St. Michael, AK

Set on an island in eastern Norton Sound, St. Michael is a small, close-knit Yup'ik community of around 450 people. Like much of rural western Alaska, it sits off the highway system, meaning travel in and out relies on bush planes, boats, and snowmachines. The town has deep historical roots as a 19th-century trading post and a bustling Yukon Gold Rush port. Today, everyday life centers on traditional subsistence fishing and hunting, with steady employment anchored by the local school, tribal organizations, city offices, and seasonal commercial fishing.