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Haines
(HAYNZ); includes Chilkoot (CHILL-koot)
For Photos of Haines click here
For a Map of Haines click here
| Current Population: |
1,475
(2008 Estimated Population (not Certified))
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| Incorporation Type: |
Unincorporated |
| Borough Located In: |
Haines Borough |
| Taxes: |
Sales: 5.5% (Borough),
Property: 11.26 mills (Borough), Special: 4% Bed Tax (Borough)
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| National Flood Insurance Program Participant: |
Yes |
| Coastal Management District: |
Northern Southeast |
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| Location
and Climate |
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Haines is located on the western shore of Lynn Canal, between the Chilkoot and Chilkat Rivers. It is 80 air miles northwest of Juneau, just south of the Canadian border at British Columbia, and 600 air miles southeast of Anchorage and Fairbanks. By road, it is 775 miles from Anchorage. The community
lies at approximately 59.235830° North Latitude
and -135.445000° West Longitude.
(Sec. 34, T030S, R059E, Copper River Meridian.)
Haines is located in the
Haines Recording District.
The area encompasses 13.5
sq. miles of land and 8.0 sq. miles
of water.
Haines has a maritime climate characterized by cool summers and mild winters. Summer temperatures range from 46 to 66; winters range from 10 to 36. Temperature extremes have been recorded from -16 to 90. Total precipitation averages 52 inches a year, with 133 inches of snowfall. |
Topographic
map of
Haines
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| The Haines area was called "Dei Shu" by the Tlingit, meaning "end of the trail." The Chilkat Tlingit tightly controlled the trading routes between the coast and the Interior. The first non-Native to settle here was George Dickinson, an agent for the North West Trading Co., in 1880. In 1881, S. Young Hall, a Presbyterian minister, received permission from the Chilkat to build the Willard Mission and school. The mission was renamed Haines in 1884 in honor of Mrs. F.E. Haines, Secretary of the Presbyterian Women's Executive Society of Home Missions, who had raised funds for the mission's construction. During the Klondike gold rush in the late 1890s, it grew as a mining supply center, since the Dalton Trail from Chilkat Inlet to Whitehorse offered an easier route to the Yukon for prospectors. Gold was also discovered 36 miles from Haines in 1899 at the Porcupine District. Four canneries had been constructed in the area by the turn of the century. The first permanent U.S. military installation was constructed south of Haines in 1904, Fort William H. Seward. The City was incorporated in 1910. In 1922, the fort was renamed Chilkoot Barracks. Until World War II, it was the only U.S. Army post in Alaska. It was deactivated in 1946 and sold as surplus property to a group of veterans who established it as Port Chilkoot. In 1970, the City of Port Chilkoot (formed in 1956) merged with Haines into one municipality. In 1972, the post was designated a national historic site and the name, Fort William Seward, was restored. The last of the early canneries closed in 1972 due to declining fish stocks. Expansion of the timber industry in the early 1970s fueled growth. The sawmills closed in 1976. In 2002, the City was consolidated with the Haines Borough.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Chilkoot Indian Association.
The population of the community consists of 18.5%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Historically Chilkat Indian territory, Haines is now predominantly a non-Native community. There are two Chilkat Indian Villages in the area, the Chilkoot, in Haines, and the Chilkat, in Klukwan. Haines is home to the world's largest congregation of bald eagles, who feed from the hot spring-fed rivers. The Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, located 18 miles from Haines, is a major attraction in Southeast Alaska.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 895, and vacant housing units numbered 143.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 47.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 772 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
13.55 percent,
although
44.1 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $39,926, per capita income was $22,505, and
7.91 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Water is derived from Lilly Lake and Piedad Springs, is treated and stored in a 500,000-gallon tank, and then distributed throughout Haines. Sewage is collected by a piped system and receives primary treatment before discharge through two ocean outfalls. Over 95% of homes are fully plumbed. A few homes use wells and septic tanks. Haines Sanitation Inc., a privately-held firm, collects refuse and owns the permitted landfill. The City participates in recycling and hazardous waste disposal programs.
