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Tok
(TOKE)
For Photos of Tok click here
For a Map of Tok click here
| Current Population: |
1,382
(2008 Estimated Population (not Certified))
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| Incorporation Type: |
Unincorporated |
| Borough Located In: |
Unorganized |
| Taxes: |
No taxing authority
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| Location
and Climate |
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Tok is located at the junction of the Alaska Highway and the Tok Cutoff to the Glenn Highway, at 1,635' elevation, 200 miles southeast of Fairbanks. It is called the "Gateway to Alaska," as it is the first major community upon entering Alaska, 93 miles from the Canadian border. The community
lies at approximately 63.336670° North Latitude
and -142.985560° West Longitude.
(Sec. 18, T018N, R013E, Copper River Meridian.)
Tok is located in the
Fairbanks Recording District.
Tok is in the continental climate zone, with cold winters and warm summers. In the winter, ice fog and smoke conditions are common. The average low temperature during January is -32; the average high during July is 72. Extreme temperatures have been measured from -71 to 99. Annual precipitation is 11 inches, including 33 inches of snow. |
Topographic
map of
Tok
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| There are several versions of how Tok obtained its name. The nearby "Tokai River" was first reported in 1887 by Lt. Allen. "Tok River" was recorded in 1901 by the USGS. Tok began in 1942 as an Alaska Road Commission camp. So much money was spent in the camp's construction and maintenance that it earned the name "Million Dollar Camp" by those working on the highway. In 1944 a branch of the Northern Commercial Company was opened, and in 1946 Tok was established as a Presidential Townsite. With the completion of the Alcan Highway in 1946, a post office and a roadhouse were built. In 1947 the first school was opened, and in 1958 a larger school was built to accommodate the many newcomers. The U.S. Customs Office was located in Tok between 1947 and 1971, when it was moved to Alcan, at the border. Between 1954 and 1979, a U.S. Army fuel pipeline operated from Haines to Fairbanks, with a pump station in Tok. The pump station's facilities were purchased as area headquarters for the Bureau of Land Management. The U.S. Coast Guard constructed a LORAN (Long Range Aid to Navigation) station in 1976. Four 700' towers, located 6 miles east of Tok junction, transmit radio navigation signals for air and marine traffic in the Gulf of Alaska. In July of 1990, Tok faced extinction when a lightning-caused forest fire jumped two rivers and the Alaska Highway, putting both residents and buildings in peril. The town was evacuated and even the efforts of over a thousand firefighters could not stop the fire. At the last minute a "miracle wind" (so labeled by Tok's residents) came up, diverting the fire just short of the first building. The fire continued to burn the remainder of the summer, eventually burning more than 100,000 acres. Evidence of the burn can be seen on both sides of the highway just east of Tok.
The population of the community consists of 19%
Alaska Native or part Native.
The area was traditionally Athabascan, although the current population is primarily non-Native. Tok has become known as the "Sled Dog Capital of Alaska." Although residents have chosen not to incorporate as a municipality, there are numerous local volunteer committees for various community functions and various membership organizations.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 748, and vacant housing units numbered 214.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 66.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 518 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
17.99 percent,
although
47.94 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $37,941, per capita income was $18,521, and
10.5 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| There is no central water and sewer in Tok, because businesses and residences are spread out over a wide area. Most homes use individual wells at 50- to 125-foot depths and individual septic tanks. The schools operate individual systems. Most homes are heated with fuel oil or wood-burning stoves, and many residents use propane for cooking, water heating and clothes drying. A private firm, J.D. Refuse Service, provides household refuse collection and disposal at the landfill, located at mile 120.5 Tok Cutoff. Alaska Power & Telephone Co., based in Port Townsend, WA, owns and operates a diesel power system in Tok which provides electricity to area communities.
Electricity is provided by Alaska Power Company.
There are 2 schools located in the community,
attended by 316
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Tok Community Clinic (907-883-5855); Tok Public Health Center (907-883-4101).
The clinic is a qualified Emergency Care Center. Specialized Care: Tok Area Mental Health Center; Upper Tanana Alcohol Program. Tok is classified as an isolated town/Sub-Regional Center, it is found in EMS Region 1C in the Interior Region. Emergency Services have highway and air access. Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service, volunteers, a health aide and military
Auxiliary health care is provided by Tok Area EMS (907-883-5873/883-5111); 40 Mile Air Medevac (907-883-5191).
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| Economy
and Transportation |
Tok is the transportation, business, service and government center for the Upper Tanana region. Employment and business revenues peak in the summer months, with the rush of RV travelers on the Alaska Highway. Four residents hold commercial fishing permits. Subsistence and recreational activities are prevalent. Moose, bear, rabbit, grouse, and ptarmigan are taken. Dahl sheep and caribou are hunted outside of the region, but only through lottery permits. Salmon are obtained from the Copper River to the south. Berry-picking and gardening are also popular activities.
Tok is located at the junction of two highways, and is the first community with services for visitors entering (and last community for visitors departing) Alaska by highway. Bus services are available to Anchorage and Fairbanks, and freight is delivered by truck. There are two State-owned runways. One is a gravel strip operated by DNR and is 1,690' long by 45' wide. The other is available at Tok Junction, is operated by DOT, and is 2,509' long by 50' wide, asphalt. There are two additional private airstrips in the vicinity. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
Chamber of Commerce -
Tok Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 389
Tok, AK 99780
Phone 907-883-5775 or 883-5887
E-mail info@tokalaskainfo.com
Web http://www.tokalaskainfo.com/
Community Non-Profit -
Tok Native Association
P.O. Box 372
Tok, AK 99780
Phone 907-883-3718
Fax 907-883-3719
E-mail mariet@aptalaska.net
Community Non-Profit -
Tok Community Umbrella Corp.
P.O. Box 547
Tok, AK 99780-0547
Phone 907-883-5320
Fax 907-883-4481
E-mail kmorgan@aptalaska.net
Web http://fairbanks-alaska.com/tok-junction-alaska.htm
Community Non-Profit -
United Crow Band, Inc.
P.O. Box 2279
Dot Lake, AK 99737-2279
Phone 907-883-5137
Fax 907-883-4223
Media -
Mukluk News
P.O. Box 90
Tok, AK 99780
Phone 907-883-2571
E-mail mukluk@aptalaska.net
Regional Native Non-Profit -
Tanana Chiefs Conference
P.O. Box 129
Tok, AK 99780
Phone 907-883-5181
Fax 907-883-1114
E-mail rose.isaac@tananachiefs.org
School District -
Alaska Gateway School District
P.O. Box 226
Tok, AK 99780
Phone 907- 883-5151
Fax 907- 883-5154
E-mail tpoage@agsd.us
Web http://www.tok.schoolaccess.net/
Regional
Organizations
Regional Native Health Corporation - Tanana Chiefs Conference
P.O. Box 129
Tok, AK 99780
Phone 907-883-5181
Fax 907-883-1114
E-mail rose.isaac@tananachiefs.org
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