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Source: Alaska
Department of Community and Economic Development
Ketchikan, AK
| Current Population: |
7,691 (2004 State Demographer estimate) |
| Incorporation Type: |
Home Rule City |
| Borough Located In: |
Ketchikan Gateway Borough |
| Taxes: |
Sales: 3.5% (City); 2.5% (Borough),
Property: 6.4 mills (City); 7.5 mills (Borough), Special: 7%
Accommodations Tax (City/Borough) |
| Location
and Climate |
| Ketchikan is
located on the southwestern coast of Revillagigedo Island, opposite
Gravina Island, near the southern boundary of Alaska. It is 679 miles
north of Seattle and 235 miles south of Juneau. The 2.2 million acre
Misty Fiords National Monument lies 22 air miles east of Ketchikan. It
is the first Alaska port of call for northbound cruise ships and State
ferries. The community lies at approximately 55.342220° North Latitude
and -131.64611° (West) Longitude. (Sec. 30, T075S, R091E, Copper River
Meridian.) Ketchikan is located in the Ketchikan Recording District.
The area encompasses 3.4 sq. miles of land and 0.8 sq. miles of water.
The area lies in the maritime climate zone noted for its warm winters,
cool summers, and heavy precipitation. Summer temperatures range from 51
to 65; winter temperatures range from 29 to 39. Ketchikan averages 162
inches (13.5 feet) of precipitation annually, including 32 inches of
snowfall. |
| History, Culture and
Demographics |
| Tongass and Cape Fox Tlingits have
used Ketchikan Creek as a fish camp which they called "kitschk-hin,"
meaning creek of the "thundering wings of an eagle." The abundant fish
and timber resources attracted non-Natives to Ketchikan. In 1885, Mike
Martin bought 160 acres from Chief Kyan, which later became the
township. The first cannery opened in 1886 near the mouth of Ketchikan
Creek and four more were built by 1912. The Ketchikan Post Office was
established in 1892, and the City was incorporated in 1900. By this
time, nearby gold and copper discoveries briefly brought activity to
Ketchikan as a mining supply center. During 1936, seven canneries were
in operation, producing 1.5 million cases of salmon. The need for lumber
for new construction and packing boxes spawned the Ketchikan Spruce
Mills in 1903, which operated for over 70 years. Spruce was in high
demand during World War II, and Ketchikan became a supply center for
area logging. A $55 million pulp mill was constructed at Ward Cove near
Ketchikan in 1954. Its operation fueled the growth of the community. The
mill's 50-year contract with the U.S. Forest service for timber was
canceled, and the pulp mill closed in March 1997.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the
Ketchikan Indian Corporation; Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian
Tribes of Alaska. The population of the community consists of 22.7%
Alaska Native or part Native. Ketchikan is
a diverse community. Most Native residents are Tlingit. The largest
collection of totem poles in the world is found here at Totem Bight
State Historical Park, Saxman Native Village, and the Totem Heritage
Center Museum. During the 2000 U.S.
Census, total housing units numbered 3,645, and vacant housing units
numbered 448. Vacant housing units used only seasonally numbered 65.
U.S. Census data for Year 2000 showed 3,974 residents as employed. The
unemployment rate at that time was 8.17 percent, although 34.77 percent
of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income
was $45,802, per capita income was $22,484, and 7.59 percent of
residents were living below the poverty level. |
|
Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Water is derived from a dam on Ketchikan
Lake, is chlorinated, stored, and piped to homes within the City's
boundaries. The Borough operates a water treatment facility at Mountain
Point, south of the City. A few homes use rain catchment systems. The
City owns a central sewage collection system with primary treatment. A
new Borough sewage treatment plant is located at Mountain Point. 98% of
homes are fully plumbed. Ketchikan Public Utilities purchases power from
the state-owned Swan Lake Hydro Facility, and owns three hydroelectric
plants -- Ketchikan, Beaver Falls and Silvis -- and two diesel-fueled
plants. $2.5 million has been provided to design and construct a 57-mile
power transmission intertie between Swan Lake and Tyee Lake
hydroelectric projects. The City has recently improved the Deer Mountain
landfill with an incinerator, balefill system, recycling and resource
re-use, and household hazardous waste collection events. The City also
ships baled refuse out-of-state. Electricity is provided by Ketchikan
Public Utilities. There are 9 schools located in the community,
attended by 2,334 students. Local hospitals or health clinics include
Ketchikan General Hospital (225-5171); Ketchikan Indian Community Tribal
Health Clinic (225-0320); U.S. Coast Guard Ketchikan Dispensary
(228-0320). The hospital is a qualified Acute Care facility and Medevac
Service. The USCG facility provides emergency support only and is a
qualified Emergency Care Center. Long Term Care: Ketchikan Pioneers'
Home; Island View Manor. Specialized Care: Gateway Center for Human
Services (City - 225-4145). Ketchikan is classified as small city, it is
found in EMS Region 3A in the Southeast Region. Emergency Services have
limited highway, marine, airport, floatplane and helicopter access.
Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service and volunteers
Auxiliary health care is provided by Ketchikan Fire Dept. (225-9616);
South Tongass Fire/EMS Division (225-1322); Pond Reef Vol. Fire/EMS
(247-2698). |
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Economy and Transportation |
Ketchikan is an industrial center and a
major port of entry in Southeast Alaska, with a diverse economy.
Ketchikan is supported by a large fishing fleet, fish processing,
tourism and timber. 401 area residents hold commercial fishing permits.
Several processing and cold storage facilities support the fishing
industry. The state operates the Deer Mountain Hatchery which produces
over 450,000 King, Coho, Steelhead and Rainbow Trout annually. Cruise
ships bring over 650,000 visitors, and another 50,000 independent
travelers visit Ketchikan each year. The Ketchikan Visitors Assoc.
office building provides a visitor center and retail space for 20
tourism operators.
Regularly-scheduled jet services offer three northbound and three
southbound departures daily. The State-owned Ketchikan International
Airport offers a paved, lighted 7,500' long by 150' wide asphalt runway.
The airport lies on Gravina Island, a 10-minute ferry ride to the
waterfront. Ketchikan is a regional transportation hub, with numerous
air taxi services to surrounding communities. There are four float plane
landing facilities: Tongass Narrows, Peninsula Point, Ketchikan Harbor,
and Murphy's. Ketchikan is the first port of call in Alaska for cruise
ships and Alaska Marine Highway vessels. Harbor and docking facilities
include a breakwater, a deep draft dock, five small boat harbors, a dry
dock and ship repair yard, boat launch, and a State ferry terminal. The
shipyard is privately-owned, and is used for repairs to the Alaska Ferry
and offshore fish processors. The Inter-Island Ferry Authority, based on
Craig, is coordinating funding to develop a twice-daily, year-round
ferry service between Ketchikan and Hollis. |
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