Electricity is provided by Alaska Power Company.
There are 3 schools located in the community,
attended by 294
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include SEARHC Haines Health Center (907-766-6300); Haines Public Health Center (907-766-3300).
The clinic is a qualified Emergency Care Center, and is owned and operated by SEARHC. Specialized Care: Lynn Canal Human Resources & Counseling Center (city & borough operated). Haines is classified as an isolated town/Sub-Regional Center, it is found in EMS Region 3A in the Southeast Region. Emergency Services have highway, marine, air and floatplane access. Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service and volunteers
Auxiliary health care is provided by Haines Volunteer Fire Dept./EMS (766-2115/2121).
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| Economy
and Transportation |
Commercial fishing, timber, government, tourism, and transportation are the primary employers. 128 area residents hold commercial fishing permits. Many jobs are seasonal. Tourism and the traffic Haines draws as a result of its road connection to the State Ferry are important. In 2001, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines ceased serving Haines as a port of call. Today, around 45,000 cruise ship passengers visit yearly. The Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve draws visitors from around the world.
Haines is a major trans-shipment point because of its ice-free, deep water port and dock, and year-round road access to Canada and Interior Alaska on the Haines and Alaska Highways. It is a northern terminus of the Alaska Marine Highway (ferry) System, a cruise ship port-of-call, and a hub for transportation to and from southeast Alaska. Haines has a State-owned 4,000' long by 100' wide paved runway, with daily scheduled flights to Juneau by small aircraft. There is also a State-owned seaplane base, two small boat harbors with a total of 240 moorage slips, a State Ferry terminal, and a cruise ship dock. Freight arrives by ship, barge, plane and truck. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
Chamber of Commerce -
Haines Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 1449
Haines, AK 99827
Phone 907-766-2202
Fax 907-766-2271
E-mail chamber@haineschamber.org
Web http://www.haineschamber.org/
Economic Development -
Haines Visitors Bureau
P.O. Box 530
Haines, AK 99827
Phone 907-766-2234
Fax 907-766-3155
E-mail hainesak@wwa.com
Web http://www.haines.ak.us
Media -
Chilkat Valley News
P.O. Box 630
Haines, AK 99827
Phone 907-766-2688
Fax 907-766-2689
E-mail cvn@chilkatvalleynews.com
Web http://www.chilkatvalleynews.com
Village Council -
Chilkoot Indian Association
P.O. Box 490
Haines, AK 99827-0490
Phone 907-766-2323
Fax 907-766-2365
E-mail chilkoot@wytbear.com
Regional
Organizations
Borough - Haines Borough
P.O. Box 1209
Haines, AK 99827
Phone 907-766-2231
Fax 907-766-2716
E-mail jcozzi@haines.ak.us
Web http://www.hainesborough.us/
School District - Haines Borough School District
P.O. Box 1289
Haines, AK 99827-1289
Phone 907-766-6725
Fax 907-766-6794
E-mail mbyer@hbsd.net
Web http://www.hbsd.net
Regional Native Corporation - Sealaska Corporation
One Sealaska Plaza, Suite 400
Juneau, AK 99801-1276
Phone 907-586-1512
Fax 907-586-2304
E-mail todd.antioquia@sealaska.com
Web http://www.sealaska.com
Regional Native Health Corporation - Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium
3245 Hospital Dr.
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone 907-463-4000
Fax 907-463-4075
E-mail admin@searhc.org
Web http://www.searhc.org/
Regional Native Non-Profit - Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
320 W. Willoughby Ave., Suite 300
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone 907-586-1432
Fax 907-586-8970
E-mail econdev@ccthita.org
Web http://www.ccthita.org
Regional Development - Southeast Conference
P.O. Box 21989
Juneau, AK 99802
Phone 907-523-2327
Fax 907-463-5670
E-mail shellyw@seconference.org
Web http://www.seconference.org
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