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Kasaan
(kuh-SANN)
For Photos of Kasaan click here
For a Map of Kasaan click here
| Current Population: |
54
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
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| Incorporation Type: |
2nd Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
Unorganized |
| Taxes: |
Sales: None,
Property: None, Special: None
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| Location
and Climate |
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Kasaan is situated on the east side of Prince of Wales Island on Kasaan Bay, 30 miles northwest of Ketchikan. The community
lies at approximately 55.540060° North Latitude
and -132.402200° West Longitude.
(Sec. 18, T073S, R086E, Copper River Meridian.)
Kasaan is located in the
Ketchikan Recording District.
The area encompasses 5.3
sq. miles of land and 0.9 sq. miles
of water.
Prince of Wales Island is dominated by a cool, moist, maritime climate. Average summer temperatures range from 49 to 63 °F; winter temperatures average from 32 to 42 °F. Average annual precipitation is 120 inches, with 40 inches of snow. |
Topographic
map of
Kasaan
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| Originally Tlingit territory, Kasaan gets its name from the Tlingit word meaning "pretty town." Haidas migrated north to the island from the Queen Charlotte Islands in the early 1700s and established the village now known as "Old Kasaan" 7 miles south on Skowl Arm. Between 1892 and 1900, the Copper Queen mine, camp, sawmill, post office, and general store were built by a group of businessmen on Kasaan Bay, and the Haida people relocated to this new village. The copper mine went bankrupt after four years, but in 1902 the first salmon cannery was constructed. The cannery burned in 1907, 1910, and again in 1911 but was rebuilt each time. The cannery operated sporadically until 1953. During this time, Kasaan had a school, three stores, a Presbyterian church, and other businesses. Chief Sonihat built the Whale House during the 1930s, a traditional long house which became the focus of the new Kasaan Totem Park. Many of the totems left from the old village site were moved to the park in 1938. Kavilco, Inc., the local village corporation, purchased the old cannery buildings and property in 1974. The city was incorporated in 1976. Remnants of the historical Karta River village and petroglyphs lie north of the city, and the Old Tom Creek village and fort lie south of the city.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Organized Village of Kasaan.
The population of the community consists of 48.7%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Kasaan was traditionally a Haida village, but the population has become mixed with Haidas, Tlingits, Eskimos, and non-Natives. Subsistence activities are a major contributor to villagers' diets.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 39, and vacant housing units numbered 22.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 7.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 16 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
20 percent,
although
52.94 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $43,500, per capita income was $19,744, and
0 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Water is derived from a water infiltration gallery at Linkum Creek and is treated and piped to all homes in the core area. Homes use individual septic tanks, and 95% are fully plumbed. The city collects refuse weekly; the Thorne Bay landfill is used. Electricity is provided by Alaska Power and Telephone Company.
Electricity is provided by Alaska Power Company.
There is one school located in the community,
attended by 10
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Kasaan Clinic (542-2233).
Kasaan is classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 3A in the Southeast Region. Emergency Services have coastal, floatplane and helicopter access. Emergency service is provided by volunteers and a health aide
Auxiliary health care is provided by Kasaan EMS (542-2212 or 542-2211).
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| Economy
and Transportation |
The Kavilco Corporation has sold the village's timber rights. Two residents hold commercial fishing permits. Most villagers participate in subsistence or recreational activities for food sources, harvesting deer, salmon, halibut, shrimp, and crab.
Kasaan can be accessed by automobile, float plane, and boat. A state-owned seaplane base accomodates charter flights and air freight services from Ketchikan. There is a dock at the old cannery site and a small boat harbor. Freight is brought in by cargo plane or barge. The community has requested funds to develop a breakwater, deep sea port, and industrial park at Tolstoi Bay. A new 5.5-mile road to Thorne Bay is under construction. The community is also interested in constructing an emergency medevac heliport. Kasaan is connected via a gravel road to the Prince of Wales Island road system. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Kasaan
P.O. Box KXA
Kasaan, AK 99950
Phone 907-542-2212
Fax 907-542-2223
E-mail cityofkasaan@aptalaska.net; cityofkasaan1@aptalaska.net
Village Corporation -
Kavilco, Incorporated
P.O. Box KXA Kasaan
Ketchikan, AK 99950
Phone 907-542-2214
Village Council -
Organized Village of Kasaan
P.O. Box 26 - Kasaan
Kasaan, AK 99950-0340
Phone 907-542-2230
Fax 907-542-3006
E-mail kasaanira@hotmail.com
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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