Kodiak is one of 6 communities and the main city on
Kodiak IslandKodiak Island is a large island on the south coast of the U.S. state of Alaska, separated from the Alaska mainland by the Shelikof Strait. The largest island in the Kodiak Archipelago, Kodiak Island is the second largest island in the United States and the 80th largest island in the world, with an...
in
Kodiak Island BoroughKodiak Island Borough is a borough located in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2000 census, the population was 13,913. The borough seat is Kodiak.-Geography:...
in the
U.S. stateA U.S. state is any one of 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government . Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile...
of
AlaskaAlaska is the largest state of the United States of America by area; it is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. All commercial transportation between the entire island and the outside world goes through this city either via ferryboat or airline. The population was estimated at 6,228 in 2008.
Originally inhabited by
AlutiiqThe Alutiiq , also called Pacific Yupik or Sugpiaq, are a southern coastal people of the Yupik peoples of Alaska. Their language is also called Alutiiq. They are not to be confused with the Aleuts, who live further to the southwest, including along the Aleutian Islands...
natives for over 7000 years, the city was settled in the 1700s by Russian immigrants and became the capital of
Russian AlaskaRussian America was the name used for Russian possessions in the Americas during the period between 1733 and 1867 in which Russia claimed the territory that today is the U.S. state of Alaska and established settlements farther south in California...
. Harvesting of the area's sea otter pelts led to the near extinction of the animal in the following century and led to wars with and enslavement of the natives for over 150 years. As part of the
Alaska PurchaseThe Alaska Purchase, historically also referred to as Seward's Folly, was the purchase of Alaska by the United States from the Russian Empire in 1867. The purchase, done at the behest of United States Secretary of State William H. Seward, gained 586,412 square miles of new United States territory...
by the United States in 1867, Kodiak became a commercial fishing center which continues to this day. A Lesser economic influence includes tourism mainly by those seeking outdoor adventure trips. Salmon, Halibut, the unique
Kodiak BearThe Kodiak bear , also known as the Alaskan brown bear, is the largest subspecies of Brown Bear and occupies the islands of the Kodiak Archipelago in south-central Alaska. Its traditional name in the Alutiiq language is: Taquka-aq.- Taxonomys :Taxonomist C.H...
, elk, Sitka deer, mountain goats invite hunting tourists as well as fishermen. The
Alaska Department of Fish and GameThe Alaska Department of Fish and Game is a department within the government of Alaska. The Department of Fish and Game manages Alaska's fish, game, and aquatic plant resources.-External links:*...
maintains an office in the city and a web site to help hunters and fishermen obtain the proper permits and learn about the laws specific to the Kodiak area. The city has four public elementary schools, a middle and high school as well as a branch of the University of Alaska. An
antenna farmAntenna farm or satellite dish farm or just dish farm are terms used to describe an area dedicated to television or radio telecommunications transmitting or receiving antenna equipment, such as C, K
u or K
a band satellite dish antennas, UHF / VHF / AM / FM transmitter towers or...
at the summit of Pillar Mountain above the city historically provided communication with the outside world before fiber optic cable was run. Transportation to and from the island is provided by ferry service on the Alaska Marine Highway as well as local commercial airlines.
History
The Kodiak Archipelago has been home to native cultures for over 7000 years. In their language, "Kadiak" means island. The descendents of these peoples still occupy the island and are considered Alutiq, a term used to describe both their language and culture. In 1763, the Russian explorer Stephan Glotov discovered the island followed by the English Captain Cook fifteen years later who first penned "Kodiak" in his journals in 1778. The Russian fur trapper Alexander Baranov established a settlement and built a warehouse on what is now the city of Kodiak in order to harvest the area's vast population of
sea otterThe sea otter is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 kg , making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smallest marine mammals...
s for their prized pelts. The warehouse still stands as the Baranov Museum. Because the First Native cultures revered this animal and would never harm it, wars with and enslavement of the Aleuts occurred during this era. Eastern Orthodox missionaries settled on the island by the end of the 1700s continuing European settlement of the island which eventually became the capital of Russian Alaska. The
Russian-American CompanyThe Russian-American Company was a state-sponsored trading company formed largely on the basis of the so-called Shelikhov-Golikov Company of Grigory Shelikhov and Ivan Larionovich Golikov The Russian-American Company (The Russian-American Company under Our Highest Protection (“highest” referring...
