| |
Thorne Bay
For Photos of Thorne Bay click here
For a Map of Thorne Bay click here
| Current Population: |
440
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
|
| Incorporation Type: |
2nd Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
Unorganized |
| Taxes: |
Sales: 5%,
Property: None, Special: 4% Bed Tax
|
| Coastal Management District: |
Thorne Bay |
|
| Location
and Climate |
|
Thorne Bay is 47 air miles northwest of Ketchikan on the east coast of Prince of Wales Island. On the island road system, it lies 60 miles from Hollis and 36 miles east of the Klawock Junction. The community
lies at approximately 55.687780° North Latitude
and -132.522220° West Longitude.
(Sec. 12, T071S, R084E, Copper River Meridian.)
Thorne Bay is located in the
Ketchikan Recording District.
The area encompasses 25.5
sq. miles of land and 4.8 sq. miles
of water.
Prince of Wales Island is dominated by a cool, moist, maritime climate. Summer temperatures range from 49 to 63 °F and winter temperatures from 32 to 42 °F. Average annual precipitation is 120 inches, including 40 inches of snow. |
Topographic
map of
Thorne Bay
area
 |
| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| The bay was named after Frank Manley Thorn, superintendent of the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey from 1885 through 1889. The name was misspelled when published. The first major settlement was built around the logging operation of Wes Davidson. Thorne Bay developed as a result of a long-term timber sales contract between the U.S. Forest Service and the Ketchikan Pulp Company. In 1960, a floating logging camp was built in Thorne Bay. In 1962, Ketchikan Pulp moved its main logging camp from Hollis to Thorne Bay. A shop, barge terminal, log sort yard, and camp were built to replace facilities at Hollis. Roads were then constructed to connect Thorne Bay with Hollis, Craig, and Klawock. During this time, it was considered the largest logging camp in North America. Thorne Bay evolved from a company-owned logging camp to an incorporated city in 1982, partly due to the land selection program provided for in the Alaska Statehood Act.
The population of the community consists of 4.8%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Evolving from a work camp, Thorne Bay has become a year-round home to approximately 450 residents
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 327, and vacant housing units numbered 108.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 43.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 269 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
14.6 percent,
although
41.14 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $45,625, per capita income was $20,836, and
7.81 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
|
| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Water Lake, north of Thorne Bay, supplies water, which is treated and stored in a tank before piped distribution. The gravity sewage system includes secondary treatment before discharge into the bay. On the north side of town, 100% of households are connected to the piped systems and are fully plumbed; on the south side, residents use rain catchment, streams, or springs and direct discharge or septic systems. The city provides refuse collection services, a regional baler, a recycling facility, and a landfill; it also participates in annual hazardous waste disposal events. The city also provides emergency medical services (boat and ambulance), fire protection, and an emergency medevac helipad.
Electricity is provided by Alaska Power Company.
There is one school located in the community,
attended by 78
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Thorne Bay Health Center (907-828-8848).
Thorne Bay 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, coastal, floatplane and helicopter access. Emergency service is provided by volunteers
Auxiliary health care is provided by Thorne Bay Volunteer Rescue Squad/EMS (907-828-3380); Prince of Wales Island Area EMS (907-826-2367/3330).
|
| Economy
and Transportation |
Employment is primarily in small sawmills, U.S. Forest Service management of the Tongass National Forest, the Southeast Island School District, commercial fishing, tourism and lodging, and both local and state government employment. To supplement incomes, residents fish and trap. Deer, salmon, halibut, shrimp, and crab are popular food sources. Eight residents hold commercial fishing permits. Additional economic activities include automobile and heavy equipment maintenance and repair, vehicle and boat fuel sales, transportation, and limited retail.
Thorne Bay is accessed by float plane, the airport at Klawock, and the Inter-Island Ferry at Hollis. The Thorne Bay Harbor provides slips for over 100 vessels, with water and electricity available at each slip, as well as a public restroom, shower facility, fish cleaning station, grid for vessel repairs, a concrete boat launch, and state-owned six slip seaplane base. Freight arrives by cargo plane, barge, ship, and truck. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
City -
City of Thorne Bay
P.O. Box 19110
Thorne Bay, AK 99919
Phone 907-828-3380
Fax 907-828-3374
E-mail cityclerk@thornebay-ak.gov; mayor@thornebay-ak.gov; administrator@thornebay-ak.gov
Web http://www.thornebay-ak.gov
Economic Development -
Thorne Bay Business Association
P.O. Box 19492
Thorne Bay, AK 99919
E-mail tbba@thornebayalaska.net
Web http://www.thornebayalaska.net
Media -
Island News
P.O. Box 19430
Thorne Bay, AK 99919
Phone 907-828-3377
Fax 907-828-3351
E-mail islnews@aptalaska.net
Web http://www.smalltownpapers.com
School District -
Southeast Island School District
P.O. Box 19569
Thorne Bay, AK 99919-8340
Phone 907-828-8254
Fax 907-828-8257
E-mail lburch@sisd.org
Web http://www.sisd.org
Regional
Organizations
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
|
 |
|
