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Klawock
(kla-WOCK); alt. Klawak
For a Map of Klawock click here
| Current Population: |
785
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
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| Incorporation Type: |
1st Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
Unorganized |
| Taxes: |
Sales: None,
Property: None, Special: None
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| Coastal Management District: |
Klawock |
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| Location
and Climate |
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Klawock is located on the west coast of Prince of Wales Island, on Klawock Inlet, across from Klawock Island. It is 7 miles road north of Craig, 24 road miles from Hollis, and 56 air miles west of Ketchikan. The community
lies at approximately 55.552220° North Latitude
and -133.095830° West Longitude.
(Sec. 09, T073S, R081E, Copper River Meridian.)
Klawock is located in the
Ketchikan Recording District.
The area encompasses 0.6
sq. miles of land and 0.3 sq. miles
of water.
Prince of Wales Island is dominated by a cool, moist, maritime climate. Summer temperatures range from 49 to 63 °F; winter temperatures range from 32 to 42 °F. Average annual precipitation is 120 inches, with 40 inches of snow. |
Topographic
map of
Klawock
area
 |
| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| Early inhabitants were from Tuxekan, a Tlingit winter village to the north. Klawock was used as a summer fishing camp and has been known as Klawerak, Tlevak, Clevak, and Klawak. The history of Klawock is closely tied to the fishing industry. A trading post and salmon saltery were established in 1868, and the first cannery in Alaska was built here by a San Francisco firm in 1878. The subsequent canneries that sprouted in the area were operated under contract with Chinese laborers. A hatchery for red salmon operated at Klawock Lake between 1897 and 1917. In 1929, Klawock incorporated as a city, and a school was constructed. In 1934, Klawock received federal funds under the Wheeler Howard Act to develop a local cannery, on the condition that residents vote to be liquor-free. In 1971 the Alaska Timber Corp. built a sawmill. Soon after, the Klawock-Heenya Village Corp., the Shaan Seet Corp. of Craig, and Sealaska Timber Corp. expanded area facilities with a log-sort yard outside of Klawock and a deep-water dock on Klawock Island. The state constructed a salmon hatchery on Klawock Lake in 1978, very near the former hatchery site.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Klawock Cooperative Association.
The population of the community consists of 58.1%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Klawock is a mixed Tlingit and non-Native city. The island has been greatly influenced by logging operations. Most residents pursue a subsistence lifestyle to provide food sources. The community takes great pride in its Totem Park, which displays 21 restored totem poles and replicas from the old village. The Totem Park includes a heritage center and long house. Sale of alcohol is restricted to the city-owned package store.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 368, and vacant housing units numbered 55.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 6.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 372 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
15.65 percent,
although
39.61 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $35,000, per capita income was $14,621, and
14.25 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Over 90% of homes are fully plumbed. Water is derived from a dam on Half Mile Creek and then treated, stored in a tank, and piped throughout Klawock. Most homes have a piped sewage collection, which receives secondary treatment. The city provides refuse collection, which is hauled to a permitted landfill shared with Craig and other island residents. The Tlingit-Haida Regional Electric Authority purchases electricity from Alaska Power & Telephone over the Craig/Klawock intertie. THREA also owns four standby diesel generators in Klawock.
Electricity is provided by Alaska Power Company.
There is one school located in the community,
attended by 125
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Alicia Roberts Medical Center (907-755-4800).
The clinic is a qualified Emergency Care Center. Klawock 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, and air access, and are within 30 minutes of a higher-level satellite health care facility. Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service, volunteers and a health aide
Auxiliary health care is provided by Klawock Volunteer Fire/EMS (907-755-2261); Prince of Wales Island Area EMS (907-826-2367/3330).
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| Economy
and Transportation |
The economy has been dependent on fishing and cannery operations in the past; however, the timber industry has become increasingly important. Sealaska's logging operations are through a contract with Shaan-Seet, Inc., which provides employment in logging and ship-loading in the Klawock and Craig area. 40 residents hold commercial fishing permits. The state operates a fish hatchery on Klawock Lake that contributes to the local salmon population. Cannery operations were closed in the late 1980s. City and school district employment are also significant. Subsistence foods include deer, salmon, halibut, shrimp, and crab.
Klawock is dependent on air transportation from Ketchikan, although it is connected to other communities through the island road system. The only airstrip on Prince of Wales Island is located here, with a 5,000' long by 100' wide paved runway. A seaplane base is operated by the state on the Klawock River. Ferry transportation is available to Hollis, 23 miles away. Klawock has a small boat harbor and boat launch ramp. A deep draft dock is located at Klawock Island, which is primarily used for loading timber. Freight arrives by cargo plane, barge, and truck. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
Chamber of Commerce -
Prince of Wales Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 490
Craig, AK 99921
Phone 907-755-2626
Fax 907-755-2627
E-mail info@princeofwalescoc.org
Web http://www.princeofwalescoc.org
City -
City of Klawock
P.O. Box 469
Klawock, AK 99925
Phone 907-755-2261
Fax 907-755-2403
E-mail sybilg@cityofklawock.com
Web http://www.cityofklawock.com/
Community Non-Profit -
Big Salt Community Association
Klawock, AK
School District -
Klawock City School District
P.O. Box 9
Klawock, AK 99925-0009
Phone 907-755-2917
Fax 907-755-2320
E-mail richard.carlson@klawockschool.com
Web http://www.klawockschool.com
Village Corporation -
Klawock Heenya Corporation
P.O. Box 129
Klawock, AK 99925
Phone 907-755-2270
Fax 907-755-2966
E-mail marge@klawockheenya.com
Web http://www.klawockheenya.com
Village Council -
Klawock Cooperative Association
P.O. Box 430
Klawock, AK 99925-0430
Phone 907-755-2265
Fax 907-755-8800
E-mail kcamngr@aptalaska.net
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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