Metlakatla, Alaska

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This article is about the Metlakatla in Alaska. For "Old Metlakatla" in British Columbia, see Metlakatla, British Columbia.

Metlakatla (pronounced [ˌmɛt.ləˈkæt.lə]) is a census-designated place (CDP) on Annette Island in Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,375.

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[edit] Geography

Location of Metlakatla, Alaska

Metlakatla is located at 55°7′37″N, 131°34′35″W (55.126916, -131.576393)GR1. It is on the Port Chester harbor, on Annette Island, about 25 km (15 miles) south of Ketchikan.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 6.1 km² (2.3 mi²). 6.0 km² (2.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.85%) is water.

Metlakatla is from Maxłakxaała, a Tsimshian word meaning "Salt Water Passage." Metlakatla was named after another village of the same name ("Old Metlakatla") in British Columbia, which is on Metlakatla Pass, near Prince Rupert. The name may not be as appropriate for the Alaskan Metlakatla ("New Metlakatla"), as the weather there can be quite stormy.

In a more ancient time it was a Tlinget Hunting Ground known as "Taquan". The Tsimshians were granted permission to own the land by Chief Johnson of the Tlinget Tribe.

Metlakatla was selected by an appointed search commity, for it's calm bay, gently sloped beaches, and nearby waterfall.

William Duncan was not a tanner. He worked for the tannery firm of George Cussons in Beverley, Yorkshire, first as a messenger boy, then clerk, book keeper and finally as a salesman.

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 1,375 people, 469 households, and 338 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 228.8/km² (593.4/mi²). There were 531 housing units at an average density of 88.4/km² (229.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 9.53% White, 0.22% Black or African American, 81.82% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.51% from other races, and 7.85% from two or more races. 1.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 469 households out of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.50.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 33.1% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 108.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $43,516, and the median income for a family was $49,671. Males had a median income of $36,696 versus $22,292 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,140. About 7.7% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

In 1886, William Duncan, an English tanner and lay minister of the Anglican Church, had a doctrinal dispute with the Church authorities in Metlakatla, B.C.. He and a devoted group of Tsimshian followers decided to leave Metlakatla. Duncan went to Washington, D.C., in the United States and asked the U.S. government to give his group land in Alaska. The U.S. gave them Annette Island. In 1887 the group arrived on the island and built a settlement in the Port Chester area of the island. The town was laid out in a neat grid pattern and contained a church, a school, a tannery, and a sawmill. They named the town New Metlakatla, after the town they had left behind, but later dropped the "New". in 1888, William Duncan returned to Washington and lobbied the U.S. Congress for an Indian reservation on Annette Island. Although the reservation system had not been used in Alaska, this request was granted in 1891. Annette Island and its surrounding islands today comprise the only Indian reservation in Alaska. Duncan remained at Metlakatla until his death in 1918.

During World War II a large airfield was built on Annette Island. After the war it became a United States Coast Guard search and rescue base. Until recently, it was the largest airfield in Alaska.

Travelers into Metlakatla usually reach it the Alaska Marine Highway ferry or by traveling to Ketchikan, on Revillagigedo Island and crossing the Revillagigedo Channel that separates Annette and Revillagigedo Islands by boat or seaplane.

[edit] Prominent Metlakatlans

[edit] External links


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Juneau (capital)
Regions

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Census areas

Aleutians West | Bethel | Dillingham | Nome | Prince of Wales‑Outer Ketchikan | Skagway‑Hoonah‑Angoon | Southeast Fairbanks | Valdez‑Cordova | Wade Hampton | Wrangell‑Petersburg | Yukon‑Koyukuk | (see also) Unorganized Borough


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