Located on the east shore of Norton Sound. 33 miles north of Unalakleet and 130 miles east of Nome. Shaktoolik is accessible by boat from Nome. Scheduled and charter air service from Nome or Unalakleet. The population of Shaktoolik is 186. The zip code is 99771.
Shaktoolik has a subarctic climate with considerable maritime influence when Norton Sound is ice free, which is usually from May to October. Winter is cold and relatively dry, with an
average of 43 inches of snowfall. Winds from the east and northeast predominate. Summers are cool, with most precipitation occurring in July, August and September. Average annual precipitation is 14 inches. Winter temperatures average between -4° and 11°F. Summer temperatures average between 47° and 62°F.
A gravel, private airstrip is located 3 miles northwest of the village. It is 2,200 feet in length and is unattended. Transportation is available to the village.
Arts and crafts available for purchase include carved ivory, wooden berry -picking baskets, wooden masks, Eskimo dolls, parkas, mukluks and beadwork. No moorage facilities are available.
Shaktoolik was first mapped in 1842-44 by Lt. L. A. Zagoskin of the Imperial Russian Navy, who called it Tshaktogmyut. The village moved from a site 6 miles up the Shaktoolik River to the river mouth in 1933, but was subject to erosion and wind damage at that location. In 1967 the village moved again to a more sheltered location 2.5 miles to the north. Shatoolik is a second-class city, incorporated in 1969.
The economy of Shaktoolik is subsistence, supplemented by part-time wage earnings from jobs with the city, school, construction, store, airlines and Native Corporation. Crafts bring in some income. About 300 reindeer provide meat, hides and additional income. Residents harvest moose, caribou, whale, seal, squirrel, rabbit, waterfowl and ptarmigan. They fish for salmon, arctic char, tomcod, flounder, scudpin, herring and smelt. In fall they pick berries.
The Iditarod Trail passes through Shatoolik and links the village to Unalakleet and coastal villages to the west along Norton Sound.
Cape Denbigh, 12 miles to the northwest, is the site of Lyatayet, a national historic landmark 6,000 to 8,000 years old. Another attraction is Besboro Island off the coast, site of a major seabird colony.
Communications in Shaktoolik include phones, mail plane, radio and TV. The community is served by Covenant Assembly of God churches and a school with grades preschool through 12. There are community electricity and water systems. Sewage system is flush toilets and seepage pits. Freight arrives in the community by cargo plane.
