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Kake
(CAKE)
For Photos of Kake click here
For a Map of Kake click here
| Current Population: |
519
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
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| Incorporation Type: |
1st Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
Unorganized |
| Taxes: |
Sales: 5%,
Property: None, Special: None
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| Coastal Management District: |
Kake |
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| Location
and Climate |
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Kake is located on the northwest coast of Kupreanof Island along Keku Strait, 38 air miles northwest of Petersburg, and 95 air miles southwest of Juneau. The community
lies at approximately 56.975830° North Latitude
and -133.947220° West Longitude.
(Sec. 34, T056S, R072E, Copper River Meridian.)
Kake is located in the
Petersburg Recording District.
The area encompasses 8.2
sq. miles of land and 6.0 sq. miles
of water.
Kake has a maritime climate characterized by cool summers and mild winters. It receives much less precipitation than is typical of Southeast Alaska, averaging 54 inches a year, with 44 inches of snow. Average summer temperatures range from 44 to 62 °F; winter temperatures average 26 to 43 °F. Temperature extremes have been recorded from -14 to 88 °F. |
Topographic
map of
Kake
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| Historically, the Kake tribe of the Tlingits controlled the trade routes around Kuiu and Kupreanof islands, defending their territory against other tribal groups in the region. Ventures into the region by early European explorers and traders resulted in occasional skirmishes between Native Tlingits and foreigners. Tensions between locals and outsiders had been escalating when, in 1869, a non-Native sentry at the settlement in Sitka shot and killed a Kake Native. In accordance with their traditional custom, the Kakes then killed two prospectors in retribution. In reprisal, the U.S. Navy sent the USS Saginaw to punish the Kakes by shelling their villages and destroying their homes, boats, and stored foods. The Kake people survived this onslaught but were forced to disperse and live with other tribes to survive. Over the following 20 years, the Kakes regrouped at the current village site. In 1891, a government school and store were built. A Society of Friends mission also was established. A post office was built in 1904. In the early part of the 20th century, Kake became the first Alaska Native village to organize under federal law, resulting in U.S. citizenship for community residents. In 1912, the first cannery was built near Kake. After the Second World War, timber harvesting and processing became a major local industry. The city was incorporated in 1952.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Organized Village of Kake; Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska.
The population of the community consists of 74.6%
Alaska Native or part Native.
It is a Tlingit village with a fishing, logging, and subsistence lifestyle. Traditional customs are important to the Kakes. The world's largest totem pole was commissioned by Kake and carved by Chilkats in 1967 for Alaska's centennial celebration. The 132-foot totem pole now stands on a bluff overlooking town. Sale of alcohol is restricted to the city-owned package store.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 288, and vacant housing units numbered 42.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 12.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 248 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
24.85 percent,
although
49.49 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $39,643, per capita income was $17,411, and
14.61 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Water is pumped from a dam at Gunnuck Creek and is treated, stored in a tank, and piped throughout Kake. The city also operates a piped sewer system and primary treatment plant. Almost all households are fully plumbed. Kake provides refuse collection, recycling, and hazardous waste disposal. The Inside Passage Electric Cooperative is a non-profit subdivision of the state and operates three diesel-fueled generators in Kake.
Electricity is provided by Inside Passage Electric Cooperative.
There is one school located in the community,
attended by 96
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Kake Health Center (907-785-3333).
The clinic is a qualified Emergency Care Center. Kake is classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 3A in the Southeast Region. Emergency Services have limited highway, marine, airport, floatplane and helicopter access. Emergency service is provided by volunteers and a health aide
Auxiliary health care is provided by Kake EMS (Clinic 785-3333/785-3500).
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| Economy
and Transportation |
The City, School District and Kake Tribal Corp. are the largest employers. The non-profit Gunnuk Creek Hatchery has assisted in sustaining the salmon fishery. Salmon, halibut, shellfish, deer, bear, waterfowl, and berries are important food sources.
Kake can be reached by air and sea. There are scheduled float plane and air taxi flights from Juneau and Sitka. Kake has a state-owned 4,000'-long by 100'-wide lighted paved runway west of town and a seaplane base at the city dock. State ferry and barge services are available. Facilities also include a small boat harbor, boat launch, deep water dock, and state ferry terminal. There are about 120 miles of logging roads in the Kake area, but no connections to other communities on Kupreanof Island. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Kake
P.O. Box 500
Kake, AK 99830
Phone 907-785-3804
Fax 907-785-4815
E-mail city.of.kake@gmail.com
School District -
Kake City School District
P.O. Box 450
Kake, AK 99830
Phone 907-785-3741
Fax 907-785-6439
E-mail egebhart@hotmail.com, rocrosslin@kakeschools.com
Web http://www.kakeschools.com/
Village Corporation -
Kake Tribal Corporation
P.O. Box 263
Kake, AK 99830
Phone 907-785-3221
Fax 907-785-6407
Village Council -
Organized Village of Kake
P.O. Box 316
Kake, AK 99830-0316
Phone 907-785-6471
Fax 907-785-4902
E-mail keexkwaan@kakefirstnation.org
Web http://www.kakefirstnation.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
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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