was established as a partnership between the two countries in the following century to continue the sea otter harvest. By the mid 1800's, the sea otter was almost extinct and 85% of the First Native population had disappeared from violence and exposure to European diseases. When Russia sold Alaska to the United States in 1867, Kodiak became a center for commercial fishing and canneries dotted the island in the early 1900s until global farm-raised salmon eliminated these businesses. New processing centers emerged and the industry continues to evolve even today. During the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, animals such as the mountain goat, Sitka deer, rabbits, muskrats, beavers, squirrels and others were introduced to the island and the
Kodiak National Wildlife RefugeThe Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge is a United States Wildlife Refuge in the Kodiak Archipelago in southwestern Alaska, United States.The Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge includes the southwestern two-thirds of Kodiak Island, Uganik Island, the Red Peaks area of Afognak Island and all of Ban Island...
was created.
As Kodiak was incorporated in 1941, the US feared attack from Japanese during WWII and turned the town into a fortress. Roads, the airport, Fort Abercrombie (now a park), and gun fortifications improved the island's infrastructure. When Alaska became a state in 1959, government assistance in housing, transportation, and education added additional benefits. A tectonic
tsunamiA is a series of water waves that is caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, such as an ocean. The original Japanese term literally translates as "harbor wave." Tsunamis are a frequent occurrence in Japan; approximately 195 events have been recorded...
struck the city in March 1964 with waves that killed 15 people and caused $11 million in damages. It also wiped out the neighboring Eskimo villages of Old Harbor and Kaguyak. The Standard Oil Company, the Alaskan King Crab Company and much of the fishing fleet were also destroyed.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Because Kodiak is an important environmental asset which affects the fishing industry, particularly salmon fishing, and because the island is coveted by hunters worldwide for its unique Kodiak bear and other game animals, there are strict laws governing fishing and hunting activities as well as hiking near spawning streams. Both the Department and the city maintain websites and publish helpful brochures to help communicate these strictly enforced laws. All of the city's hotels and businesses have these materials in prominent areas for guests and licenses can be purchases in the city's main sporting goods store as well as online.
Demographics
As of the
censusA "census" is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
of 2000, there were 6,324 people, 1,996 households, and 1,361 families residing in the city. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key term used in geography....
was 1,832.7 people per square mile (706.8/km²). There were 2,255 housing units at an average density of 652.5/sq mi (251.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 46.40%
WhiteRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.69%
BlackRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or
African AmericansRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 29.1%
Native AmericanRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 31.73%
AsianRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.93%
Pacific IslanderRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 4.36% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 5.42% from two or more races. 8.54% of the population were
HispanicRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or
LatinoRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
Transportation
Kodiak's airport attracts both local and regional airlines, air taxis, and charter floatplanes and helicopters which provide transportation to residents and tourists on and off the island. The Alaskan Marine Highway provides further transportation via a ferry called the M/V Tustumena. The ship can carry a capacity of 210 people and services between Kodiak, Homer and Seward Alaska. Floatplane and bushplane companies regularly take tourists to remote areas and wilderness lodges both on the various islands of the Kodiak Archipelago and the Katmai coast for bear viewing, hunting and hikes. The city business community also has a fleet of privately owned taxis as well as kayaks, mountain bikes and ATV's for rent.
Community events
The City of Kodiak is home to a number of annual events that draw locals and people from off-island. The most well-known of these is Kodiak Crab Festival. Organized by the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce the event takes place over Memorial Day weekend. It includes a county fair-style main event, with carnival rides, food and game booths, and group activities. In addition, a number of events are organized over the three-day weekend that include a kayak race, a
marathonThe marathon is a long-distance foot race with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres that is usually run as a road race. The event is named after the fabled run of the Greek soldier Pheidippides, a messenger from the Battle of Marathon to Athens...
, an ultra-marathon, a mountain run called the Pillar Mountain Run and others.
