Shaktoolik

History

According to the Alaska Dept. of Community and Economic Development, Shaktoolik was the first and southernmost Malemiut settlement on Norton Sound, occupied as early as 1839. Twelve miles northwest, on Cape Denbigh, is the Iyatayet site that is 6,000 to 8,000 years old, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Shaktoolik was first mapped in 1842–1844 by Lt. Lavrenty Zagoskin, Imperial Russian Navy, who called it "Tshaktogmyut." "Shaktoolik" is derived from an Unaliq word, "suktuliq", meaning "scattered things". Reindeer herds were managed in the Shaktoolik area around 1905. The village was originally located six miles up the Shaktoolik River, and moved to the mouth of the River in 1933. This site was prone to severe storms and winds, however, and the village relocated to its present, more sheltered location in 1967. There are presently only two occupied dwellings at the old townsite. The City was incorporated in 1969.

Geography

Shaktoolik is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land. According to the State of Alaska, Department of Community and Economic Development, Shaktoolik is located on the east shore of Norton Sound. It lies 125 miles east of Nome and 33 miles north of Unalakleet. It lies at approximately 64.333890° North Latitude and -161.153890° West Longitude. (Sec. 23, T013S, R013W, Kateel River Meridian.) Shaktoolik has a subarctic climate with maritime influences when Norton Sound is ice-free, usually from May to October. Summer temperatures average 47 to 62; winter temperatures average -4 to 11. Extremes from -50 to 87 have been recorded. Average annual precipitation is 14 inches, including 43 inches of snowfall.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Glaucous Gull

  Larus hyperboreus Gunnerus, 1767 · Aves
  12
• Common Raven

  Corvus corax Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  12
• Tundra Swan

  Cygnus columbianus (Ord, 1815) · Aves
  12
• Sandhill crane

  Grus canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  11
• Northern Pintail

  Anas acuta Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  11
• Snow/Ross's Goose

  Anser caerulescens (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  11
• Short-billed Gull

  Larus brachyrhynchus Richardson, 1831 · Aves
  9
• Red-throated Loon

  Gavia stellata (Pontoppidan, 1763) · Aves
  9

Largest nearby schools

• Shaktoolik School
  Other · Shaktoolik · 72 students · 10.3:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.5 — 2026-07-06
  10 km E of Unalakleet, Alaska
• M 3.6 — 2026-07-01
  9 km E of Unalakleet, Alaska
• M 2.8 — 2025-12-29
  55 km E of Shaktoolik, Alaska
• M 3.6 — 2025-08-25
  24 km N of Koyuk, Alaska
• M 2.5 — 2025-03-11
  28 km W of Kaltag, Alaska
• M 4 — 2024-09-18
  19 km WSW of Unalakleet, Alaska