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Ketchikan
(KETCH-ih-kan)
For Photos of Ketchikan click here
| Current Population: |
7,508
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
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| Incorporation Type: |
Home Rule City |
| Borough Located In: |
Ketchikan Gateway Borough |
| Taxes: |
Sales: 3.5% (City); 2.5% (Borough),
Property: 6.1 mills (City); 6.8 mills (Borough), Special: 7% Bed Tax; 4% Bed Tax (Borough)
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| National Flood Insurance Program Participant: |
Yes |
| Coastal Management District: |
Ketchikan Gateway Borough |
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| Location
and Climate |
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Ketchikan is located on the southwestern coast of Revillagigedo Island, opposite Gravina Island, near the southern boundary of Alaska. It is 679 miles north of Seattle and 235 miles south of Juneau. The 2.2 million acre Misty Fiords National Monument lies 22 air miles east of Ketchikan. It is the first Alaska port of call for northbound cruise ships and state ferries. The community
lies at approximately 55.342220° North Latitude
and -131.646110° West Longitude.
(Sec. 30, T075S, R091E, Copper River Meridian.)
Ketchikan is located in the
Ketchikan Recording District.
The area encompasses 3.4
sq. miles of land and 0.8 sq. miles
of water.
The area lies in a maritime climate zone noted for its warm winters, cool summers, and heavy precipitation. Summer temperatures range from 51 to 65 °F; winter temperatures range from 29 to 39 °F. Ketchikan averages 162 inches (13.5 feet) of precipitation annually, including 32 inches of snowfall. |
Topographic
map of
Ketchikan
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| Tongass and Cape Fox Tlingits used Ketchikan Creek as a fish camp, which they called "kitschk-hin," meaning creek of "the thundering wings of an eagle." The abundant fish and timber resources attracted non-Natives to Ketchikan. In 1885, Mike Martin bought 160 acres from Chief Kyan, which later became the township. The first cannery opened in 1886 near the mouth of Ketchikan Creek and four more were built by 1912. The Ketchikan Post Office was established in 1892, and the city was incorporated in 1900. By this time, nearby gold and copper discoveries had briefly brought activity to Ketchikan as a mining supply center. During 1936, seven canneries were in operation, producing 1.5 million cases of salmon. The need for lumber for new construction and packing boxes spawned the Ketchikan Spruce Mills in 1903, which operated for over 70 years. Spruce was in high demand during World War II, and Ketchikan became a supply center for area logging. A $55 million pulp mill was constructed at Ward Cove near Ketchikan in 1954. Its operation fueled the growth of the community. The mill's 50-year contract with the U.S. Forest service for timber was canceled, and the pulp mill closed in March 1997.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Ketchikan Indian Corporation; Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska.
The population of the community consists of 22.7%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Ketchikan is a diverse community. Most Native residents are Tlingit. The largest collection of totem poles in the world is found at Totem Bight State Historical Park, Saxman Native Village, and the Totem Heritage Center Museum.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 3,645, and vacant housing units numbered 448.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 65.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 3,974 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
8.17 percent,
although
34.77 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $45,802, per capita income was $22,484, and
7.59 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Water is derived from a dam on Ketchikan Lake and is chlorinated, stored, and piped to homes within the city's boundaries. The borough operates a water treatment facility at Mountain Point, south of the city. A few homes use rain catchment systems. The city owns a central sewage collection system with primary treatment. A borough sewage treatment plant is located at Mountain Point. 98% of homes are fully plumbed. Ketchikan Public Utilities purchases power from the state-owned Swan Lake Hydro Facility and owns three hydroelectric plants -- Ketchikan, Beaver Falls, and Silvis -- and two diesel-fueled plants. The Deer Mountain landfill has an incinerator, balefill system, recycling and resource re-use, and household hazardous waste collection events. The city also ships baled refuse out-of-state.
Electricity is provided by Ketchikan Public Utilities.
There are 11 schools located in the community,
attended by 2,165
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Ketchikan General Hospital (907-225-5171); Ketchikan Indian Community Tribal Health Clinic (907-228-4900); U.S. Coast Guard Ketchikan Dispensary (907-228-0320).
