| |
Kenai
(KEY-nigh); includes Kenaitze (key-NIGHT-zee)
For Photos of Kenai click here
| Current Population: |
7,134
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
|
| Incorporation Type: |
Home Rule City |
| Borough Located In: |
Kenai Peninsula Borough |
| Taxes: |
Sales: 3% (City); 3% (Borough),
Property: 9.0 mills (City and Borough), Special: None
|
| National Flood Insurance Program Participant: |
Suspended |
| Coastal Management District: |
Kenai Peninsula Borough |
|
| Location
and Climate |
|
Kenai is located on the western coast of the Kenai Peninsula, fronting Cook Inlet. It lies on the western boundary of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, on the Kenai Spur Highway. It is approximately 65 air miles and 155 highway miles southwest of Anchorage via the Sterling Highway. The community
lies at approximately 60.554440° North Latitude
and -151.258330° West Longitude.
(Sec. 05, T005N, R011W, Seward Meridian.)
Kenai is located in the
Kenai Recording District.
The area encompasses 29.9
sq. miles of land and 5.6 sq. miles
of water.
Winter temperatures range from 4 to 22 °F; summer temperatures vary from 46 to 65 °F. Average annual precipitation is 20 inches. |
Topographic
map of
Kenai
area
 |
| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| Prior to Russian settlement, Kenai was a Dena'ina Athabascan Indian village. Russian fur traders first arrived in 1741. At that time, about 1,000 Dena'ina lived in the village of Shk'ituk't, near the River. The traders called the people "Kenaitze" or "Kenai people." In 1791, a fortified Russian trading post, Fort St. Nicholas, was constructed for fur and fish trading. It was the second permanent Russian settlement in Alaska. In 1849, the Holy Assumption Russian Orthodox Church was established by Egumen Nicholai. In 1869, the U.S. Military established a post for the Dena'ina Indians in the area, called Fort Kenay, which was abandoned in 1870 after Alaska was purchased by the U.S. A post office was established in 1899. Through the 1920s, commercial fishing was the primary activity. In 1940, homesteading enabled the area to develop. The first dirt road from Anchorage was constructed in 1951. In 1957, oil was discovered at Swanson River, 20 miles northeast of Kenai - the first major Alaska oil strike. The city was incorporated in 1960. In 1965, offshore oil discoveries in Cook Inlet fueled a period of rapid growth. Kenai has been a growing center for oil exploration, production, and services since that time.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Kenaitze Indian Tribe.
The population of the community consists of 12.1%
Alaska Native or part Native.
The Kenai River is a major sport fishing location for Anchorage residents and tourists. The river is world renown for trophy king and silver salmon. The Kenaitze (Tanaina Athabascans) live borough-wide and utilize the rich resources of Cook Inlet.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 3,003, and vacant housing units numbered 381.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 58.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 2,869 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
12.44 percent,
although
42.16 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $45,962, per capita income was $20,789, and
9.83 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
|
| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Water is supplied by three deep wells and is piped to 75% of households. A fourth well is planned. Sewage is piped and receives secondary treatment. The remaining 25% of households use individual water wells and septic systems. Natural gas from Enstar is primarily used for home heating purposes. Homer Electric Association operates the Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Project and is part owner of the Alaska Electric Generation & Transmission Cooperative. It also purchases electricity from Chugach Electric. A borough refuse transfer station is located on Redoubt Ave. The borough landfill is located in nearby Soldotna, at mile 110.4 Sterling Hwy.
Electricity is provided by Homer Electric Association.
There are 6 schools located in the community,
attended by 1,830
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Dena'ina Health Clinic (907-283-7851); Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna (262-4404); various private practitioners.
The Kenai Health Center is a qualified Emergency Care Center. Specialized Care: Central Peninsula Counseling Services; Central Peninsula Mental Health Assoc. / Sprucewood Lodge; Forget-Me-Not Care Center; Community Outreach Program. Kenai is classified as a highway town/Sub-Regional Center, it is found in EMS Region 2J in the Kenai Peninsula Region. Emergency Services have highway, coastal, airport, and floatplane access, and are within 30 minutes of a higher-level satellite health care facility. Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service and paid EMS Service
Auxiliary health care is provided by Kenai Fire Dept./EMS (907-283-7666); Central Emergency Services (907-262-4792/4453) and Central Peninsula General Hospital (907-262-4404) in Soldotna and various private practitioners.
|
| Economy
and Transportation |
The city is the center of the oil and gas industry, providing services and supplies for Cook Inlet's oil and natural gas drilling and exploration. Tesoro Alaska's oil refining operations and Unocal's urea plant are located in North Kenai. Both in-state and out-of-state visitors provide a significant industry on the peninsula. Other important economic sectors include sports, subsistence, and commercial fishing, fish processing, timber and lumber, agriculture, transportation services, construction, and retail trade. 224 area residents hold commercial fishing permits. The largest employers are the borough school district, Unocal, Peak Oilfield Services, the borough, and Central Peninsula General Hospital. The Challenger Learning Center of Alaska was completed in Spring 2000. Logging of spruce bark beetle-killed timber also occurs in the area.
Kenai is accessible by the Sterling Highway to Anchorage, Fairbanks, Canada, and the lower 48 states. The city-owned Kenai Municipal Airport provides a 7,575' asphalt runway, a 2,000' gravel strip, a float plane strip, and helicopter service. A flight service station is available. Float plane facilities are also available at Island Lake and Arness Lake. There are five additional privately-owned airstrips in the vicinity. The Kenai City Dock and boat ramp are located near the mouth of the Kenai River. There are also a number of private commercial fish processing docks. Moorage is by buoys anchored in the Kenai River. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
Chamber of Commerce -
Kenai Chamber of Commerce
402 Overland
Kenai, AK 99611
Phone 907-283-7989
Fax 907-283-7183
E-mail info@kenaichamber.org
Web http://www.kenaichamber.org
City -
City of Kenai
210 Fidalgo Avenue
Kenai, AK 99611
Phone 907-283-7535
Fax 907-283-3014 or 283-5068
E-mail cfreas@ci.kenai.ak.us
Web http://www.ci.kenai.ak.us
Economic Development -
Kenai Visitors & Convention Bureau
11471 Kenai Spur Hwy.
Kenai, AK 99611
Phone 907-283-1991
Fax 907-283-2230
E-mail info@visitkenai.com
Web http://www.visitkenai.com/
Media -
Peninsula Clarion
P.O. Box 3009
Kenai, AK 99611
Phone 907-283-7551
Fax 907-283-3299
E-mail clarion@alaska.net
Web http://www.peninsulaclarion.com
Urban Corporation -
Kenai Natives Association, Inc.
215 Fidalgo Ave. #101
Kenai, AK 99611-7776
Phone 907-283-4851
Fax 907-283-4854
Village Council -
Kenaitze Indian Tribe
P.O. Box 988
Kenai, AK 99611-0988
Phone 907-283-3633
Fax 907-283-3052
E-mail kenaitze@alaska.net
Web http://www.kenaitze.org/
Regional
Organizations
Borough - Kenai Peninsula Borough
144 North Binkley Street
Soldotna, AK 99669
Phone 907-262-4441
Fax 907-714-2377
E-mail assemblyclerk@borough.kenai.ak.us
Web http://www.borough.kenai.ak.us
Regional Native Corporation - Cook Inlet Region, Inc.
P.O. Box 93330
Anchorage, AK 99509-3330
Phone 907-274-8638
Fax 907-279-8836
E-mail info@ciri.com
Web http://www.ciri.com/
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
|
 |
|
