 68

|Sep record high F = 62

|Oct record high F = 53

|Nov record high F = 54

|Dec record high F = 42

|year record high F = 71

|Jan avg record high F = 30.2

|Feb avg record high F = 25.0

|Mar avg record high F = 30.0

|Apr avg record high F = 32.3

|May avg record high F = 43.9

|Jun avg record high F = 54.5

|Jul avg record high F = 62.9

|Aug avg record high F = 58.1

|Sep avg record high F = 50.9

|Oct avg record high F = 41.7

|Nov avg record high F = 35.6

|Dec avg record high F = 34.3

|year avg record high F = 63.7

|Jan high F = 11.6

|Feb high F = 6.4

|Mar high F = 9.8

|Apr high F = 18.9

|May high F = 33.6

|Jun high F = 44.0

|Jul high F = 50.7

|Aug high F = 49.7

|Sep high F = 43.5

|Oct high F = 33.7

|Nov high F = 24.8

|Dec high F = 18.6

|year high F = 28.9

|Jan mean F = 7.1

|Feb mean F = 1.4

|Mar mean F = 5.4

|Apr mean F = 13.2

|May mean F = 29.6

|Jun mean F = 39.1

|Jul mean F = 46.5

|Aug mean F = 46.1

|Sep mean F = 40.4

|Oct mean F = 30.7

|Nov mean F = 22.8

|Dec mean F = 15.6

|year mean F = 25.9

|Jan low F = 3.7

|Feb low F = -1.4

|Mar low F = 0.7

|Apr low F = 8.8

|May low F = 25.2

|Jun low F = 34.2

|Jul low F = 41.5

|Aug low F = 41.7

|Sep low F = 36.6

|Oct low F = 28.2

|Nov low F = 19.1

|Dec low F = 11.5

|year low F = 20.9

|Jan avg record low F = -13.7

|Feb avg record low F = -17.3

|Mar avg record low F = -13.2

|Apr avg record low F = -7.3

|May avg record low F = 14.9

|Jun avg record low F = 28.2

|Jul avg record low F = 35.6

|Aug avg record low F = 35.1

|Sep avg record low F = 28.7

|Oct avg record low F = 18.7

|Nov avg record low F = 4.7

|Dec avg record low F = -6.8

|year avg record low F = -19.7

|Jan record low F = -24

|Feb record low F = -26

|Mar record low F = -26

|Apr record low F = -20

|May record low F = 2

|Jun record low F = 21

|Jul record low F = 30

|Aug record low F = 30

|Sep record low F = 24

|Oct record low F = 13

|Nov record low F = -7

|Dec record low F = -20

|year record low F = -26

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 0.89

|Feb precipitation inch = 0.79

|Mar precipitation inch = 1.04

|Apr precipitation inch = 0.71

|May precipitation inch = 0.88

|Jun precipitation inch = 0.66

|Jul precipitation inch = 0.92

|Aug precipitation inch = 1.87

|Sep precipitation inch = 1.52

|Oct precipitation inch = 1.52

|Nov precipitation inch = 1.53

|Dec precipitation inch = 1.79

|year precipitation inch = 14.12

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 inch

|Jan precipitation days = 8.0

|Feb precipitation days = 6.3

|Mar precipitation days = 4.7

|Apr precipitation days = 8.5

|May precipitation days = 5.4

|Jun precipitation days = 4.0

|Jul precipitation days = 6.7

|Aug precipitation days = 10.3

|Sep precipitation days = 11.0

|Oct precipitation days = 11.2

|Nov precipitation days = 11.3

|Dec precipitation days = 15.3

|year precipitation days = 102.7

|Jan snow inch = 2.3

|Feb snow inch = 3.0

|Mar snow inch = 1.2

|Apr snow inch = 5.4

|May snow inch = 3.3

|Jun snow inch = 0.1

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.3

|Oct snow inch = 2.2

|Nov snow inch = 4.2

|Dec snow inch = 4.0

|year snow inch = 26.0

|unit snow days = 0.01 inch

|Jan snow days = 5.3

|Feb snow days = 5.8

|Mar snow days = 2.8

|Apr snow days = 7.5

|May snow days = 3.6

|Jun snow days = 0.3

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.1

|Oct snow days = 2.7

|Nov snow days = 8.1

|Dec snow days = 10.2

|year snow days = 46.4

|source 1 = Western Regional Climate Center{{cite web

|url = https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliNORMtM.pl?ak3226

