Shaktoolik, Alaska

Nome Census Area

02-68890

Shaktoolik is a small city in the Nome Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. In the census in 2000 Shaktoolik had 230 inhabitants with an Indian - share of about 94%.

Shaktoolik is located on the eastern shore of Norton Sound at the mouth of Shaktoolik Rivers in the same bay.

History

At the nearby Cape Denbigh, a National Historic Landmark, 6000-8000 year-old evidence of human presence have been found. Shaktoolik itself was first mapped from 1842-44 Lawrenti Sagoskin, an officer of the Imperial Russian Navy, under the name " Tshaktogmyut ". The name is derived from the Shaktoolik Unaliq word " suktuliq " and means something like " far-flung things."

1933, the settlement of the original site was 10 km relocated upriver to the confluence with the Norton Sound. Since she was there exposed to severe storms from the open sea, she was laid in 1967 following a decision by the City Council 4 km to the north of its present location.

The place is every year checkpoint at Iditarod dog sled race.