|
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
|
