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Petersburg
For Photos of Petersburg click here
For a Map of Petersburg click here
| Current Population: |
3,009
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
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| Incorporation Type: |
Home Rule City |
| Borough Located In: |
Unorganized |
| Taxes: |
Sales: 6%,
Property: 10.115 mills, Special: 4% Bed Tax
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| National Flood Insurance Program Participant: |
Yes |
| Coastal Management District: |
Petersburg |
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| Location
and Climate |
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Petersburg is located on the northwest end of Mitkof Island, where the Wrangell Narrows meet Frederick Sound. It lies midway between Juneau and Ketchikan, about 120 miles from either community. The community
lies at approximately 56.812500° North Latitude
and -132.955560° West Longitude.
(Sec. 27, T058S, R079E, Copper River Meridian.)
Petersburg is located in the
Petersburg Recording District.
The area encompasses 43.9
sq. miles of land and 2.2 sq. miles
of water.
Petersburg's climate is characterized by mild winters, cool summers, and year-round rainfall. Average summer temperatures range from 40 to 56 °F; winters average from 27 to 43 °F. Annual precipitation averages 106.3 inches, with 97 inches of snow. |
Topographic
map of
Petersburg
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| Tlingit Indians from Kake utilized the north end of Mitkof Island as a summer fish camp. Some reportedly began living year-round at the site, including John Lot. Petersburg was named after Peter Buschmann, a Norwegian immigrant and a pioneer in the cannery business, who arrived in the late 1890s. He built the Icy Strait Packing Company cannery, a sawmill, and a dock by 1900. His family's homesteads grew into this community, populated largely by people of Scandinavian origin. In 1910, a city was formed, and, by 1920, 600 people lived in Petersburg year-round. During this time, fresh salmon and halibut were packed in glacier ice for shipment. Alaska's first shrimp processor, Alaska Glacier Seafoods, was founded there in 1916. A cold storage plant was built in 1926. The cannery has operated continuously and is now known as Petersburg Fisheries, a subsidiary of Icicle Seafoods, Inc. Across the narrows is the town of Kupreanof, which was once busy with fur farms, a boat repair yard, and a sawmill. Petersburg has developed into one of Alaska's major fishing communities.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Petersburg Indian Association.
The population of the community consists of 12%
Alaska Native or part Native.
The community maintains a mixture of Tlingit and Scandinavian history. It is known as "Little Norway" for its history and annual Little Norway Festival during May.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 1,367, and vacant housing units numbered 127.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 25.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 1,528 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
10.28 percent,
although
36.44 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $49,028, per capita income was $25,827, and
4.97 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Water is supplied by Cabin Creek Dam, a 200-million gallon water reservoir and is then treated, stored in a 2 million gal. tank, and distributed via pipes to 90% of households. Outlying homes use individual wells or water delivery. All homes are connected to the municipal sewer or have approved on-site treatment. All sewage from the municipal collection system is pumped via a series of 20 pump stations to the city's treatment plant. The wastewater plant oprates as a primary plant under a treatment waiver issued by the Environmental Protection Agency. The City ships baled refuse to Washington State. Petersburg Municipal Power & Light purchases electricity from the Tyee Lake Hydro Facility and also owns the Crystal Lake Hydro Facility and three diesel-fueled generators.
Electricity is provided by Petersburg Municipal Power & Light.
There are 3 schools located in the community,
attended by 520
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Petersburg Medical Center (907-772-4291); Petersburg Public Health Center (907-772-4611).
The hospital is a qualified Acute Care and Long Term Care facility. Specialized Care: Petersburg Council on Alcoholism. Petersburg is classified as a large town/Regional Center, it is found in EMS Region 3A in the Southeast Region. Emergency Services have limited highway, marine, airport and floatplane access. Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service and volunteers
Auxiliary health care is provided by Petersburg Volunteer Fire Dept./EMS (907-772-3355/772-3830).
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| Economy
and Transportation |
Since its beginning, Petersburg's economy has been based on commercial fishing and timber harvests. Petersburg is currently one of the top-ranking ports in the U.S. for the quality and value of fish landed. 473 residents hold commercial fishing permits. Several processors operate cold storage, canneries, and custom packing services. The state runs the Crystal Lake Hatchery, which contributes to the local salmon resource. Residents include salmon, halibut, shrimp, and crab in their diet. Petersburg is the supply and service center for many area logging camps. Independent sportsmen and tourists utilize the local charter boats and lodges, but there is no deep water dock suitable for cruise ships.
Petersburg is accessed by air and water. It is on the mainline state ferry route. The state-owned James A. Johnson Airport and Lloyd R. Roundtree Seaplane Base (on the Wrangell Narrows) allow for scheduled jet and float plane services. Harbor facilities include a petroleum wharf, barge terminals, three boat harbors with moorage for 700 boats, a boat launch, and a boat haul-out. Freight arrives by barge, ferry, or cargo plane. There is no deep-water dock for large ships (such as cruise ships); passengers are lightered to shore. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
Chamber of Commerce -
Petersburg Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Information
P.O. Box 649
Petersburg, AK 99833
Phone 907-772 3646
Fax 907-772-2453
E-mail chamber@petersburg.org
Web http://www.petersburg.org
City -
City of Petersburg
P.O. Box 329
Petersburg, AK 99833
Phone 907-772-4519
Fax 907-772-3759
E-mail clerk@ci.petersburg.ak.us
Web http://www.ci.petersburg.ak.us
Electric Utility -
Petersburg Municipal Power & Light
P.O. Box 329
Petersburg, AK 99833
Phone 907-772-4203
Fax 907-772-9287
E-mail pmpl@ci.petersburg.ak.us
Web http://www.ci.petersburg.ak.us
Media -
KFSK Community Radio
P.O. Box 149
Petersburg, AK 99833
Phone 907-772-3808
Fax 907-772-9296
E-mail tom@kfsk.org
Web https://www.coastalaska.org/kfsk/index.php
Media -
Petersburg Pilot
P.O. Box 930
Petersburg, AK 99833
Phone 907-772-9393
Fax 907-772-4871
E-mail pgspub@mitkof.net
Web http://www.petersburgpilot.com
School District -
Petersburg City School District
P.O. Box 289
Petersburg, AK 99833-0289
Phone 907-772-4271
Fax 907-772-4719
E-mail gjacobsen@psgsd.k12.ak.us
Web http://www.psgsd.k12.ak.us
Village Council -
Petersburg Indian Association
P.O. Box 1418
Petersburg, AK 99833
Phone 907-772-3636
Fax 907-772-3637
E-mail piageneral@gci.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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