Living & Working in Nome
Nome is at the tip of the Seward Peninsula, overlooking the Bering Sea. Sitting very close to the Arctic, the weather will be harsh, but the country is spectacular. The Inupiaq have called it home for over 4,000 years, subsisting on sea mammals along the coast, and on caribou inland. This lifestyle remains a vital part of the local culture. Today, visitors come from around the world to see the migration of more than 200 species of birds or the finish of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
Nome has a population of roughly 3700 residents. Gold mining has been a major source of employment and revenue for Nome to the present day. Nome is a regional center of transportation for surrounding villages. There are two State-owned airports: Nome Airport and Nome city Field. A road system leading from Nome is extensive, though sparsely used during the winter months. Local roads lead to Council, the Kougarok River, and Teller. There are also smaller roads to communities up to 87 miles from Nome, yet no road connection to the other major cities of Alaska.
Nome is the destination of the annual Iditarod Sled Dog Race, which follows the same route dog mushers used in 1925 to address a diphtheria epidemic raging in the area. The region supports world-class hunting, fishing, and camping, hiking, skiing, and all types of water sports.
Nome has long, very cold winters, and short, cool summers. However, conditions in both winter and summer are moderated by the city's coastal location: winters are less severe than in the Interior, and conversely, summers are mild.
