KETCHIKAN COMMUNITY PROFILE
More Recent and accurate information about Ketchikan is available from the following web sites.
Ketchikan Visitor’s Bureau. http://www.visit-ketchikan.ak.us/
Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce. http://www.ketchikanchamber.com/
City of Ketchikan. http://www.city.ketchikan.ak.us/
Ketchikan Gateway Borough. http://www.borough.ketchikan.ak.us/
St John’s, Ketchikan, Alaksa. http://st.johns-ketchikanak.tripod.com/
Diocese of Alaska. http://home.gci.net/~episcopalak/index.htm
Tongass National Forest. http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/
Stories in the News http://www.sitnews.us/
LOCATION
Ketchikan is located on the southwestern coast of Revillagigedo Island, the fifth largest of the islands that form Alaska's Alexander Archipelago. Through this archipelago courses the "Inside Passage of Alaska," not only a shipping route but also a protected scenic waterway of the lush Tongass National Forest. Across from Ketchikan, separated by the Tongass Narrows, lie two islands, Pennock and Gravina. Ketchikan's International Airport is located on Gravina, and is accessible by airport ferry or small privately owned boats. Ketchikan is a waterfront town surrounded by temperate rain forested mountains. It is 679 miles north of Seattle and 235 miles south of Juneau, Alaska's Capital city. By air Ketchikan is 1 hour, 45 minutes from Seattle, WA; 50 minutes from Juneau; and 2 hours, 10 minutes from Anchorage. The 2.2 million-acre Misty Fiords National Monument lies 22 air miles east of Ketchikan. Ketchikan is Alaska's southernmost city and the first northbound port of call, hence "the Gateway to Alaska."
HISTORY
Tongass and Cape Fox Tlingit Native Tribes used Ketchikan Creek as a fish camp, which they called "kitschk-him", meaning "creek of the thundering wings of an eagle". The abundant fish and timber resources attracted non-Natives to Ketchikan. In 1885 Mike Martin bought from Chief Kyan 160 acres, which later became the township. The first cannery opened in 1886 near the mouth of Ketchikan Creek, and by 1912 four more had been built. The Ketchikan Post Office was established in 1892, and the City was incorporated in 1900. By this time, due to nearby gold and copper discoveries, Ketchikan became identified briefly as a mining supply center. By 1936 seven local canneries operated, producing 1.5 million cases of salmon. The need for lumber for new construction and packing boxes spawned the Ketchikan Spruce Mills in 1903, which operated for over 70 years. Spruce was in high demand during World War II, and Ketchikan became a supply center for area logging. A $55 million pulp mill was constructed at Ward’s Cove near Ketchikan in 1954, it was largely this mill that fueled the dynamic growth of the community for the next 20-30 years. The mill's 50-year contract with the U. S. Forest Service for timber was canceled, however, and it ceased operations in March of 1997.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
The City of Ketchikan has a council-manager form of government. It operates the Public Utilities (water, sewer, garbage, electricity & telephone), maintains a Police Department as well as the Fire Department.
Police Department. The Administration Division consists of a Chief of Police, a Deputy Chief and an Administrative Assistant. This division provides for overall supervision of all law enforcement services and personnel, ensuring enforcement of criminal and traffic law regulations and ordinances of the State of Alaska and the City of Ketchikan.
The Operations Division has assigned two lieutenants, four sergeants, two corporals, nine officers and two detectives. All work a `four-10 schedule' with a mid-week day being either a training or activity day. One drug detectives is also available. Seven dispatchers, an evidence custodian and one parking enforcement officer comprise the rest of the department and work 12 hour shifts. The Department is committed to service through community policing by utilizing vehicular, bicycle, and foot patrols.
Fire Department. The Ketchikan Fire Department has five fire stations: two located in town, two at the north end of the Borough and one at the south end. With 20 career staff and 40 volunteer members the KFD boasts some of the most qualified fire and EMS personnel in the State of Alaska. Many of the personnel are state-certified instructors that travel throughout the state providing instruction in Fire Suppression, Emergency Medical Services, Marine Shipboard Firefighting, Hazardous Materials Response and Incident Management. All career staff members are certified Firefighter-2's, and volunteer staff members are all a minimum of Firefighter-1 certified. The City of Ketchikan has inter-local agreements with the North and South Tongass Fire Departments, the USCG, Forest Service and the Ketchikan International Airport. The KFD is also a part of the "SE Alaska Mass-Casualty Contingency Plan" and the "SE Alaska M.M.R.S. Mutual Aid Agreement" for all municipalities in SE Alaska.
