|
|
|
King Salmon Alaska
Location and
Climate
King Salmon is located on the north bank of the Naknek
River on the Alaska Peninsula, about 15 miles upriver from
Naknek. It is 284 miles southwest of Anchorage. King Salmon
is located in the Kvichak Recording District. The area
encompasses 219.3 sq. miles of land and 18.5 sq. miles of
water. The climate is mainly maritime, characterized by
cool, humid, and windy weather. Average summer temperatures
range from 42 to 63; average winter temperatures range from
29 to 44. Extremes from -46 to 88 have been recorded. Total
precipitation is 20 inches annually, including 45 inches of
snowfall. Fog is common during summer months.
History, Culture and
Demographics
In the 1930s, an air navigation silo was built at the
site of present-day King Salmon. At the beginning of World
War II, the U.S. built an Air Force base. It was maintained
by the Federal Aviation Administration throughout the war.
In 1949, a post office was established, and the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers constructed a road to Naknek. Other
government quarters, such as National Park Service, Fish
& Game, and the weather bureau, were developed. The King
Salmon Inn opened in 1956. The community has grown as a
government, transportation, and service center for the
commercial red salmon and recreational visitor industries.
The air force base was closed during 1993.
Alaska Natives represent
15.5% of the population. The Native population is a mixture
of Aleuts, Indians and Eskimos. Although King Salmon is not
recognized under ANCSA, there are 24 active Native allotment
claims and 2 patented claims near King Salmon. Students
attend school in Naknek, 15 miles away.
During the April 1990 U.S.
Census, there were 228 total housing units, and 70 of these
were vacant. The official unemployment rate at that time was
5.8%, with 487 jobs estimated to be in the community and
16.2% of all adults not in the work force. The median
household income was $54,072, and 3% of residents were
living below the poverty level.
Economy and
Transportation
Government jobs, transportation and fishing-related
employment are the mainstays of the King Salmon economy. 40
residents hold commercial fishing permits. Air services
employ a large portion of the community, as King Salmon is a
major shipping point for Bristol Bay salmon. The Bristol Bay
red salmon fishery is the largest in the world, although
there have been relatively poor seasons, such as in the
early 1970s, 1982, and 1997. It is also a departure point
for the Katmai National Park and Preserve, which includes
the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary, Brooks Camp, and the
Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Fishing for all five species
of salmon and rainbow trout are one of this area's top
attractions. Over 30,000 visitors pass through the King
Salmon airport each summer for wilderness and fishing
adventures in the area. The Air Force Base has been closed,
although it is maintained under contract by Chugach
Development Corp. The Borough is interested in developing a
regional training center for fisheries management at the
Base.
King Salmon is a
transportation hub for Bristol Bay. Formerly an Air Force
Base, the State-owned airport offers an 8,500' paved,
lighted runway, a 4,000' asphalt/gravel crosswind runway,
and FAA air traffic control tower. There are scheduled jet
flights and charter services to and from Anchorage. A 4,000'
stretch of the Naknek River is designated for float planes.
A seaplane base is also located at Lake Brooks, within the
Katmai National Park to the east. Four docks are available
on the Naknek River -- owned by the U.S. Park Service, U.S.
Fish & Wildlife, Alaska State Troopers and the Bristol
Bay Borough. Cargo goods are delivered to Naknek by barge
and trucked upriver to King Salmon via a 15-mile connecting
road. During winter, an ice road provides access to South
Naknek. Vehicles are the primary means of local
transportation; skiffs are used during summer.
< Back
to Alaska Communities
Source: Department of
Community & Economic
Development
|
