Alaska Travel |
SitkaThe City and Borough of Sitka is a city-borough located on the west side of Baranof Island in the Alexander Archipelago of the Pacific Ocean (part of the Alaska Panhandle), in the U.S. state of Alaska. The borough seat is Sitka, the only incorporated section. Sitka is the state's fourth-largest city in terms of population and the nation's largest city in terms of area. Its small downtown area is easily explored on foot. If you can walk a half dozen blocks from the cruise ship dock, you won't need a shore excursion to see most of the sights in town. The name Sitka (derived from Sheetka, a contraction of the Tlingit name Shee At'ika) means "People on the Outside of Shee," Sheet'-ka X'aat' (often expressed simply as Shee) being the Tlingit name for Baranof Island. The town is sometimes referred to as "Sitka-by-the-Sea." more... Population: 8,400 History of SitkaThe area was originally settled by the native Tlingit (Kolosh) Indians. Old Sitka was founded in 1799 by Alexandra Baranov, the governor of Russian America. Baranov arrived under the auspices of the Russian-American Company, a "semi-official" colonial trading company chartered by Tsar Paul I. In 1802 a group of Tlingit destroyed the original establishment (an area today called the "Old Harbor") and massacred most of the Russian inhabitants. Baranov was forced to levy 10,000 rubles in ransom for the safe return of the surviving settlers. Baranov returned to Sitka in 1804 with a large contingent of Russians and Aleuts aboard the Russian warship Neva. The ship bombarded the natives' village, forcing the Tlingit's to retreat into the surrounding forest. Following their victory at the Battle of Sitka the Russians established a permanent settlement in the form of a fort, named "Novo-Arkhangelsk" (or "New Archangel," a reference to the largest city in the region where Baranov was born). In 1808, with Baranov still governor, Sitka was designated the capital of Russian America. more... An overview on Sitka's EconomyUnemployment: 4.20% Geography of SitkaAccording to the United States Census Bureau, the borough is the largest incorporated area in the U.S, with a total area of 12,461.8 km² (4,811.5 mi²). 7,443.6 km² (2,874.0 mi²) of it is land and 5,018.2 km² (1,937.6 mi²) of it, or 40.27%, is water. Sitka displaced Juneau, Alaska as the largest city upon the 2000 incorporation with 2,874 square miles of incorporated area. Juneau is 2,717 square miles and was formed through incorporation of the borough and city in 1970. Jacksonville, Florida is the largest city in area in the contiguous 48 states at 758 square miles. Average annual rainfall is 86 inches; annual average snowfall is 39 inches. The average high temperature in August is 62 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average low temperature in January is 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Mount Edgecumbe, a 3,200-foot-tall dormant stratovolcano, is located on southern Kruzof Island. It can be seen on a clear day from Sitka. Facts for TravellersTime: Time zone Alaska (UTC-9), Summer (DST) Alaska (UTC-8)
Area Code: 907 FIPS Code: 280 Economy of SitkaSitka economy: Fishing, fish processing, tourism, government, transportation, retail and health care services all make up various portions of the Sitka economy. Tourism may be stronger during the summer season. Climate and Weather of SitkaThe climate for Sitka is mild Also Read: Demographics of Sitka | Attractions of Sitka | Transportation in Sitka Homer’s People have inhabited Kachemak Bay for thousands of years, drawn to its abundant, diverse land and marine animals and relatively mild climate. In the 1800s, homesteaders and coal miners made up the area’s population and Homer became a booming ‘company town until the demand for coal diminished in the early 1900s.
Some years later, [...]
Homer’s area encompasses 11 sq. miles of land and 16 sq. miles of water. Homer lies in the maritime climate zone. During the winter, temperatures range from 14 to 27; summer temperatures vary from 45 to 65. Average annual precipitation is 24 inches, including 55 inches of snow.
Homer’s climate is heavily influenced by its proximity [...]
Homer is the Southern most town on the Alaska highway system. It is also part of the Alaska Marine Highway (the Alaskan ferry system).
A regional airport lies near the coast as well, with two local airlines: Homer Air, and Smokey Bay Air flying scheduled routes, as well as Era Aviation and PenAir. Homer constructed [...]
As of 2004, there were 3,726 people, 1,523 households, and 955 families residing in town. The population density is 122.0/km² (372.9/mi²). There are 1,873 housing units at an average density of 68.4/km² (177.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 88% White, 2.33% Black or African American, 4.88% Native American, 2% Asian, 1.19% Pacific Islander, [...]
Archeological digs indicate that early Alutiq people probably camped in the Homer area although their villages were on the far side of Kachemak Bay. Coal was discovered in the area in the 1890s. The Cook Inlet Coal Fields Company built a town, dock, coal mine, and a railroad at Homer. Coal mining in the area [...]
Travel Chronicle: Alaska Destination Guide
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Cities in Alaska |