Ketchikan is named after Ketchikan Creek, which flows through the town. Ketchikan comes from the Tlingit name for the creek, Kitschk-hin, which means "spread wings of a prostrate eagle", which is said to refer to an outlined likeness of this image created by some nearby stream's course. 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.
Ketchikan Geography
Ketchikan is located at on Revillagigedo Island, 90 miles north of Prince Rupert, British Columbia and 235 miles south of Juneau, Alaska.According to the United States Census Bureau, the City has a total area of 10.7 km2 (4.1 mi2). 8.7 km2 (3.4 mi2) of it is land and 2.0 km2 (0.8 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 18.60% water.
- Average annual rainfall is 152 inches; annual average snowfall is 37 inches.
- The average high temperature in July is 57 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average low temperature in January is 33 degrees Fahrenheit.
In August, 2005 the 2005 Highway Bill provided for $223m in subsidies to build a bridge nearly as long as the Golden Gate Bridge (dubbed by critics as the "Bridge to Nowhere") between Ketchikan and nearby Gravina Island (population: 50). The subsidies were negotiated by Alaska's Rep. Don Young.
Ketchikan Demographics
As of 2004, there are 8,044 people, 3,300 households, and 1,997 families residing in the City. The population density is 907.6/km2 (2,348.6/mi2). There are 3,645 housing units at an average density of 417.6/km2 (1,080.6/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 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 are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 3,300 households out of which 52% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% are married couples living together, 13.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% are non-families. 31.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.44 and the average family size is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 42 years. For every 100 females there are 101.93 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 102.0 males.
The median income for a household in the City is $44,807, and the median income for a family is $52,529. Males have a median income of $41,926 versus $30,411 for females. The per capita income for the city is $22,484. 7.6% of the population and 4.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 8.3% of those under the age of 18 and 4.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Colleges and universities
- University of Alaska Southeast
Trivia
- One of Ketchikan's landmarks is Creek Street, a former red light district.
- Ketchikan claims to have the heaviest average rainfall in North America, and therefore measures its rainfall in feet, not inches. Like many towns in Alaska, Ketchikan refers to precipitation as "Liquid Sunshine."
- Half of the town is constructed on solid ground, while the other half sits over water, supported by piles.
- Ketchikan has the highest Zip Code in the United States: 99950
See also
- Alaska Panhandle
- Tlingit
External links
- Ketchikan Indian Community official website
- Ketchikan, Alaska Fishing
- Ketchikan Public Library
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Ketchikan,_Alaska".