Ketchikan, Alaska

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Ketchikan, Alaska
settlement_type = City
nickname = Salmon Capital of the World, Rain Capital of Alaska, Alaska's First City
motto =

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imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Ketchikan Skyline


image_



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mapsize =
map_caption = Location in Ketchikan Gateway Borough


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = left
pushpin_mapsize = 300
pushpin_map_caption =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Alaska
subdivision_type2 = Borough
subdivision_name2 = Ketchikan Gateway
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Bob Weinstein (Democrat)
established_title =
established_date =
area_magnitude =
area_total_sq_mi = 4.1
area_total_km2 = 10.7
area_land_sq_mi = 3.4
area_land_km2 = 8.7
area_water_sq_mi = 0.8
area_water_km2 = 2.0
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_urban_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 =
population_as_of = 2007
population_note =
population_footnotes =cite web | date = June 21 2006 | url = http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/files/SUB-EST2005-04-02.csv | title = Annual Estimates of the Population for All Incorporated Places in Alaska | format = CSV | work = 2005 Population Estimates | publisher = U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division | accessmonthday = November 9 | accessyear = 2006] cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2007-04-02.csv|title=Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places in Alaska|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=2008-07-10|accessdate=2008-07-14]
population_total = 7368
population_metro =
population_urban =
population_density_km2 = 851.7
population_density_sq_mi = 2245.5
timezone = AKST
utc_offset = -9
timezone_DST = AKDT
utc_offset_DST = -8
latd = 55 |latm = 21 |lats = 00 |latNS = N
longd = 131 |longm = 40 |longs = 24 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 0
elevation_ft = 0
website = [http://www.city.ketchikan.ak.us www.city.ketchikan.ak.us]
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 99901, 99903, 99918, 99919, 99950Cite web| title=ZIP Codes by City |publisher=United States Postal Service |url=http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp?city=Ketchikan&state=AK |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-07-27]
area_code = 907
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 02-38970
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = [Gnis3|1423039 1423039]
footnotes =

Ketchikan (pronEng|ˈkɛtʃɪkæn) is a city in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska, United States and the southeasternmost sizable city in that state. With an estimated population of 7,368 in 2007, it is the fifth most populous city in the state.

Ketchikan's economy is based upon tourism and fishing, and the city is known as the "Salmon Capital of the World." The Misty Fjords National Monument is one of the area's major attractions.

Ketchikan is named after Ketchikan Creek, which flows through the town. Ketchikan comes from the Tlingit name for the creek, "Kitschk-hin", the meaning of which is unclear. It may mean "the river belonging to Kitschk"; other accounts claim it means "Thundering Wings of an Eagle." [ [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9045193/Ketchikan Ketchikan in the Encyclopædia Britannica] ]

Ketchikan's secondary post office box zip code, 99950, is the highest zip code ever assigned in the United States. Most residents use the zip code 99901. [Cite web
title=United States Postal Service Facts | publisher=United States Postal Service | url=http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/postalfacts.htm | format=HTML | accessdate=2008-07-27] [Cite web| title=Find All Cities in a ZIP Code | publisher=United States Postal Service | url=http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown_zip.jsp?zip5=99950 | format=HTML | accessdate=2008-07-27] Ketchikan also has the world's largest collection of standing totem poles, located at three major locations: Saxman Village, Totem Bight, and the Totem Heritage Center.

Geography

Ketchikan is located at coor dms|55|21|00|N|131|40|24|W| (55.381111, -131.664167) on Revillagigedo Island, 90 miles (145 km) north of Prince Rupert, British Columbia and 235 miles (378 km) south of Juneau, Alaska.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the City has a total area of 4.1 sq mi (10.7 km²). 3.4 sq mi (8.7 km²) of it is land and 0.8 sq mi (2.0 km²) of it (18.60%) is water.

*Average annual rainfall is convert|152|in|cm|lk=on; annual average snowfall is convert|37|in|cm.
*The average high temperature in July is convert|65|F|C|lk=on, and the average high temperature in January is convert|39|F|C.

The ½-mile span called the Tongass Narrows separates Ketchikan from Gravina Island, where Ketchikan International Airport is located. In August 2005 the 2005 Highway Bill provided for $223m to build the Gravina Island Bridge (nicknamed "the Bridge to Nowhere" by its critics) between Ketchikan and Gravina Island. After years of national and international ridicule over the expense of this project, the Alaska government ultimately chose not to build the bridge, and will spend the appropriated funds elsewhere.

