| |
Cordova
(core-DOH-vuh); includes Eyak
For Photos of Cordova click here
| Current Population: |
2,161
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
|
| Incorporation Type: |
Home Rule City |
| Borough Located In: |
Unorganized |
| Taxes: |
Sales: 6%,
Property: 14.5 mills, Special: 6% Bed Tax; 6% Vehicle Rental Tax
|
| National Flood Insurance Program Participant: |
Yes |
| Coastal Management District: |
Cordova |
|
| Location
and Climate |
|
Cordova is located at the southeastern end of Prince William Sound in the Gulf of Alaska. The community was built on Orca Inlet, at the base of Eyak Mountain. It lies 52 air miles southeast of Valdez and 150 miles southeast of Anchorage. The community
lies at approximately 60.542780° North Latitude
and -145.757500° West Longitude.
(Sec. 28, T015S, R003W, Copper River Meridian.)
Cordova is located in the
Cordova Recording District.
The area encompasses 61.4
sq. miles of land and 14.3 sq. miles
of water.
Winter temperatures average from 17 to 28 °F. Summer temperatures average from 49 to 63 °F. Annual precipitation is 167 inches, and average snowfall is 80 inches. |
Topographic
map of
Cordova
area
 |
| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| The area has historically been home to the Alutiiq and migrating Athabascan and Tlingit Natives who called themselves Eyaks. Alaskan Natives of other descents also settled in Cordova. Orca Inlet was originally named "Puerto Cordova" by Don Salvador Fidalgo in 1790. One of the first producing oil fields in Alaska was discovered at Katalla, 47 miles southeast of Cordova, in 1902. The town of Cordova was named in 1906 by Michael Heney, builder of the Copper River and Northwestern Railroad, and the city was formed in 1909. Cordova became the railroad terminus and ocean shipping port for copper ore from the Kennecott Mine up the Copper River. The first trainload of ore was loaded onto the steamship "Northwestern," bound for a smelter in Tacoma, Washington, in April 1911. The Bonanza-Kennecott Mines operated until 1938 and yielded over $200 million in copper, silver, and gold. The Katalla oil field produced until 1933, when it was destroyed by fire. Fishing became the economic base in the early 1940s.
The population of the community consists of 15%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Cordova has a significant Eyak Athabascan population with an active village council. Commercial fishing and subsistence are central to the community's culture.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 1,099, and vacant housing units numbered 141.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 68.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 1,221 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
6.86 percent,
although
33.75 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $50,114, per capita income was $25,256, and
7.52 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
|
| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Cordova utilizes water from Murcheson Falls, Heney Creek dam, Meals Reservoir, Orca Reservoir, and Eyak Lake. The water is treated, but only the Eyak water is filtered. Water storage capacity is 2.1 million gallons. The city operates a piped water and sewer system. Sewage is treated before discharge. Over 90% of homes are fully plumbed. Some homes use individual wells and septic systems. A class 2 landfill and sludge disposal is available at Mile 17. The community participates in recycling and a household hazardous waste program. Cordova Electric Cooperative operates the Humpback Creek Hydro Facility and two diesel-powered plants, at Eyak and Orca.
Electricity is provided by Cordova Electric Cooperative, Inc.
There are 2 schools located in the community,
attended by 373
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Cordova Community Medical Center (907-424-8000); Ilanka Health Center (907-424-3622).
The hospital is a qualified Acute Care and Long Term Care facility. Cordova is classified as a large town/Regional Center, it is found in EMS Region 2F in the Prince William Sound Region. Emergency Services have limited highway, marine, aiport and floatplane access. Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service and volunteers
Auxiliary health care is provided by Cordova Volunteer Fire Dept./EMS/Search & Rescue (907-424-6117/6100).
|
| Economy
and Transportation |
Cordova supports a large fishing fleet for Prince William Sound and several fish processing plants. 330 residents hold commercial fishing permits, and nearly half of all households have someone working in commercial harvesting or processing. Copper River red salmon, pink salmon, herring, halibut, bottom fish, and other types of fish are harvested. Reduced salmon prices have affected the economy. The largest employers are Trident Seafoods, Inc., Cordova School District, Cordova Hospital, the city, and the Department of Transportation. The U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Coast Guard maintain personnel in Cordova.