Since the state of Alaska does not have counties, boroughs are the county equivalents. The Ketchikan Gateway Borough has an assembly/manager form of government. It operates the School District, The Ketchikan International Airport, the Parks and Recreation Department, the library and the museum.
Ketchikan School District. Three elementary schools (two include preschools), two charter schools, one middle school, one high school and one alternative high school operate within the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District. Parent/Teacher Ratios (PTR) are as follows:
Three elementary schools, 817 students---PTR 16
Two elementary charter schools, 327 students---PTR 20
One middle school, grades 7 & 8, 254 students---PTR 13
One High School, 584 students---PTR 20
One alternative school, grades 7 through 12, 76 students---PTR13
In addition to the public schools there are three private Christian elementary schools, two Christian pre-schools, two Head Start programs, and a Kiddie Kollege Day School. The University Of Alaska Southeast has a campus located in Ketchikan. It offers baccalaureate and associate degrees, plus a wide range of noncredit community interest courses. In addition, there is an Adult Education Center that offers computer training courses, GED preparation and testing, and office and computer skills training.
Ketchikan International Airport. During the World War II era, air service to Ketchikan was possible using an old military airfield on Annette Island, about 20 miles south of Ketchikan, accessed by Grumman Goose and Catalina PBY. The current airport, The Ketchikan International Airport, opened on August 4th, 1973. Located on Gravina Island, it is a five minute ferry ride from Ketchikan, and offers regularly scheduled flights daily. The airport has a 7,500-ft. runway and a full instrument landing system. Because there is no road access between Ketchikan and the airport, a bridge, sometimes referred to as "the bridge to nowhere", was proposed at a cost of an estimated $398 million. After protracted attention to the high cost of the bridge, the U.S. federal government changed its original decision to fund the bridge in 2007. The money was transferred to the state of Alaska to determine the use of the funds.
Parks and Recreation Department. The Gateway Recreation Center opened in 1998 to provide indoor activities. This popular facility has two gymnasiums for scheduled activities, drop-in basketball and volleyball; a walking track, three drop-in racquetball courts, a fitness room and classrooms available for art classes, workshops, drop-in programs, and for rental. In addition to basketball, the gymnasium is used several mornings a week for children's play activities, with tricycles, hula-hoops, balls, etc. provided. On Saturdays the gym is used for roller skating; the Center has a large inventory of roller-skates. A play area is available during open hours for children five years old and under, and a Day Care Center is available during designated hours. For outdoor activities the center has an outdoor children's playground and a roller-blading area. The Center offers youth football and baseball leagues. The Mike Smithers Community Pool, located behind the Ketchikan High School, has both an Olympic sized pool as well as a small warm up pool. Hours from 5am to 7pm daily.
Library and Museums. The public library, with its up-to-date collection of books and periodicals, Internet terminal access to online databases, videos, and regularly scheduled programs for adults and children is very popular with the community. Presently, the Ketchikan Public Library and the Tongass Historical Museum are housed in the same building located in the heart of town. However, because both have expanded their programs and inventories the present location is no longer adequate. The library is in the beginning stages of obtaining property and building a new much larger library. Their move will enable the museum to expand their fascinating history of Alaska's First City through their wonderful exhibits of photographs, art and artifacts.
POPULATION
The City of Ketchikan has a population of 7,845. The Ketchikan Gateway Borough, encompassing the City of Ketchikan, the Village of Saxman and all outlying areas on the Island, has a total population of 14,500. Its multicultural mix of Caucasian, Alaska Native, Filipino, Hispanic, and others makes Ketchikan an interesting place to live and eat!
