Community Profile

Community Profile

Location: Hoonah is 40 air miles west of Juneau (capital of Alaska). In 1754, the Huna Tlingit people permanently settled twenty miles south of Glacier Bay, to Hoonah where they subsistence-harvested each summer. It encompasses 6.6 square miles of land and 2.1 square miles of water on the northeast shore of Chichagof Island (3rd largest island in AK, 5th largest island in U.S.) It is part of the Tongass National Forest, which is the largest National Forest in the U.S. - about the size of Indiana.

Elevation: 52 ft (16 m)

Economy: Fishing, fish processing, and local government are mainstays of the economy. The city and school district are the main public sector employers. Tourism has developed into a major industry. Subsistence activities remain important components of the lifestyle. Salmon (king, silver, sockeye, chum & pink), halibut, shellfish, deer, waterfowl, and berries are harvested.

Population: 760 (2010 Census)

Weather: cool summers, mild winters. Precipitation: 100 inches annually, with 71 inches of snowfall. Chichagof Island is classified as a temperate rainforest.

Summertime provides up to 19 hours of daily sunlight, while winter has as little as 6 hours of daylight.

Chichagof Island has the largest brown bear population in the world, approximately 3 bears per square mile.

Hoonah has the world’s longest zipline, 5300 feet long with a 1300-foot vertical drop.

The City owns and operates a water and sewer system, port, refuse collection utility, and a boat haul out facility. The State owns and operates the airport and seaplane float, and the Alaska Marine Highway.

Hoonah is served by two daily small plane services to Juneau.

Hoonah has only local roads. There are no road connections to other towns.

The City of Hoonah School District operates a K-12 school.