The city of Shungnak was founded in 1899 but the region has been home to Eskimos for thousands of years. The town is primarily comprised of 75 houses with a school, community health clinic and city office building. The town is located at the foothills of the Brooks Range and is predicted to have a population of 20,000 by 2020. The town is located in the Northwest Arctic region of Alaska.
Shungnak is located 310 miles northwest of the refinery for Flint Hills Resources outside of Fairbanks, Alaska. It takes a two-hour ferry ride from Fairbanks to reach Shungnak, but the scenery is spectacular. On the way, you will pass glacier-fed streams and meadows where grizzly bears roam. You will also encounter rugged coastlines.
Shungnak City is home to about 262 residents, according to the 2010 census. However, its population is expected to rise to as many as 267 by the year 2020. Despite the harsh conditions, Shungnak is home to some of the most environmentally friendly residents in the world. Several people are turning to wind turbines for power. One community is hoping to wean its residents off petroleum products and switch to renewable energy sources.