CLIMATE
Ketchikan lies in the maritime climate zone, noted for its warm winters, cool summers, and heavy precipitation. Summer temperatures usually range from 51 to 65 degrees; however temperatures this summer reached the 80's. Winter temperatures range from 29 to 39 degrees. Rainfall averages 162 inches (13.5 feet) annually, including about 32 inches of snowfall. June is the driest month with an average of 7 inches. It is also the month with the longest daylight hours, averaging 17 hours and 49 minutes. October is the wettest with an average of 2 feet. December is the month with the shortest daylight hours, averaging 7 hours and 46 minutes. Occasional autumn windstorms (storm and gale force winds) do occur. Despite the rain, Ketchikan's gardeners produce many beautiful flower gardens-and because of the rain, residents enjoy the beauty of our magnificent temperate rainforest.
FACILITIES
Water derived from a dam on Ketchikan Lake is chlorinated, stored, and piped to homes within the City's boundaries. The Borough operates a water treatment facility at Mountain Point, south of the City, and many homes use rain catchment systems. A central sewage collection system with primary treatment is owned by the City, and a Borough sewage treatment plant is located at Mountain Point. The Ketchikan Public Utilities purchases power from the state-owned Swan Lake Hydro Facility, and owns three hydroelectric plants and two diesel-fueled plants. The City has improved the Deer Mountain landfill with an incinerator, baling system, recycling and resource re-use, and household hazardous waste collection. The City also ships baled refuse out-of-state.
CHURCHES
There are 29 organized churches in the city:
Baha'i Faith
Calvary Bible Church
Church of Christ
Church of God
Church of the Nazarene
Clover Pass Community Church
1st Assembly of God
1st Baptist Church, SBC
1st Church of Christ, Scientist
1st Lutheran Church
Gateway Baptist Church
Good News Fellowship
Holy Name Catholic
Holy Truth Lutheran
Ketchikan Jewish Community
North Tongass Baptist, SBC
New Life Foursquare Church
Open Door Fellowship (a Foursquare Church)
The Salvation Army
Presbyterian Church
7th Day Adventist
St John's Episcopal Church
South Tongass Alliance
Saxman Pentecostal Church of God
1st United Methodist
United Pentecostal of Ketchikan
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Ketchikan Christian Broadcasting Corp.
Community of Christ
ECONOMY
Ketchikan is an industrial center and a major port of entry in Southeast Alaska, with a diverse economy, supported by a large fishing fleet, fish processing facilities, and tourism. One of Ketchikan's largest employers, Ketchikan Pulp Mill, discontinued its operations in March 1997, placing 400 workers out of work. Understandably this impacted Ketchikan's economy and its population; many businesses have suffered as a result, and this has had an effect on churches as well, including St. John's. The state operates the Deer Mountain Hatchery, which releases over 450,000 King and Coho Salmon, Steelhead and Rainbow Trout annually. There is one cannery, one cold storage facility, and a fish processing plant in full operation during the summer months. The number of visitors arriving on cruise ships has grown steadily, bringing 941,910 visitors in 2008. A Ketchikan Visitors Association office building opened in 1998, with a visitors' information center and 20 retail sales spaces for tourism operators. As can be expected, Ketchikan is a busy city during the summer months, causing many residents to have second thoughts about going downtown while it's bustling with cruise ship visitors. Although the city's economy is largely resource-based, its favorable location as Alaska's first port of call and its role as a transportation hub as well as a service and supply center are major elements of the city's economic stability.
HOUSING
Average apartment rental rates: 1-bedroom - $700/month 2-bedroom - $800/month
3-bedroom - $1000-$1300/month
Average house selling prices: 2 bedrooms - $230,000
3 bedrooms - $260,000
There is a State-subsidized senior citizen apartment building, a retirement/nursing home; and a Tlingit-Haida Tax Credit Housing Program for low-income families, with town houses and single family dwellings.
GENERAL RETAIL STORES Within City Limits
Alaska's cost of living in general is higher than the contiguous states. Some examples of costs in Ketchikan: Bread $3.00-$3.50 a loaf; Eggs $1.89 per dozen; Milk $3.50 per gallon; Hamburger $3.49-$4.49 per pound depending on fat content; No. 2 Heating Oil $2.50 per gallon (not considering quantity price breaks); Gas, regular unleaded $3.15 per gallon. The majority of people commute only 12.7 minutes to their workplace.
