Current Population: 7,039 (certified December, 2000, by DCED) Incorporation Type: Home Rule City Borough Located In: Kenai Peninsula Borough Taxes: Sales: 3% (City); 2% (Borough), Property: 3.5 mills (City); 7.5 mills (Borough), Special: None Location and Climate
Kenai is located on the western coast of the Kenai Peninsula, fronting Cook Inlet. It lies on the western boundary of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, on the Kenai Spur Highway. It is approximately 65 air miles and 155 highway miles southwest of Anchorage via the Sterling Highway. It lies at approximately 60d 33m N Latitude, 151d 16m W Longitude (Sec. 05, T005N, R011W, Seward Meridian). Kenai is located in the Kenai Recording District. The area encompasses 28.5 sq. miles of land and 5.4 sq. miles of water. Winter temperatures range from 4 to 22; summer temperatures vary from 46 to 65. Average annual precipitation is 20 inches. History, Culture and Demographics
Prior to Russian settlement, Kenai was a Dena'ina Athabascan Indian village. Russian fur traders first arrived in 1741. At that time, about 1,000 Dena'ina lived in the village of Shk'ituk't, near the River. The traders called the people "Kenaitze," or "Kenai people." In 1791, a fortified Russian trading post, Fort St. Nicholas, was constructed for fur and fish trading. It was the second permanent Russian settlement in Alaska. In 1849, the Holy Assumption Russian Orthodox Church was established by Egumen Nicholai. In 1869 the U.S. military established a post for the Dena'ina Indians in the area, called Fort Kenay, which was abandoned in 1870 after Alaska was purchased by the U.S. A post office was established in 1899. Through the 1920s, commercial fishing was the primary activity. In 1940, homesteading enabled the area to develop. The first dirt road from Anchorage was constructed in 1951. In 1957, oil was discovered at Swanson River, 20 miles northeast of Kenai - the first major Alaska oil strike. The City was incorporated in 1960. In 1965, offshore oil discoveries in Cook Inlet fueled a period of rapid growth. Kenai has been a growing center for oil exploration, production and services since that time.
Alaska Natives represent 8.5% of the population. A federally recognized tribe is located in the community. The Kenai River is a major sport fishing location for Anchorage residents and tourists. The river is world renown for trophy king and silver salmon.
During the April 1990 U.S. Census, there were 2,681 total housing units, and 352 of these were vacant. The official unemployment rate at that time was 12.1%, with 2,738 jobs estimated to be in the community and 38.2% of all adults not in the work force. The median household income was $42,889, and 7.3% of residents were living below the poverty level.
Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care
Water is supplied by three artesian wells, is treated and piped to 75% of households. A fourth well is under construction. Sewage is piped and receives secondary treatment. The remaining 25% of households use individual water wells and septic systems. Natural gas from Enstar is primarily used for home heating purposes. Homer Electric Assoc. operates the Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Project and is part owner of the Alaska Electric Generation & Transmission Cooperative, which operates a gas turbine plant in Soldotna. It also purchases electricity from Chugach Electric.
Electricity is provided by Homer Electric Association.
There are 4 schools located in the community, attended by 1,667 students.
Auxiliary health care is provided by Kenai Fire Dept./EMS (283-7666/4136); Central Emergency Services (262-4792/4453) and Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna.
Economy and Transportation
The City is the center of the oil and gas industry, providing services and supplies for Cook Inlet's oil drilling and exploration. Tesoro Alaska's oil refining operations and Unocal's urea plant are located in North Kenai. Tourism is estimated as a $95 million per year industry on the Peninsula. Other important economic sectors include sport, subsistence and commercial fishing, fish processing, timber and lumber, agriculture, transportation services, construction and retail trade. 226 area residents hold commercial fishing permits. The largest area employers are the Borough School District, Unocal, Peak Oilfield Services, the Borough, and Central Peninsula Hospital. Work is scheduled to begin during Summer 1998 on the Challenger Learning Center. Two high-tech fire-fighting training facilities, totaling $15 million, will open in May 1998. Jointly called the Pacific Rim Institute of Safety Management, it consists of a City- and FAA-operated firefighter school at the airport, and a nearby industrial firefighter school, operated by a private firm.
Kenai is accessible by the Sterling Highway to Anchorage, Fairbanks, Canada and the lower 48 states. The City-owned Kenai Municipal Airport provides a 7,575' asphalt runway, a 1,000' turf strip, a float plane strip, and helicopter service. A Flight Service Station is available. Float plane facilities are also available at Island Lake and Arness Lake. There are five additional privately-owned airstrips in the vicinity. The Kenai City Dock and boat ramp are located near the mouth of the Kenai River. There are also a number of private commercial fish processing docks, but no boat moorage.