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Hoonah
(HOO-nah)
For Photos of Hoonah click here
For a Map of Hoonah click here
| Current Population: |
823
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
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| Incorporation Type: |
1st Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
Unorganized |
| Taxes: |
Sales: 6%,
Property: None, Special: None
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| National Flood Insurance Program Participant: |
Yes |
| Coastal Management District: |
Hoonah |
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| Location
and Climate |
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Hoonah is a Tlingit community located on the northeast shore of Chichagof Island, 40 air miles west of Juneau. The community
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. |
Topographic
map of
Hoonah
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| 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.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Hoonah Indian Association.
The population of the community consists of 69.4%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Hoonah is the largest Tlingit village in Alaska. Commercial fishing and logging have supported the population, and most residents maintain a subsistence lifestyle.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 348, and vacant housing units numbered 48.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 10.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 317 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
20.55 percent,
although
51.68 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $39,028, per capita income was $16,097, and
16.57 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| 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.
Electricity is provided by Inside Passage Electric Cooperative.
There are 2 schools located in the community,
attended by 126
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Hoonah Medical Clinic (907-945-3235).
The clinic is a qualified Emergency Care Center. Hoonah is classified as an isolated town/Sub-Regional Center, it is found in EMS Region 3A in the Southeast Region. Emergency Services have limited highway, marine, floatplane, helicopter and air access. Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service, volunteers and a health aide
Auxiliary health care is provided by Hoonah Volunteer EMS (907-945-3631/3655).
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| Economy
and Transportation |
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.
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. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Hoonah
P.O. Box 360
Hoonah, AK 99829
Phone 907-945-3663
Fax 907-945-3445
E-mail mduvall@cityofhoonah.org; cityad@gmail.com
School District -
Hoonah City School District
P.O. Box 157
Hoonah, AK 99829-0157
Phone 907-945-3611
Fax 907-945-3492
E-mail district@hoonahschools.org, pines@hoonahschools.org
Web http://www.hoonahschools.org/
Village Corporation -
Huna Totem Corporation
9309 Glacier Hwy., #A-103
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone 907-789-1773
Fax 907-789-1896
Village Council -
Hoonah Indian Association
P.O. Box 602
Hoonah, AK 99829-0602
Phone 907-945-3545
Fax 907-945-3703
E-mail jdybdahl@hiatribe.org
Regional
Organizations
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
Native Housing Authority - Hoonah Indian Association
P.O. Box 602
Hoonah, AK 99829-0602
Phone 907-945-3545
Fax 907-945-3703
E-mail jdybdahl@hiatribe.org
Regional Development - Southeast Conference
P.O. Box 21989
Juneau, 99802
Phone 907-523-2327
Fax 907-463-5670
E-mail shellyw@seconference.org
Web http://www.seconference.org
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