A 6% City sales tax is collected on purchases made within the city limits; beyond the city limits the Borough sales tax is 2.5%. The following are some general retail store listings:
Supermarkets 3
Catalog outlets 1
Laundromats 2
Musical Instruments 1
Variety Stores 1 (Wal-Mart)
Dry Cleaners 1
Clothing
(Including Wal-mart):
Drug Stores/pharmacies
(Including Native Health) 5
Men's 2
Hardware Stores 3
Women's 2
Video Tape Rentals 1
Children's 1
Florists 3
Consignment Stores
8*
Restaurants
*Included under "Restaurants" are the following fast-foods/carry-out restaurants: Burger Queen, 2 Godfather's Pizza, McDonald's, Polar Treats, Rose's Caboose, 2 Subways, Taco Time, and. Many Restaurants deliver. Fine Seafood is available in most of the restaurants. This is a real plus since it does not get any fresher. Organic fresh produce delivery from Full Circle Farms from Washington every 2 weeks available for a price. There are also two locally roasted coffees for consumption.
There are also jewelry stores, souvenir stores, liquor stores, specialty shops too numerous to mention, and bars. A mall capable of housing twenty-one stores is adjacent to our largest supermarket, Carr's Safeway, located in what's commonly referred to as the "West End." There are seven hotels/motels, several lodges, and many Bed & Breakfast accommodations listed with two reservations services.
Although many things are available locally for shopping, on line window shopping and purchasing is popular, and just about anything is available to deliver from Seattle via the Barge Lines.
Prince Rupert, in British Columbia is just a short 6 hour ferry ride away and also a popular shopping destination for locals, as well as the closest tie to the mainland highway system for road trips or train trips.
MEDICAL, DENTAL, AND SOCIAL SERVICES
The Ketchikan General Hospital (KGH) is a state-of-the-art equipped full-service facility with 25 acute care beds and a 29-bed long term care unit, for a total of 54 inpatient beds. The hospital is, owned by the City of Ketchikan and leased to Peace Health and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, and is an affiliate of St. Joseph of Peace Hospital in Bellingham, Washington. Included in its up-to-date diagnostic equipment is a Magnetic Resonance Imaging unit (MRI), a Bone Densitometer, a tissue processor for the detection of Breast Cancer, and modem equipment for the care and survival of newborn infants. KGH has been surveyed by the Commission on Cancer and approved for accreditation. To be approved for accreditation by the Commission on Cancer, a clinic must be equipped and staffed to provide the best diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Ketchikan's program promotes consultation with local, as well as staff of St. Joseph's of Bellingham, surgeons, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, diagnostic radiologist, pathologist, and other cancer specialists. In addition to our hospital Ketchikan has four medical clinics, four chiropractic clinics, two women's clinics, one optometry clinic, a public health clinic, and a variety of complimentary medicine practitioners.
Added to those would be the U.S. Coast Guard clinic and Ketchikan Indian Community (KIC) clinic, both full-service clinics. Ketchikan is home to 85-100 fulltime, part-time and relief nurses; 30 local medical doctors, including KIC and Coast Guard medical doctors. One of the medical clinics, Ketchikan Indian Community Medical Clinic, provides medical, dental, optometrist and counseling services for Alaska Natives and Native Americans. The Gateway Center for Hunan Services provides quality mental health services. There is a women's shelter and a senior citizen center, as well as many support groups such as A.A., N.A., Alanon, TOPS, Hospice, in addition to various bereavement, diabetes, and cancer support groups.
RECREATION
In addition to the many indoor activities available through the Gateway Recreation Center, Ketchikan has six parks, two athletic fields, and four tennis courts situated within the city limits. Outside the city limits there are four public beaches and picnic areas. Rotary Beach (a.k.a. known as Bugge Beach) is located about 3.5 miles on South Tongass Highway and is maintained by the City of Ketchikan; Refuge Cove is about 10 miles north of the city on North Tongass Highway; and Settlers Cove is at the end of North Tongass Highway. Both are maintained by the State of Alaska Parks Division. All have picnic tables and cooking grills. A number of lake recreation areas dot the Ketchikan area, the best know being Ward Lake, Harriet Hunt (winter sports area), Carlanna Lake, Silvis Lake, and Perseverance Lake; all maintained by the U.S. Forest Service. Ward Lake has a lovely well-maintained trail around the lake as well as a longer trail along the creek that connects to a camp ground. Both Settlers Cove and Ward Lake have well-maintained campgrounds. Silvis, Carlanna and Perseverance lakes are accessible via hiking trails. Ocean kayaking is popular. Sailing also is available.
