Wrangell, AK | Wrangell Business Listings Source: Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development
Current Population: 2,569 (certified December, 2000, by DCED) Incorporation Type: Home Rule City Borough Located In: Unorganized Taxes: Sales: 7%, Property: 12.0 mills, Special: $4/Night Accommodations Tax Location and Climate
The City of Wrangell is located on the northwest tip of Wrangell Island, 155 miles south of Juneau and 89 miles northwest of Ketchikan. It is near the mouth of the Stikine River, an historic trade route to the Canadian Interior. It lies at approximately 56d 28m N Latitude, 132d 22m W Longitude (Sec. 25, T062S, R083E, Copper River Meridian). Wrangell is located in the Wrangell Recording District. The area encompasses 58.9 sq. miles of land and 33.7 sq. miles of water. Wrangell is in the maritime climatic zone and experiences cool summers, mild winters, and year-round rainfall. Summer temperatures typically range from 42 to 64; winter temperatures range from 21 to 44. Average annual precipitation is 82 inches, including 64 inches of snowfall. Fog is common from September through December. History, Culture and Demographics
Wrangell is one of the oldest non-Native settlements in Alaska. In 1811, the Russians began fur trading with area Tlingits, and built a stockade named Redoubt Saint Dionysius in 1834. The Island was named for Ferdinand Von Wrangel, manager of the Russian-American Co. around 1830. The British of Hudson's Bay Co. leased the fort in 1840, and named the stockade Fort Stikine. A large Stikine Indian village known as Kotzlitzna was located 13 miles south of the fort. The Tlingits claimed their own ancient trade rights to the Stikine River, and protested when the Hudson Bay Company began to use their trade routes. But two epidemics of smallpox, in 1836 and 1840, reduced the Tlingit population by half. The fort was abandoned in 1849 when furs were depleted. The fort remained under the British flag until Alaska's purchase by the U.S. in 1867. In 1868, a U.S. military post called Fort Wrangell was established, named for the Island. The community continued to grow as an outfitter for gold prospectors in 1861, 1874-77, and in 1897. Riotous activity filled gambling halls, dance halls, and the streets. Thousands of miners traveled up the Stikine River into the Cassiar District of British Columbia during 1874, and again to the Klondike in 1897. Glacier Packing Company began operating in Wrangell in 1889. The Wilson & Sylvester Sawmill provided packing boxes for canneries, and lumber for construction. The City was incorporated in 1903. By 1916, fishing and forest products had become the primary industries - four canneries and a cold storage plant were constructed by the late 1920s. In the 1930s, cold packing of crab and shrimp was occurring. Abundant spruce and hemlock resources have helped to expand the lumber and wood products industry. The Alaska Pulp Corporation sawmill, Wrangell's largest employer, closed in late 1994.
Alaska Natives represent 20% of the population. A federally recognized tribe is located in the community. Wrangell is primarily a non-Native community with a mixture of Tlingit, Russian, British and American historical influences. Logging and fishing have supported the community.
During the April 1990 U.S. Census, there were 1,054 total housing units, and 112 of these were vacant. The official unemployment rate at that time was 9%, with 1,189 jobs estimated to be in the community and 34.1% of all adults not in the work force. The median household income was $37,538, and 6% of residents were living below the poverty level.
Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care
Approximately 95% of households are fully plumbed. Two surface reservoirs south of town supply 64 million gallons of water, which is filtered, treated and piped to most households. Sewage receives secondary treatment at the Shoemaker Bay plant. About 20% of residences have individual septic tanks. The City is extending piped water and sewer to Zimovia Highway to eliminate individual systems. The City provides garbage collection service, a recycling facility, and annual hazardous waste disposal events. An incinerator is scheduled to be completed by 1999. Wrangell Municipal Light & Power purchases electricity from the state-owned Tyee Lake Hydro Facility, located 40 miles southeast. The City also owns 7 standby diesel-fueled generators. Funds have been requested to examine the hydroelectric and drinking water potential of Sunrise Lake, on Woronkofski Island.
Electricity is provided by Wrangell Municipal Light & Power.
There are 3 schools located in the community, attended by 491 students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Wrangell Medical Center (874-7000); Wrangell Health Center. The medical center is a qualified Acute Care and Long Term Care facility Auxiliary health care is provided by Wrangell Volunteer Fire Dept./Rescue (874-3223).
Economy and Transportation
Wrangell's economy is based on commercial fishing and timber from the Tongass National Forest. Fishing and fish processing are an important segment of the economy. 253 residents hold commercial fishing permits. A dive fisheries is also under development - 60 divers harvest sea urchins, sea cucumbers and geoducks. Renewed gold mining activities up the Stikine River has enabled Wrangell to provide transportation and staging services for these operations. Although Wrangell offers a deep-water port, both large and small cruise ship dockings are expected to total 27 during 1998. There are some independent tourists, attracted by Stikine River sportfishing. The Alaska Pulp Corp. sawmill closed in 1994, forcing approximately 225 mill workers and loggers into unemployment - 20% of Wrangell's workforce. The mill has been sold to Silver Bay Logging, and reopened in April 1998 with 33 employees.
The City is accessible by air and water. The State-owned 6,000' paved lighted runway enables jet service. A seaplane base is adjacent to the runway. Scheduled air taxi services are also available. The marine facilities include a breakwater, deep draft dock, State Ferry terminal, two small boat harbors with 498 slips, and boat launch. Freight arrives by barge, ship, ferry and cargo plane.