Location:
Hoonah is a Tlingit community located on the northeast shore of Chichagof Island, 40 air miles west of Juneau. It lies at approximately 58.110000 North Latitude and
-135.443610 West Longitude.
(Sec. 28, T043S, R061E, Copper River Meridian.)
Hoonah is located in the Sitka Recording District.
The area encompasses 6.6 sq. miles of land
and 2.1 sq. miles of water.
Hoonah's maritime climate is characterized by cool summers and mild winters. The airport is closed 20 to 30 days a year due to poor weather, usually during foggy periods in the spring and fall. Summer temperatures average 52 to 63 °F; winter temperatures average 26 to 39 °F. Temperature extremes have been recorded from -25 to 87 °F. Precipitation averages 100 inches annually, with 71 inches of snowfall.
History:
It is the principal village for the Huna, a Tlingit tribe which has occupied the Glacier Bay/Icy Strait area since prehistory. Local legend tells of an original ancestral home in Glacier Bay that was destroyed by a glacial advance. Hoonah means "village by the cliff." The Northwest Trading Co. built the first store in Hoonah in 1880. In 1881, the Presbyterian Home Mission and School was built. By 1887, 450 to 500 people were wintering in the village. A post office was established in 1901. In 1912, the Hoonah Packing Co. built a large cannery one mile north of town. The Thompson Fish Company still operates today as Hoonah Cold Storage. In 1944, a fire destroyed much of the city and many priceless Tlingit cultural objects. The federal government assisted in rebuilding the community. The City of Hoonah was incorporated in 1946.
Culture:
Hoonah is the largest Tlingit village in Alaska. Commercial fishing and logging have supported the population, and most residents maintain a subsistence lifestyle.
Economy:
Fishing and local government are mainstays of the economy. 86 residents hold commercial fishing permits. Some employment occurs at the Hoonah Cold Storage plant. Whitestone Logging Inc. and Southeast Stevedoring (a sort yard and timber transfer facility) are major private employers. The city and school district are the main public sector employers. Subsistence activities are an important component of the lifestyle. Salmon, halibut, shellfish, deer, waterfowl, and berries are harvested.
Facilities:
Water is derived from Gartina Creek, treated, and piped to all homes and facilities. A water treatment facility was completed in October 1998. Piped sewage is processed in a sewage treatment plant. 98% of homes are fully plumbed. The city provides garbage collection services once a week. Inside Passage Electrical Company operates three diesel-fueled generators in Hoonah.
Transportation:
Hoonah is dependent on air transportation for movement of small freight and passengers. The state owns and operates an airport with a 2,997' long by 75' wide asphalt runway and a seaplane base that are served by scheduled small aircraft from Juneau. A state ferry terminal and harbor/dock area are available. Freight arrives by barge or plane. There is an extensive logging road system on northwest Chichagof Island.
Climate:
Hoonah's maritime climate is characterized by cool summers and mild winters. The airport is closed 20 to 30 days a year due to poor weather, usually during foggy periods in the spring and fall. Summer temperatures average 52 to 63 °F; winter temperatures average 26 to 39 °F. Temperature extremes have been recorded from -25 to 87 °F. Precipitation averages 100 inches annually, with 71 inches of snowfall.
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