Current Population: 167 (2007 DCCED Certified Population)
Golovin is located on a point of land between Golovnin Bay and Golovnin Lagoon on the Seward Peninsula. It is 70 miles east of Nome. Golovin is located in the Cape Nome Recording District. The area encompasses 3.7 sq. miles of land and 0.0 sq. miles of water. Marine climatic influences prevail during the summer when the sea is ice-free. Summer temperatures average 40 to 60; winter temperatures average -2 to 19. Extremes from -40 to 80 have been recorded. Average annual precipitation is 19 inches, with 40 inches of snowfall. Golovnin Bay is frozen from early November to mid-May.
The Eskimo village of "Chinik," located at the present site of Golovin, was originally settled by the Kauweramiut Eskimos who later mixed with the Unaligmiut Eskimos. Golovin was named for Captain Vasili Golovnin of the Russian Navy. In 1887, the Mission Covenant of Sweden established a church and school south of the current site. Around 1890, John Dexter established a trading post that became the center for prospecting information for the entire Seward Peninsula. When gold was discovered in 1898 at Council, Golovin became a supply point for the gold fields. Supplies were shipped from Golovin across Golovnin Lagoon and up the Fish and Niukluk Rivers to Council. A post office was opened in 1899. Reindeer herding was a integral part of the missions in the area in the 1900s. The City was incorporated in 1971.
The
information provided on this page was obtained from:
The
Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development, Community Database Online |