Cordova is accessed by plane or boat. It is linked directly to the North Pacific Ocean shipping lanes through the Gulf of Alaska. It receives year-round barge services and state ferry service. The Merle K. "Mudhole" Smith Airport at mile 13 is state-owned and -operated, with a 7,499' long by 150' wide asphalt runway and 1,875' long by 30' wide gravel crosswind runway. The state-owned and city-operated Cordova Municipal Airport has a 1,800' long by 60' wide gravel runway. Daily scheduled jet flights and air taxis are available. Float planes land at the Lake Eyak seaplane base or the boat harbor. Harbor facilities include a breakwater, dock, small boat harbor with 850 berths, boat launch, boat haul-out, ferry terminal, and marine repair services. A 48-mile gravel road provides access to the Copper River Delta to the east. Plans for a highway up the Copper River to connect with the statewide road system have been controversial. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
Chamber of Commerce -
Cordova Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center
P.O. Box 99
Cordova, AK 99574
Phone 907-424-7260
Fax 907-424-7259
E-mail visitcordova@ak.net
Web http://www.cordovachamber.com
City -
City of Cordova
P.O. Box 1210
Cordova, AK 99574
Phone 907-424-6200
Fax 907-424-6000
E-mail cityclerk@cityofcordova.net; citymanager@cityofcordova.net
Web http://www.cityofcordova.net
Community Non-Profit -
Eyak Preservation Council (see also Eyak)
P.O. Box 460
Cordova, AK 99574
Phone 907-424-5890
Fax 907-424-5891
E-mail eyak@redzone.org
Web http://www.redzone.org
Electric Utility -
Cordova Electric Cooperative
P.O. Box 20
Cordova, AK 99574
Phone 907-424-5555
Fax 907-424-5527
E-mail info@cordovaelectric.com
Web http://www.cordovaelectric.com/
Media -
Cordova Times
301 Calista Court, STE B
Anchorage, AK 99518
Phone 907-907-9830
Fax 907-272-9512
E-mail rhowell@alaskanewspapers.com
Web http://www.alaskanewspapers.com
Regional Native Corporation -
Chugach Alaska Corporation
3800 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 601
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone 907-563-8866
Fax 907-563-8402
E-mail bwelty@chugach-ak.com
Web http://www.chugach-ak.com
School District -
Cordova City School District
P.O. Box 140
Cordova, AK 99574-0140
Phone 907-424-3265
Fax 907-424-3271
E-mail jnygaard@cordovasd.org
Web http://www.cordovasd.org
Village Corporation -
Eyak Corporation (also see "Eyak")
901 LeFevre Street, P.O. Box 340
Cordova, AK 99574-0340
Phone 907-424-7161
Fax 907-424-5161
E-mail board@eyakcorp.com
Web http://www.eyakcorporation.com
Village Council -
Native Village of Eyak (see also Eyak)
P.O. Box 1388
Cordova, AK 99574-1388
Phone 907-424-7738
Fax 907-424-7739
E-mail reception@nveyak.com
Web http://www.nveyak.com
Regional
Organizations
Regional Native Health Corporation - Southcentral Foundation
4501 Diplomacy
Anchorage, AK 99508
Phone 907-729-4955
Fax 907-729-4972
E-mail katherineg@scf.cc
Web http://www.southcentralfoundation.com
Regional Native Non-Profit - Chugachmiut
1840 Bragaw Street, Suite 110
Anchorage, AK 99508-3463
Phone 907-562-4155
Fax 907-563-2891
E-mail info@chugachmiut.org
Web http://www.chugachmiut.org
|
 |
|
