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Pelican Alaska
Location and
Climate
Pelican is located on the northwest coast of Chichagof
Island on Lisianski Inlet. It lies 70 air miles north of
Sitka and 70 miles west of Juneau. Most of the community is
built on pilings over the tidelands. Pelican is located in
the Sitka Recording District. The area encompasses .5 sq.
miles of land and .1 sq. miles of water. Pelican has a
maritime climate characterized by cool summers and mild
winters. Average summer temperatures range from 51 to 62;
winter temperatures average 21 to 39. Temperature extremes
have been recorded from -3 to 84. Annual precipitation is
127 inches, including 120 inches of snow. During winter
months, fog, winds and high seas can limit
access.
History, Culture and
Demographics
A cold storage plant was the first development at this
site in 1938. Kalle (Charley) Raataikainen bought fish in
this area, which he transported to Sitka. He chose this
protected inlet as an ideal cold storage site, and named the
place after his fish-packing vessel "The Pelican." Two of
his fish-buying scows were used as a cookhouse, mess hall,
bunkhouse and warehouse, and the community of Pelican grew
around this operation. A store, office, sawmill, post office
and sauna had been erected by 1939. A school and cannery
were developed in the 1940s. A boardwalk serves as the
town's main thoroughfare, due to the lack of flat
land.
Alaska Natives represent
29.3% of the population. Pelican is a fishing community.
There is a seasonal population influx of commercial
fishermen and cold storage plant workers.
During the April 1990 U.S.
Census, there were 98 total housing units, and 17 of these
were vacant. The official unemployment rate at that time was
3.4%, with 140 jobs estimated to be in the community and
17.2% of all adults not in the work force. The median
household income was $27,083, and 13.6% of residents were
living below the poverty level.
Economy and
Transportation
Commercial fishing and seafood processing are the
mainstays of Pelican's economy. 42 residents hold commercial
fishing permits. Most employment occurs at Pelican Seafoods,
which also owns the electric utility, a fuel company and
store. In April 1989, Pelican Seafoods was purchased by
Kaioh Suisan, a Japanese firm. In February 1996, the plant
was closed. It was subsequently purchased by Kake Tribal
Corp. and re-opened during the summer of 1996, employing
over 60 persons during the peak season. The plant processes
salmon, halibut, sable fish, rockfish, and dungeness
crab.
Pelican is dependent on
float planes and the State Ferry for travel. Daily scheduled
air taxi services are available from Juneau and Sitka.
Facilities include a State-owned seaplane base, a small boat
harbor, dock, and State ferry terminal. The ferry provides
two monthly departures during summer months, and once
monthly during winter. Cargo barges deliver goods on a
similar schedule.
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to Alaska Communities
Source: Department of
Community & Economic
Development
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