Klawock, Alaska
Encyclopedia : K : KL : KLA : Klawock, Alaska
Klawock is a city in Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska, on the west coast of Prince of Wales Island, on Klawock Inlet, across from Klawock Island. As of the 2000 census the population was 854.
It is 90 km (56 mi) from Ketchikan, 11 km (7 mi) from Craig, and 39 km (24 mi) from Hollis.
Klawock has an airport (1500 m/5000 ft long, paved) and a float plane dock, with several flights each day. The nearest ferry station is Hollis Ferry Terminal, 24 miles away.
History
Klawock's first settlers were Tlingit who came from the northern winter village of Tuxekan. They used it as a fishing camp for the summer period, and called it by several different names: Klawerak, Tlevak, Clevak, and Klawak.In 1868, a trading post and a salmon saltery were opened; some years later, in 1878, a San Francisco firm opened the first cannery in Alaska. In the following decades, several others were established. A post office was established in 1882. The 1890 census recorded the town's population as 260.
The Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) and Alaska Native Sisterhood (ANS), nonprofit organizations, were established by residents in 1912. Its founders and many volunteers built the Town Hall and a community center, in 1939.
In 1929 the town incorporated as a city, and in 1934 Congress awarded federal funding for the expansion of the cannery, on the condition that the community remain liquor-free. At the same time, the Klawock Cooperative Association (a nonprofit organization) was formed to manage the cannery.
Geography
Klawock is located at (55.554961, -133.085139)[Geographic references#1GR1].According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.3 km² (0.9 mi²). 1.5 km² (0.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.8 km² (0.3 mi²) of it (34.83%) is water.
Average temperature in January is 3°C (37ºF), and 14°C (58ºF) in July; yearly precipitation is 305 cm (120 in).
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 854 people, 313 households, and 215 families residing in the city. The population density was 568.5/km² (1,465.4/mi²). There were 368 housing units at an average density of 245.0/km² (631.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 40.98% White, 50.94% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races, and 7.38% from two or more races. 1.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.There were 313 households out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 124.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 134.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,000, and the median income for a family was $38,839. Males had a median income of $38,977 versus $23,036 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,621. About 13.6% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Klawock hosts the second oldest hatchery in Alaska. This industry enhances the salmon runs including sockeye, coho, and steelhead. A sawmill and area logging operations are also present.Klawock has its own harbor, often used as a departure point for trips or boating exploration of the bays, inlets and surrounding islands.
Each February, the ANB/ANS organizations sponsor the "Elizabeth Peratrovich Celebration" with ceremonies and a potluck. The City also sponsors a summer festival, the "Celebration by the Sea."
Law and government
There is a mayor and a council, but the city is not located in any borough. The local government manages the water, wastewater, refuse collection, trailer court, landfill, boat harbor, liquor store, and boat ramp utilities. There is a sales tax of 5.5%, which 0.5% is devoted to education, and no property tax.There are two full time police officers and an office for State Troopers. There is also a Volunteer Fire Department with 27 members, an EMS squad of 6-8 trained volunteers, and a Search and Rescue office (serving all of Prince of Wales Island) with 57 members.
Education
There is a school with grades K-6 and one with grades 7-12. On average, 200 students are enrolled yearly. The Head Start school (3-4 year olds) is run by the Tlingit and Haida Central Council.Sites of interest
There is a Totem Park with the largest collection (21) of totem poles in Alaska: it displays original and replica totems from the old village of Tuxekan. The City built also a carving shed to house the poles during restoration, which can be visited. The City has built also a Long House (named Gaanì Ax Adi) with a new Totem Pole, in 1998.Sports
There is a gymnasium and baseball field, as well as a City Park, with some nice trails.External links
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| State of Alaska |
|
|---|---|---|
| Capital | Juneau | |
| Regions | Aleutian Islands | Bush Alaska | Interior | Kenai Peninsula | Mat-Su Valley | North Slope | Southcentral | Southeast | Southwest | Tanana Valley | Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta | |
| Largest cities | Anchorage | Barrow | Bethel | Fairbanks | Homer | Juneau | Kenai | Ketchikan | Kodiak | Kotzebue | Nome | Palmer | Petersburg | Seward | Sitka | Unalaska | Valdez | Wasilla | |
| Boroughs | Aleutians East | Anchorage | Bristol Bay | Denali | Fairbanks North Star | Haines | Juneau | Kenai Peninsula | Ketchikan Gateway | Kodiak Island | Lake and Peninsula | Matanuska-Susitna | North Slope | Northwest Arctic | Sitka | Yakutat | |
| Census areas | Aleutians West | Bethel | Dillingham | Nome | Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan | Skagway-Hoonah-Angoon | Southeast Fairbanks | Valdez-Cordova | Wade Hampton | Wrangell-Petersburg | Yukon-Koyukuk | see also Unorganized Borough | |
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