Education
The city has four public elementary schools, one middle school and one high school as well as a branch of the University of Alaska. Within the public school district, there are eight rural schools.
Kodiak Bear sports have a long tradition dating back into the 60's when Joe Floyd was successful in coordinating high school athletics as well as intramural sports. He was a coach for several sports as well as an athletic director for several years. There have been an total of eight ASAA affiliated State Championships in the variety of 2 Boys Track, 1 Girls X-Country, 1 Girls Basketball, 1 Boys Basketball, 1 Boys Baseball, and most recently a string of three consecutive titles in the Boys Cross Country teams (2006-08). Kristy Klinnert was the Alaska State Cross-Country Running Champion from 1983-1987. She set and still holds the State record in the 3200. For two years in a row, she won the State Championship in the mile and 3200. In 1986, Kristi was named the Alaska Sports Person of the Year.Kodiak is also home to
Saint Herman's Orthodox Theological SeminarySaint Herman’s Orthodox Theological Seminary is an Orthodox Christian seminary located in Kodiak, Alaska with a campus in Anchorage. Established as a pastoral school in 1972, the seminary now provides a number of educational programs to prepare students for work in the Orthodox Church, as readers,...
, a theological school founded in 1972 under the auspices of the
Orthodox Church in AmericaThe Orthodox Church in America is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church in North America. Its primate is Metropolitan Jonah , who was elected on November 12, 2008, and was formally installed on December 28, 2008...
. Students from villages all over southern and southwestern Alaska study at St. Herman's in order to become readers or
clergyClergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. The term ultimately comes from the Greek κλῆρος - klēros, "a lot", "that which is assigned by lot" or metaphorically, "inheritence"....
in the Orthodox Church.
Media
KUBD-LPKUBD-LP is a low power television station in Kodiak, Alaska, affiliated with the CBS and ION television networks. KUBD-LP is owned by Ketchikan Television LLC....
(TV Channel 11), the local
CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American television network, one of television's original "big three", which also include NBC and ABC. Like NBC, CBS started out as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System...
and ION affiliate.
KMXT-LP (TV Channel 9),
AlaskaOneAlaskaOne is a statewide PBS member network, serving communities in Alaska outside of Anchorage, ....
KMXTKMXT is a non-commercial radio station in Kodiak, Alaska, broadcasting on 100.1 FM. The station airs public radio programming from the National Public Radio network and the BBC World Service. KMXT also airs some locally originated programming....
(100.1 FM) the community public radio station
Kodiak Daily MirrorThe Kodiak Daily Mirror is the daily newspaper of Kodiak, Alaska, established June 15, 1940. It is owned by the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and is issued five days a week....
(Monday through Friday newspaper)
Military installations
The
United States NavyThe United States Navy is the sea branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. As of 31 December 2008, the U.S. Navy had about 331,682 personnel on active duty and 124,000 in the Navy Reserve. It operates 283 ships in active service and more than...
operates a small training base near the city called
Naval Special Warfare Cold Weather Detachment KodiakThe Naval Special Warfare Cold Weather Detachment Kodiak is a United States Navy base near Kodiak, Alaska used to train United States Navy SEALs. The training includes cold weather survival and advanced tactical training in forested, coastal environments...
which trains
United States Navy SEALsThe United States Navy Sea, Air, and Land Forces, commonly known as the Navy SEALs, are the Special Operations Forces of the United States Navy, employed in direct action and special reconnaissance operations...
in cold weather survival and advanced tactics.
The U.S. Coast Guard has a major presence in Kodiak, Alaska.
- USCGC ALEX HALEY (WMEC 39)
- AIDS TO NAVIGATION TEAM KODIAK
- COMMUNICATION STATION KODIAK
- NORTH PACIFIC REGIONAL TRAINING CENTER (NPRTC)
- MARINE SAFETY DETACHMENT KODIAK
- NAVAL ENGINEERING SUPPORT UNIT (NESU) DETACHMENT KODIAK
- ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS SUPPORT UNIT KODIAK (ESU)
External links
FOX News http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,347911,00.html?admin=1