|title = GAMBELL AP, AK (503226)

|access-date = January 27, 2024 |publisher = Western Regional Climate Center

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240127045242/https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliNORMtM.pl?ak3226

|archive-date = January 27, 2024}}

|source 2 = XMACIS (snowfall){{Cite web|url=https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/|title=xmACIS2|website=xmacis.rcc-acis.org}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1910= 221

|1920= 48

|1930= 250

|1940= 296

|1950= 309

|1960= 358

|1970= 372

|1980= 445

|1990= 525

|2000= 649

|2010= 681

|2020= 640

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census 2020{{cite web |title=DEC Demographic Profile: Gambell city, Alaska |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Gambell_city,_Alaska?g=160XX00US0227640 |website=Census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=2 March 2025}}

}}

Gambell first appeared on the 1910 U.S. Census as an unincorporated village. It was formally incorporated in 1963.

As of the 2020 census, there were 640 people and 148 households in the city. The population density was {{convert|60.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 206 housing units at an average density of {{convert|19.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}} and an occupancy rate of 83.01%.

The racial makeup of the city was 96.25% Native American, 3.13% White, 0.16% Asian, and 0.31% from two or more races. 0.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 148 households, 54.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 15.5% were married couples living together, 16.2% were non-married cohabitating couples, 36.5% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present, and 31.8% had a female householder with no spouse present. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.14 and the average family size was 3.60.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.7% under the age of 18, 38.6% from 18 to 24, 20.5% from 25 to 44, 11.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 113.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $48,750, and the median income for a family was $52,500. 28.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.1% of those under the age of 18 and 2.9% ages 65 or older. The per capita income was $17,983.

Of the city's population ages 25 and older, 79.5% had received as high school or equivalent degree, 21.2% had completed some college but not earned a post-secondary degree, 6.8% had received an associate's or bachelor's degree, and 3.0% held a graduate or professional degree.

60.6% of the city's workers were employed by the local, state, or federal government. 23.2% were employed by private companies, 14.1% by non-profit organizations, and 2.1% were self-employed.

{{nobold|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.}}

Gambell is served by the Bering Strait School District. Gambell School serves grades Pre-K through 12. In 1984, two teams of Gambell students—one team of junior high students and one team of 9th through 12th grade—won two national championships in Future Problem Solving{{Cite book|title= The Kids from Nowhere: The Story Behind the Arctic Educational Miracle|access-date=August 9, 2019|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=27PCCQAAQBAJ&q=Gambell%2C+Alaska+school+wins+national+championship&pg=PT283|last=Guthridge|first=George |publisher= Graphic Arts Books|year=2011|isbn=9780882408583}}

In 2023, a team of junior high students (grades 6-8) won a Blade Engineer Award at the [https://www.kidwind.org/challenge/nationals National KidWind Challenge] held in Boulder, Colorado.{{Cite web |title=KidWind — Teaching the World about Renewables |url=https://www.kidwind.org/challenge/nationals |access-date=May 19, 2023 |website=www.kidwind.org}}

Sale, importation and possession of alcohol are banned in the village.{{cite web |url=https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/Portals/9/pub/ABC/DryDampCommunities/Local%20Option%20Communities%20-%20Rev%202.25.22.pdf |title=Schedule of Local Option Communities |publisher=Alcoholic Beverage Control Board |accessdate=May 3, 2023}}

{{reflist}}

• The Kids from Nowhere, Alaska Northwest Books, 2006.

{{commons category}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060614130759/http://www.gambellpresbyterian.org/ Gambell Presbyterian Church] with description of the village
• [https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/extremeice/thinice.html NOVA: Extreme Ice - On Thin Ice in the Bering Sea]
• [https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/documentaries/one-with-the-whale/ One With the Whale], Independent Lens documentary about life in Gambell

{{Nome Census Area, Alaska}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Alaska

Category:Cities in Nome Census Area, Alaska

Category:Populated coastal places in Alaska on the Pacific Ocean

Category:Siberian Yupik

Category:St. Lawrence Island