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Source: Alaska
Department of Community and Economic Development
Tok, AK
| Current Population: |
1,439 (2004 State Demographer estimate) |
| Incorporation Type: |
Unincorporated |
| Borough Located In: |
Unorganized |
| Taxes: |
No taxing authority |
| Location
and Climate |
| Tok is located
at the junction of the Alaska Highway and the Tok Cutoff to the Glenn
Highway, at 1,635' elevation, 200 miles southeast of Fairbanks. It is
called the "Gateway to Alaska," as it is the first major community upon
entering Alaska, 93 miles from the Canadian border. The community lies
at approximately 63.336670° North Latitude and -142.98556° (West)
Longitude. (Sec. 18, T018N, R013E, Copper River Meridian.) Tok is
located in the Fairbanks Recording District. The area encompasses 132.3
sq. miles of land and 0.0 sq. miles of water. Tok is in the continental
climate zone, with cold winters and warm summers. In the winter, ice fog
and smoke conditions are common. The average low temperature during
January is -32; the average high during July is 72. Extreme temperatures
have been measured from -71 to 99. Annual precipitation is 11 inches,
including 33 inches of snow. |
| History, Culture and
Demographics |
| There are several versions of how
Tok obtained its name. The nearby "Tokai River" was first reported in
1887 by Lt. Allen. "Tok River" was recorded in 1901 by the USGS. Tok
began in 1942 as an Alaska Road Commission camp. So much money was spent
in the camp's construction and maintenance that it earned the name
"Million Dollar Camp" by those working on the highway. In 1944 a branch
of the Northern Commercial Company was opened, and in 1946 Tok was
established as a Presidential Townsite. With the completion of the Alcan
Highway in 1946, a post office and a roadhouse were built. In 1947 the
first school was opened, and in 1958 a larger school was built to
accommodate the many newcomers. The U.S. Customs Office was located in
Tok between 1947 and 1971, when it was moved to Alcan, at the border.
Between 1954 and 1979, a U.S. Army fuel pipeline operated from Haines to
Fairbanks, with a pump station in Tok. The pump station's facilities
were purchased as area headquarters for the Bureau of Land Management.
The U.S. Coast Guard constructed a LORAN (Long Range Aid to Navigation)
station in 1976. Four 700' towers, located 6 miles east of Tok junction,
transmit radio navigation signals for air and marine traffic in the Gulf
of Alaska. In July of 1990, Tok faced extinction when a lightning-caused
forest fire jumped two rivers and the Alaska Highway, putting both
residents and buildings in peril. The town was evacuated and even the
efforts of over a thousand firefighters could not stop the fire. At the
last minute a "miracle wind" (so labeled by Tok's residents) came up,
diverting the fire just short of the first building. The fire continued
to burn the remainder of the summer, eventually burning more than
100,000 acres. Evidence of the burn can be seen on both sides of the
highway just east of Tok.
The population of the community consists of 19% Alaska Native or part
Native. The area was traditionally
Athabascan, although the current population is primarily non-Native. Tok
has become known as the "Sled Dog Capital of Alaska." Although residents
have chosen not to incorporate as a municipality, there are numerous
local volunteer committees for various community functions and various
membership organizations. During the
2000 U.S. Census, total housing units numbered 748, and vacant housing
units numbered 214. Vacant housing units used only seasonally numbered
66. U.S. Census data for Year 2000 showed 518 residents as employed. The
unemployment rate at that time was 17.99 percent, although 47.94 percent
of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income
was $37,941, per capita income was $18,521, and 10.5 percent of
residents were living below the poverty level. |
|
Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| There is no central water and sewer in
Tok, because businesses and residences are spread out over a wide area.
Most homes use individual wells at 50- to 125-foot depths and individual
septic tanks. The schools operate individual systems. Most homes are
heated with fuel oil or wood-burning stoves, and many residents use
propane for cooking, water heating and clothes drying. A private firm,
J.D. Refuse Service, provides household refuse collection and disposal
at the landfill, located at mile 120.5 Glenn Hwy. Alaska Power &
Telephone Co., based in Skagway, owns and operates a diesel power system
in Tok which provides electricity to area communities. Electricity is
provided by Alaska Power Company. There are 2 schools located in the
community, attended by 315 students. Local hospitals or health clinics
include Tok Community Clinic (883-5855); Tok Health Center (883-4101).
The clinic is a qualified Emergency Care Center. Specialized Care: Tok
Area Mental Health Center; Upper Tanana Alcohol Program. Tok is
classified as an isolated town/Sub-Regional Center, it is found in EMS
Region 1C in the Interior Region. Emergency Services have highway and
air access. Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service,
volunteers, a health aide and military Auxiliary health care is
provided by Tok Area EMS (883-5873/883-5111); 40 Mile Air Medevac
(883-5191). |
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Economy and Transportation |
Tok is the transportation, business,
service and government center for the Upper Tanana region. Employment
and business revenues peak in the summer months, with the rush of RV
travelers on the Alaska Highway. Four residents hold commercial fishing
permits. Subsistence and recreational activities are prevalent. Moose,
bear, rabbit, grouse, and ptarmigan are taken. Dahl sheep and caribou
are hunted outside of the region, but only through lottery permits.
Salmon are obtained from the Copper River to the south. Berry-picking
and gardening are also popular activities.
Tok is located at the junction of two highways, and is the first
community with services for visitors entering (and last community for
visitors departing) Alaska by highway. Bus services are available to
Anchorage and Fairbanks, and freight is delivered by truck. There are
two State-owned runways. One is a gravel strip operated by DNR and is
1,690' long by 45' wide. The other is available at Tok Junction, is
operated by DOT, and is 2,509' long by 50' wide, asphalt. There are two
additional private airstrips in the vicinity. |
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