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Old Harbor
For Photos of Old Harbor click here
For a Map of Old Harbor click here
| Current Population: |
184
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
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| Incorporation Type: |
2nd Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
Kodiak Island Borough |
| Taxes: |
Sales: 3%,
Property: 11.27 mills (Borough), Special: 5% Bed Tax (City); 5% Bed Tax (Borough); 1.05% Severance Tax (Borough)
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| Coastal Management District: |
Kodiak Island Borough |
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| Location
and Climate |
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Old Harbor is located on the southeast coast of Kodiak Island, 70 miles southwest of the City of Kodiak and 322 miles southwest of Anchorage. The community
lies at approximately 57.202780° North Latitude
and -153.303890° West Longitude.
(Sec. 29, T034S, R025W, Seward Meridian.)
Old Harbor is located in the
Kodiak Recording District.
The area encompasses 21.0
sq. miles of land and 6.2 sq. miles
of water.
The climate of the Kodiak Islands is dominated by a strong marine influence. There is little or no freezing weather, moderate precipitation, and frequent cloud cover and fog. Severe storms are common from December through February. Annual precipitation is 60 inches. Temperatures remain within a narrow range, from 24 to 60 °F. |
Topographic
map of
Old Harbor
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| The area around Old Harbor is thought to have been inhabited for nearly 2,000 years. The area was visited by the Russian Grigori Shelikov and his "Three Saints" flagship in 1784. Three Saints Bay became the first Russian colony in Alaska. In 1788, a tsunami destroyed the settlement. Two more earthquakes struck before 1792. In 1793, the town relocated on the northeast coast to "Saint Paul's," now known as Kodiak. A settlement was reestablished at Three Saints Harbor in 1884. The town was recorded as "Staruigavan," meaning "old harbor" in Russian. The present-day Natives are Alutiiq (Russian-Aleuts). The Old Harbor post office was opened in 1931. In 1964, the Good Friday earthquake and resulting tsunami destroyed the community; only two homes and the church remained standing. The community was rebuilt in the same location. The city government was incorporated in 1966.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Village of Old Harbor; Kodiak Island Inter-Tribal Council.
The population of the community consists of 85.7%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Old Harbor practices its traditional Alutiiq culture and subsistence lifestyle. Fishing provides income to the community. Residents of Kaguyak, a summer fish camp, also live in Old Harbor.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 111, and vacant housing units numbered 32.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 13.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 57 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
22.97 percent,
although
58.09 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $32,500, per capita income was $14,265, and
29.46 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Water is supplied by a dammed creek and an infiltration gallery, is treated and stored in a tank, and then distributed via pipes. A community septic tank treats piped sewage. All residences are connected to the public water and sewer system and have complete plumbing. Refuse collection services are not available, but a landfill is available to the community.
Electricity is provided by AVEC.
There is one school located in the community,
attended by 45
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Old Harbor Health Clinic (286-2205).
Old Harbor is classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 2G in the Kodiak Region. Emergency Services have coastal and air access. Emergency service is provided by volunteers and a health aide
Auxiliary health care is provided by Old Harbor Village Response Team (286-2293/2270).
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| Economy
and Transportation |
Many are commercial fishermen or crew; 25 residents hold commercial fishing permits. Most depend to some extent on subsistence activities for food sources, such as salmon, halibut, crab, deer, seal, rabbit, and bear.
Old Harbor is accessible only by air and water. A state-owned 2,750' long by 60' wide gravel runway and a seaplane base serve air traffic. Regular and charter flights are available from Kodiak. There is a harbor and docking facilities for 55 boats. Seattle-based and local barge services are available. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Old Harbor
P.O. Box 109
Old Harbor, AK 99643
Phone 907-286-2204
Fax 907-286-2278
Village Corporation -
Old Harbor Native Corporation
P.O. Box 71
Old Harbor, AK 99643
Phone 907-286-2286
Fax 907-286-2287
E-mail OHNCorp@starband.net
Village Council -
Village of Old Harbor
P.O. Box 62
Old Harbor, AK 99643
Phone 907-286-2215
Fax 907-286-2277
E-mail ohtribal@hotmail.com
Regional
Organizations
Borough - Kodiak Island Borough
710 Mill Bay Road
Kodiak, AK 99615
Phone 907-486-9310
Fax 907-486-9374
E-mail njavier@kodiakak.us
Web http://www.kodiakak.us/
Regional Native Corporation - Koniag, Incorporated
104 Center Ave., Suite 205
Kodiak, AK 99615
Phone 907-486-2530
Fax 907-486-3325
E-mail wanderson@koniag.com
Web http://www.koniag.com
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