The hospital is a qualified Acute Care facility and Medevac Service. The USCG facility provides emergency support only and is a qualified Emergency Care Center. Long Term Care: Ketchikan Pioneers' Home; Island View Manor. Specialized Care: Gateway Center for Human Services (City - 225-4145). Ketchikan is classified as small city, 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 911 Telephone Service and volunteers
Auxiliary health care is provided by Ketchikan Fire Dept. (907-225-9616); South Tongass Fire/EMS Division (907-225-1322); Pond Reef Vol. Fire/EMS (907-247-2698).
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| Economy
and Transportation |
Ketchikan has a diverse economy and is an industrial center and a major port of entry in Southeast Alaska. Ketchikan is supported by a large fishing fleet, fish processing, tourism, and timber. 299 area residents hold commercial fishing permits. Several processing and cold storage facilities support the fishing industry. The state operates the Deer Mountain Hatchery, which produces over 450,000 king, coho, steelhead and rainbow trout annually. Cruise ships bring over 800,000 visitors a year, and another 50,000 independent travelers visit Ketchikan each year. The Ketchikan Visitors Bureau office building provides a visitor center and retail space for 20 tourism operators.
Regularly-scheduled jet services offer three northbound and three southbound departures daily. The state-owned Ketchikan International Airport offers a paved, lighted 7,500' long by 150' wide asphalt runway. The airport lies on Gravina Island, a 10-minute ferry ride to the waterfront. Ketchikan is a regional transportation hub, with numerous air taxi services to surrounding communities. There are four float plane landing facilities: Tongass Narrows, Peninsula Point, Ketchikan Harbor, and Murphy's. Ketchikan is the first port of call in Alaska for cruise ships and Alaska Marine Highway vessels. Harbor and docking facilities include a breakwater, a deep draft dock, five small boat harbors, a dry dock and ship repair yard, boat launch, and a state ferry terminal. The shipyard is privately owned and is used for repairs to the Alaska Ferry and offshore fish processors. The Inter-Island Ferry Authority operates a once-daily, year-round ferry service between Ketchikan and Hollis. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
Chamber of Commerce -
Greater Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 5957
Ketchikan, AK 99901
Phone 907-225-3184
Fax 907-225-3187
E-mail info@ketchikanchamber.com
Web http://www.ketchikanchamber.com
City -
City of Ketchikan
334 Front Street
Ketchikan, AK 99901
Phone 907-225-3111
Fax 907-225-5075
E-mail mayor@city.ketchikan.ak.us
Web http://www.city.ketchikan.ak.us
Economic Development -
Ketchikan Visitors Bureau
131 Front Street
Ketchikan, AK 99901
Phone 907-225-6166
Fax 907-225-4250
E-mail kvb@ktn.net
Web http://www.visit-ketchikan.com/
Housing Authority -
Ketchikan Indian Community
2960 Tongass Avenue
Ketchikan, AK 99901
Phone 907-228-5233
Fax 907-228-5286
E-mail jazure@kictribe.org
Web http://www.kictribe.org
Media -
Ketchikan Daily News
P.O. Box 7900
Ketchikan, AK 99901
Phone 907-225-3157
Fax 907-225-1096
E-mail kdn@kpunet.net
Web http://www.ketchikandailynews.com
Other -
Alaska Legal Services Corp. (Ketchikan Office)
306 Main Street, #218
Ketchikan, AK 99901-6483
Phone 907-225-6420
Fax 907-225-6896
E-mail ketchikan@alsc-law.org
Village Council -
Ketchikan Indian Corporation
2960 Tongass Avenue
Ketchikan, AK 99901
Phone 907-228-4941
Fax 907-225-0212
E-mail narriola@kictribe.org
Web http://www.kictribe.org/
Regional
Organizations
Borough - Ketchikan Gateway Borough
1900 First Avenue, Suite 210
Ketchikan, AK 99901
Phone 907-228-6625
Fax 907-228-6697
E-mail boro_clerk@borough.ketchikan.ak.us
Web http://www.borough.ketchikan.ak.us
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 - Ketchikan Indian Corporation
2960 Tongass Avenue
Ketchikan, AK 99901
Phone 907-228-4941
Fax 907-225-0212
E-mail narriola@kictribe.org
Web http://www.kictribe.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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