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Saxman
For a Map of Saxman click here
| Current Population: |
420
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
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| Incorporation Type: |
2nd Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
Ketchikan Gateway Borough |
| Taxes: |
Sales: 3.5% (City); 2.5% (Borough),
Property: 6.0 mills (Borough), Special: 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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Saxman is located on the west side of Revillagigedo Island, 2 miles south of Ketchikan on the South Tongass Highway. The community
lies at approximately 55.318330° North Latitude
and -131.595830° West Longitude.
(Sec. 33, T075S, R091E, Copper River Meridian.)
Saxman is located in the
Ketchikan Recording District.
The area encompasses 1.0
sq. miles of land and 0.0 sq. miles
of water.
Saxman lies in the maritime climate zone noted for its warm winters, cool summers, and heavy precipitation. Average summer temperatures range from 46 to 59 °F; average winter temperatures range from 29 to 48 °F. The record high temperature is 97 °F; the record low is -4 °F. Precipitation averages 163 inches per year, with 69 inches of snow. |
Topographic
map of
Saxman
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| In 1886, Tlingits from the old villages of Tongass and Cape Fox wanted a new site to construct a central BIA school and Presbyterian church. The village was subsequently named for Samuel Saxman, a Presbyterian teacher who was lost at sea with a Cape Fox elder while searching for the new site. By 1894, the new village site was chosen, ideally located on a protected harbor off the Tongass Narrows. A small sawmill was built, and construction of the school and houses began immediately. Fishing and cutting lumber for the growing towns of Saxman and Ketchikan were the economic mainstays of the new village. By 1900, 142 people were living in Saxman. In 1929, the community incorporated as a city. During the 1930s, many totem poles and ceremonial artifacts, such as carvings and masks, were retrieved by the Civilian Conservation Corps from the abandoned villages at Cape Fox, Tongass, Cat Island, and Pennock Island. Totem poles were restored and relocated to Saxman as part of a U.S. Forest Service program. A rail-barge terminal at the Saxman Seaport was completed in 1967; it serves as the Ketchikan's major cargo container terminal.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Organized Village of Saxman.
The population of the community consists of 70.1%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Most residents are Tlingit and lead a subsistence lifestyle. A totem pole carving center fosters traditional skills and providing tourism opportunities.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 146, and vacant housing units numbered 19.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 1.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 182 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
25.62 percent,
although
47.85 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $44,375, per capita income was $15,642, and
12.14 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Water is derived from a dammed reservoir and is treated and stored in a 128,000-gal. tank. The City of Saxman operates a piped water and sewer system. All homes are plumbed. A few homes use individual septic tanks. Refuse is collected by a private company and disposed of at the Ketchikan landfill.
Electricity is provided by Ketchikan Public Utilities.
There are no state operated schools located in the community.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Ketchikan General Hospital (907-225-5171) in Ketchikan.
Saxman is classified as a highway village, it is found in EMS Region 3A in the Southeast Region. Emergency Services have limited highway, coastal, and helicopter access, and are within 30 minutes of a higher-level satellite health care facility. Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service and volunteers
Auxiliary health care is provided by Ketchikan General Hospital (3 miles away).
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| Economy
and Transportation |
Most employment is in Ketchikan. The city and Saxman Seaport provide some employment, and the Cape Fox Corporation offers tourist- and timber-related employment. The Saxman Totem Park has become a major attraction for Ketchikan area visitors. The park includes a tribal house, a carving center, and a cultural hall for traditional Tlingit dance exhibitions. Deer, salmon, and halibut significantly contribute to residents' diets.
Saxman and Ketchikan are connected by the South Tongass Highway. Scheduled jet and air taxi services are available in Ketchikan. A dock and commercial barge off-loading facilities are available at the Saxman Seaport. The community relies on Ketchikan for its boat moorage and state ferry services. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Saxman
Route 2, Box 1 - Saxman
Ketchikan, AK 99901
Phone 907-225-4166
Fax 907-225-6450
E-mail cityadmin@kpunet.net; cityclerksaxman@kpunet.net
Village Corporation -
Cape Fox Corporation
P.O. Box 8558
Ketchican, AK 99901
Phone 907-225-5163
Fax 907-225-3137
Village Council -
Organized Village of Saxman
Route 2, Box 2 - Saxman
Ketchikan, AK 99901
Phone 907-247-2502
Fax 907-247-2504
E-mail saxmanira@kpunet.net
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
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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