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Place Name
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Nome
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Place Status (Type)
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city
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Population
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3,500 (1990)
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Location
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Alaska, United States, North America
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Latitude
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64°30'N
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Longitude
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165°24'W
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Nome
, city (1990 pop. 3,500), W Alaska, on the S side of Seward
Peninsula, on Norton Sound; 64°30'N 165°24'W. Founded c.1898, when
gold was discovered on the beach here. It is the commercial, govt., and
supply center for NW Alaska, with an airport. Major economic mainstays
are mining, tourism fishing, and govt. The city is also a center of
Eskimo handicrafts. Nome was a gold rush town from 1899 to 1903; its
pop. swelled to 30,000, but many died or left because of the hardships.
Dredging, which replaced older methods of mining, ceased in 1962,
renewed in 1980s. The city is the scene of an annual Midnight Sun
Festival (late June), Iditarod Dog Sled Race (late Feb., from
Anchorage) and the All-Alaska Championship Dog Race. Cape Nome lies to
SE. Road system connects with Taylor (N), Keller (NW), and Ophir
(NE).
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