Gambell’s typical journey to work is 3 minutes, against 21 minutes in Alaska’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. No town among the 42 in Alaska we compare has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Gambell. Gambell has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

625 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Gambell Nygren 1960, 1960

Gambell’s story

87 years in pictures

Census counts: 221 in 1910, a low of 48 in 1920, 640 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1960 and a map from 1948 on.

1939Gambell is settled

Explore the history →

Getting set up

Moving to Gambell: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Gambell, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerAlaska Village Elec Coop65.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterGambell Water System5 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4

Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Gambell’s trash rules yet

SchoolsBering Strait School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn Alaska you can register online until 30 days before Election Day, in person until 30 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 30 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereAbsentee and Petition OfficeState of Alaska; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025

ZIP code9974299742 100%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Gambell.

Natural hazards

Very low risk in Gambell, with cold waves at the top

Storm and flood damage is expected to run lower than in 98% of U.S. communities. FEMA puts 87% of Gambell’s expected hazard losses down to cold waves, and 5% to inland flooding. Households here have drawn federal disaster aid once, in 2022.

2risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Cold wavesInland flooding

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageGambell’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesVery low risk Flood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on record Past disasters1 federal disaster · Paid out in Gambell Get ready10 events a year, on average · Ready for cold waves

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Schools

The schools Gambell’s kids attend

Its one school is below. The public schools here belong to the Bering Strait School District. 154 students attend Gambell’s public school.

School	Level	Students	Letter
Gambell SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades PK–12	Grades PK–12	154	D⁻

Full pageGambell’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsBering Strait School District Every school1 school · Gambell School Questions“Are Gambell’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts

Health

A larger share of adults worry about having enough food in Gambell than in most of Alaska or the rest of the country

In Gambell, 15% of adults have diabetes. Of the 42 Alaska towns we compare, none has a higher share of adults who report frequent physical distress than Gambell. Two figures for adults here: 36% smoke cigarettes, 24% report frequent mental distress.

	Gambell	Alaska towns	U.S. towns
Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES)	35%	18%	19%
Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES)	36%	16%	14%
Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES)	24%	16%	17%
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)	20%	13%	14%

32 measures vs. Alaska

1 better8 too close to call23 worse

What stands out	Gambell	AK
Fewer adults who have had cancer	4.6%	7%
More adults facing food insecurity	44.6%	14.3%

1 of 3

care shortages: mental health

Full pageGambell’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore smokers Hospitals & doctors nearbyHospitals & doctors nearby How adults are doingMore adults in fair or poor health Every CDC estimateBetter than AK on 1 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Outdoors

0% of Gambell is conserved land

2.8 miles of trail. The trail network density for Gambell comes to 0.1 miles per square mile.

0%conserved

conserved · 0 of 17,985 acres

2.8 mi

of trails · 0.1 per sq mi

Full pageGambell’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map2.8 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walkPick a walk Conserved land0% conserved · 0 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Gambell?”

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Gambell

15pages on Gambell

The big questions

Schools1 school HealthBetter than AK on 1 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingWork & commute$53K median household income Natural hazardsFEMA risk higher than 2% of U.S. communities · cold waves

Out and about

Outdoors3 mi of trails · 0% conserved land Places

The story

HistorySettled 1939 Famous people2 born in Gambell Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 57 residents

Day to day

NewsWeatherHandbookZIP code 99742 Town SquareNeighbors

About Gambell

City in Alaska, United States

Gambell ( GAM-bəl) (Central Siberian Yupik: Sivuqaq) is a city in the Nome Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. Located on St. Lawrence Island, it had a population of 640 at the 2020 census, down from 681 in 2010.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1963
Area: 30 sq mi
Elevation: 0 ft
ZIP code: 99742
Area code: 99742

Questions about Gambell

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Gambell, AK a good place to live?

Gambell has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

What is Gambell, AK known for?

2 notable people were born here, including Florence Nupok Malewotkuk and Susie Silook.

Post to Gambell

Check your email

GambellAK

Is Gambell a good place to live?