Demographics

As of 2004, there were 8,044 people, 3,300 households, and 1,997 families residing in the City. The population density was 2,348.6/sq mi (907.6/km²). It is the most densely populated city in Alaska. There were 3,645 housing units at an average density of 1,080.6/sq mi (417.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.31% White, 0.84% Black or African American, 19.80% Native American, 6.85% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 6.68% from two or more races. 3.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,300 households out of which 52% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.09.

The population is spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 32.95% from 25 to 44, 22.35% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 101.93 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.0 males.

The median income for a household in the City was $44,807, and the median income for a family was $52,529. Males had a median income of $41,926 versus $30,411 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,484. About 4.9% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.

In 2007, the population of the city of Ketchikan was reported at 7,685. [ [http://www.borough.ketchikan.ak.us/main/documents/2007Book-ProjectPages.pdf 2007 Community Legislative Priority List] ]

Media

Ketchikan is home to the radio stations KTKN, KFMJ, KRBD, and KGTW. Ketchikan also houses the publishing offices of the "Ketchikan Daily News". The region has local television programming provided by Ketchikan Public Utilities CommVision, which boasts 12 local channels of constantly updating entertainment, borough assembly, city council, school board, and planning commission meetings, Southeast Alaska programming, Ketchikan High School sports and events, local history, gardening and scenes, and a calendar of upcoming local events; local television signals are also translations of Seattle and Anchorage stations.

Transportation

Ketchikan serves as both an air and marine transportation hub for southern Southeast Alaska.

The Ketchikan International Airport serves as both a gateway for Alaska Airlines jet service from Seattle and a bush carrier and charter aircraft hub for destinations like Hyder, Metlakatla, Alaska, and Prince of Wales Island. Ketchikan also serves as the base for L.A.B. Flying Service's regular flights to Klawock.

Ketchikan receives service to two separate ferry lines. Ketchikan sits on the Alaska Marine Highway's Inside Passage route and sees a large number of ships northbound (to the rest of Alaska) and southbound (to Prince Rupert, British Columbia — where a six hour connection can be made to the BC Ferries system — and Bellingham, Washington). Ketchikan also sees regular day service from the Alaska Marine Highway vessel M/V "Lituya", a day boat that shuttles between Ketchikan and Metlakatla, its homeport.

The Inter-Island Ferry Authority serves Ketchikan daily (and, in the summer, twice daily) with the dayboat M/V "Prince of Wales" from its homeport in Hollis on Prince of Wales Island. Ketchikan often serves as a connection between the "Prince of Wales" and mainline Alaska Marine Highway vessels that run to the rest of Southeast Alaska.

Education

Colleges and universities

*University of Alaska Southeast

Public education

*Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District
**Ketchikan High School
**Revilla Junior/Senior High School

ister cities

see|List of twin towns and sister cities in the United States [http://www.sister-cities.org]

Inside the United States

*flagicon|USA Palm Desert, California

Outside the United States

Ketchikan's former sister city of Kanayama-cho 金山町 （かなやまちょう, literally Kanayama-town） along with
*Hagiwara-cho 萩原町（はぎわらちょう）
*Osaka-cho 小坂町（おさかちょう）
*Gero-cho 下呂町 （げろちょう）
*Maze-mura　馬瀬村 （まぜむら）

were incorporated into the larger city of Gero-shi 下呂市 （げろし）on March 1, 2004. [ [http://www.gov.state.ak.us/trade/2005/sister_states.php Alaska sister cities index] ]

Notable residents

*Award-winning artist and book illustrator Evon Zerbetz, a Ketchikan resident, is represented by 8 galleries throughout Alaska, and the Midwest. Among other notable achievements, she was the illustrator of Newbery Medal-award winning author Karen Hesse's YA novel "Aleutian Sparrow", (Simon and Schuster, 2003). [cite book| last=Hesse| first=Karen| others=Illustrated by Zerbetz, Evon| title=Aleutian Sparrow| year=2003| publisher=Simon & Schuster| isbn=0689861893]
* Computer programmer and linguist Sean M. Burke is a resident.
*Bob Weinstein, mayor

ee also

*Alaska Panhandle
*Tlingit
*Haida
*Tsimshian

References

External links

* [http://www.city.ketchikan.ak.us/ City of Ketchikan] official website
* [http://borough.ketchikan.ak.us Ketchikan Gateway Borough] official website
* [http://www.kictribe.com/ Ketchikan Indian Community] official website
* [http://www.tongassconservation.org Conservation in Ketchikan]
*dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Alaska/Localities/K/Ketchikan