Ketchikan has a large fleet of charter boats with experienced skippers to take anglers to the best locations for salmon and halibut, fairly close to the city. Fishermen fishing off the rocks along the city's South Tongass Highway have made great catches. The popular Salmon Derby occurs in May and June. Ketchikan's fishing lakes and streams can be reached by highway and hiking trails. Species at various locations include Steelhead, Cutthroat Trout, Dolly Varden, Rainbow Trout, Eastern Brook Trout, and Grayling. Some of the "trophy' lakes are short air taxi flights from the city, and for a full wilderness experience there are the roadless, remote lakes. The rustic Forest Service wilderness cabins are furnished with wood or oil stoves, plywood bunks, cooking counters, tables, shelves and cupboards. Outhouse toilets are provided, and some cabins have skiffs on site. Ketchikan's marinas have skiffs for rent as well as hints about where to steer for the best fishing. The waterfront location of the city and the many accessible lakes & streams provide many opportunities for boating, fishing,
and picnicking.
The public library along with groups such as the Arts Council, First City Players, University of Alaska's Videoversity Film Series, Community Chorus, Community Orchestra, Ketchikan Theatre Ballet, Monthly Grind and many more, offer a constant variety of cultural and social events.
Ketchikan boasts the largest collection of totem poles in the world. This collection of "Monuments in Cedar" ranges from ancient poles in climate controlled protection, to standing poles raised almost a century ago, to more recently carved poles that reflect the continuing deep respect for traditional Native values. Guides or explanatory plaques acquaint viewers with the varieties of carved figures, the importance of family motifs, and the stories or legends that may be connected with a particular pole.
Bayview Cemetery, the city's only graveyard, has been in operation since 1912, and is located
on a beautifully cared-for hillside at the southern edge of town. Many early settlers are buried there, including 1898 Gold Rush pioneers who stayed to populate Ketchikan and turn the village into a city. Old headstones tell stories of the past through some of the unique totem markers, the diversity of surnames, the children's graves, and the family plots. It's a pleasant place to experience the local history.
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
Elks, Eagles, Moose, Sons of Norway, Masonic Orders, Pioneers of Alaska, Red Men's, Lions, Rotary, Business and Professional Women, PEO, Beta Sigma Phi, University Women, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, First City Toastmasters, AARP, Alaska Native Brotherhood, Alaska Native Sisterhood, and a variety of special interest groups such as the Rainy Day Quilter's Guild, the Ketchikan Rod & Gun Club, and the Old Bar Harbor Caledonia Society.
EMPLOYMENT
Presently the major employers are (in order of magnitude) Federal, State and Local Government, Services, Retail trade and construction. Although there has been a decrease in the number of people employed within the fishing industry, this is still a major employer, particularly during the summer months.
TRANSPORTATION
Besides the state-owned Ketchikan International Airport, the state runs and maintains the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS), which operates ocean-going passenger/car ferries on a regular schedule from Bellingham, Washington and Prince Rupert, British Columbia in Canada, serving all southeast Alaskan ports, connects to the interior highway systems at Prince Rupert, BC and Haines, Alaska. The Alaska Marine Lines, Boyer Barge Lines, and Northland Services, Inc. each provide weekly barge service to all southeastern communities.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Ketchikan's trading area includes: the City of Saxman, on this island; Metlakatla, on Annette Island; and the towns of Craig, Hydaburg, Klawock, and Thorne Bay, on Prince of Wales Island. Prince of Wales Island has an extensive road system, several logging camps and recreation areas. The ferry Prince of Wales daily serves Prince of Wales Island communities, and a small AMHS ferry serves Metlakatla. The Ketchikan Daily News publishes a daily and weekend newspaper. There is a weekly publication called The Local Paper consisting primarily of personal, classified, and commercial advertisements. There is one commercial AM radio station, KTKN; one public FM radio station, KRBD; and a cable television station with access to 163 channels from the lower U.S. At least two Christian channels are accessible.