Ketchikan is named after Ketchikan Creek, which flows through the town, emptying into the Tongass Narrows a short distance southeast of its downtown.
“Ketchikan” comes from the Tlingit name for the creek, Kitschk-hin, the meaning of which is unclear
.
Why is Ketchikan called the first city?
Ketchikan, known as Alaska's “First City”
because it's the first major community travelers come to as they journey north
. Located on an island, Ketchikan began life as an Indian fishing camp. The name Ketchikan comes from a Tlingit phrase that means “Eagle with spread-out wings,” a reference to a waterfall near town.
What does Ketchikan mean in Tlingit?
The first and most common is that Ketchikan is a variation of a Tlingit word meaning ‘
the spread wings of an eagle
. ‘ The second theory is that the name comes from a different Tlingit word which means ‘the white spots on a salmon. ‘
What is the history of Ketchikan Alaska?
In the late 1890s, the Yukon Gold Rush led to extensive prospecting in the Ketchikan region. The town boomed as gold, silver, and copper mines grew up in the area.
Ketchikan was incorporated in 1900 and became the port of entry for ships entering Alaska from the south, earning it the nickname “First City.”
What is the oldest city in Alaska?
Sitka
is the oldest city in Alaska, which makes it no big surprise that it was the original capital. Some studies suggest that the city is at least 10,000 years old. Russians settled Sitka in 1799. It was an important city when Russia owned it as it was a crucial fur trading port.
What did the natives use Ketchikan Creek for?
Native Alaskan peoples, including the Tongass and Cape Fox Tlingits, historically used Ketchikan Creek as
a fish camp
that they called kitschk-hin; the word may mean “the river belonging to Kitschk;” other accounts claim it means “Thundering Wings of an Eagle.”
What dominant tribe of Native Americans live in Ketchikan?
The Ketchikan Community includes people of the
Haida Nation, the Tlingit Nation and the Tshimsian Nation
. As of 2010, 16.7% of Ketchikan's population was First Nations peoples. Just south of Ketchikan live another 10,000 members of the Tlingit tribe.
What lives in Ketchikan Alaska?
Located in the midst of the Tongass National Forest, Ketchikan is home to
black bears, wolves, mountain goats, Sitka black-tailed deer, bald eagles, ravens, and over 100 species of migrating birds
—and that's just above sea level!
What is it like to live in Ketchikan Alaska?
A quaint Alaska town that with an open mind can be the most beautiful place you've experienced
. Outdoorsy and artsy personalities thrive within the rain city Salmon Capital of the world. Averaging 150 inches of rain a year, life is thriving and it makes the sunny days all that much more worth it.
What is the rainiest city in Alaska?
Ketchikan
rivals Whittier and Yakutat as the wettest city in Alaska and the United States.
How old is Ketchikan Alaska?
The City of Ketchikan was
incorporated in 1900
. Alaska did not become a State until 1959! We were the 49
th
State to become part of the United States. The Tongass National Forest surrounds most of Southeast Alaska, it encompasses 16.9 million acres.
How much does it cost to live in Ketchikan AK?
| COST OF LIVING Ketchikan Alaska | Grocery 158.7 141.7 | Health 113.1 113 | Housing 106.7 134.3 | Median Home Cost $259,000 $293,400 |
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Is Ketchikan considered rural?
Ketchikan Gateway Borough, AK has been designated by FORHP as rural
. FAR Description: Areas where the majority of the populations lives 60 minutes or more from Urbanized Areas (50,000 or more population) and 45 minutes or more from Urban Clusters (25,000-49,999 population).
Is Ketchikan American or Canadian?
Ketchikan, city, port of entry, southeastern
Alaska, U.S.
Situated on southwestern Revillagigedo Island and part of the Alexander Archipelago, it lies 235 miles (380 km) south of Juneau.
What is the population of Ketchikan Alaska 2021?
The current population of Ketchikan, Alaska is
8,362
based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates.
Do sharks live in Ketchikan Alaska?
She says
Alaska is home to three main species of shark including the Spiny Dogfish, the Pacific Sleeper shark and the Salmon Shark
. And sometimes even great white and blue sharks are spotted stealing fish from lines and tangling up nets.
What is the state nickname of Alaska?
The Last Frontier
What is the oldest city in USA?
St. Augustine
, founded in September 1565 by Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles of Spain, is the longest continually inhabited European-founded city in the United States – more commonly called the “Nation's Oldest City.”
Where did the Aleuts live?
The Aleut people historically lived
throughout the Aleutian Islands, the Shumagin Islands, and the far western part of the Alaska Peninsula
, with an estimated population of around 25,000 prior to European contact.
How many native Alaskan tribes are there?
More than 180,000
Tribal members make up the 228 Federally Recognized Tribes under the jurisdiction of the Alaska Regional Office – from Ketchikan in the Southeast Panhandle to Barrow on the Arctic Ocean and from Eagle on the Yukon Territory border to Atka in the Aleutian Chain.
Are there still indigenous tribes in Alaska?
In general,
there are five groups of Alaska Native people identified by region
– Iñupiat & St. Lawrence Island Yup'ik in the Arctic; Athabascan in Southcentral and Interior Alaska; Yup'ik & Cup'ik, Unangax̂ and Sugpiaq (Alutiiq) in Southwest Alaska; and Eyak, Haida, Tsimshian, and Tlingit in the Inside Passage.
Are there bears in Ketchikan?
While there are many places to go bear viewing in Alaska,
Ketchikan has access to some of the best places to see black bears (and sometimes brown bears!) in their natural habitat
, feeding on salmon in streams.
How big is Ketchikan Alaska?
4.9 mi2
What is the southern most city in Alaska?
| Adak, Alaska | Country United States | State Alaska | Census Area Aleutians West | Incorporated 2001 |
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