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| Craig, Alaska | |
|---|---|
| Name | Craig |
| Native name | Shaa Kaa |
| Settlement type | City |
| Coordinates | 55°28′N 133°07′W |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Prince of Wales–Hyder Census Area |
| Founded | 1907 |
| Incorporated | 1922 |
| Area total km2 | 18.1 |
| Population | 1,036 |
| Population as of | 2020 |
| Timezone | AKST |
| Zip code | 99921 |
Craig, Alaska is a city located on the west coast of Prince of Wales Island in southeastern Alaska. It serves as a regional hub for fishing, transportation, and services for surrounding communities and islands. Craig is connected by ferry, air, and logging roads to other parts of the Alexander Archipelago and functions as a focal point for indigenous Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultural activity and commercial fishing operations.
The area around Craig was traditionally inhabited by the Tlingit and Haida peoples, whose settlements and seasonal camps are associated with names recorded in ethnographies and by explorers such as George Vancouver, James Cook, and Alexander Baranov. European and American exploitation of marine resources accelerated after the Alaska Purchase, bringing traders associated with the Russian-American Company, Hudson's Bay Company, and later American Commercial Company. The modern townsite grew with the expansion of the Pacific salmon canning industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, linking Craig to firms like the Alaska Packers Association, the Libby, McNeill & Libby operations, and seasonal labor migrations documented in shipping manifests to Sitka and Juneau. Incorporation in the early 20th century followed the development of canneries, sawmills, and a commercial harbor used by vessels affiliated with Northwest Fisheries Science Center research cruises and Alaska Marine Highway System ferries. World War II era strategic considerations tied southeastern communities to installations and convoys involving the United States Navy, Civil Aeronautics Administration, and Aleutian supply routes. Postwar changes in federal fisheries management, such as provisions influenced by the Magnuson-Stevens Act, affected local processing and fleet patterns, while contemporary developments intersect with initiatives from the Sealaska Corporation and regional tribal organizations.
Craig occupies a maritime position on western Prince of Wales Island within the Alexander Archipelago, facing channels used historically by the Inside Passage and vessels bound for Ketchikan and Petersburg. Its setting includes temperate rainforest ecosystems classified in studies by the United States Forest Service and mapped by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Terrain includes coastal tidelands, sheltered bays, and surrounding old-growth stands formerly logged by companies such as Ketchikan Pulp Company and contemporary contractors. Craig's climate is characterized as oceanic with strong maritime moderation described in climatologies from the National Weather Service and local observations recorded in NOAA datasets; frequent precipitation, mild winters relative to interior Alaska, and cool summers influence fisheries, timber operations, and subsistence patterns noted in ethnographic work associated with University of Alaska Southeast researchers.
Census counts and community profiles reflect a population with significant representation of Alaska Native peoples affiliated with Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian heritage as recognized by regional tribal councils and organizations like the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and Sealaska. Demographic trends, migration linked to employment in sectors tracked by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and age distributions are comparable to other small coastal Alaskan towns such as Hoonah and Klawock. Population fluctuations correspond with seasonal fishing and logging labor demands that historically attracted workers from places serviced by the Alaska Marine Highway System and regional air carriers including Alaska Airlines affiliated commuter services.
Commercial and subsistence fishing around Craig centers on salmon, herring, halibut, and shellfish, with participation by permit holders regulated through processes involving the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Processing facilities, tenders, and independent skippers connect Craig to processor networks once operated by companies like Trident Seafoods and to local cannery infrastructure. Timber harvesting and value-added wood products link to the history of firms such as Viking Lumber and regulatory frameworks administered by the United States Forest Service for the Tongass National Forest. Tourism, charter fishing, and wildlife viewing bring visitors arriving via the Alaska Marine Highway System, private yachts transiting the Inside Passage, and air taxi services from regional operators documented by the Federal Aviation Administration. Local small businesses engage with financing and development programs offered by entities like the U.S. Small Business Administration and regional economic development councils.
Municipal administration operates through a city council model comparable to other incorporated Alaskan towns, interacting with borough-level services provided by the Prince of Wales–Hyder Census Area and state agencies headquartered in Juneau. Infrastructure includes a harbor maintained for commercial fleet moorage, facilities for the Alaska Marine Highway ferry calls, and an airport serving commuter links under oversight of the Federal Aviation Administration. Public safety resources coordinate with the Alaska State Troopers, regional volunteer fire departments, and tribal public safety programs. Utilities and telecommunication services are provided with participation from regional cooperatives and companies such as Alaska Electric Light & Power-type providers and broadband initiatives supported by the Alaska Broadband Task Force.
Educational services are delivered by a school district similar to the Southeast Island School District structure, with elementary and secondary programs that partner with institutions such as University of Alaska Southeast for vocational and continuing education pathways. Cultural education and language revitalization initiatives involve collaboration with tribal entities like Sealaska Heritage Institute and local heritage organizations preserving Tlingit and Haida language and practices. Healthcare access is provided by clinics and visiting providers linked to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and regional hospitals in Ketchikan and Juneau for advanced medical services; telemedicine programs coordinate with state health networks administered by the Alaska Department of Health.
Craig hosts cultural events, potlatches, and public gatherings reflecting Tlingit and Haida traditions, often involving craftwork recognized in exhibits coordinated with the Sealaska Heritage Institute and regional museums such as the Prince of Wales Heritage Museum. Recreational opportunities include sportfishing tournaments tied to charter operations, wildlife viewing of species documented by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service research, and access to hiking, hunting, and foraging within the Tongass National Forest. Seasonal festivals and community arts connect to networks of artists and organizations that exhibit at venues in Sitka, Ketchikan, and Juneau, while marine access supports whale watching and ecotourism operators active in the Inside Passage tourism circuit.
Category:Cities in Prince of Wales–Hyder Census Area, Alaska