Haines, Alaska

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Coordinates: 59°14′2″N 135°26′49″W / 59.23389, -135.44694
Haines, Alaska
Haines, as seen from the Chilkoot Inlet.
Location of Haines, Alaska
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Borough	Haines
Area
- Total	21.5 sq mi (55.8 km²)
- Land	13.5 sq mi (35 km²)
- Water	8 sq mi (20.8 km²)
Elevation	36 ft (11 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	1,811
Time zone	Alaska (AKST) (UTC-9)
- Summer (DST)	AKDT (UTC-8)
Area code(s)	907
FIPS code	02-31050
GNIS feature ID	1422400

Haines is a city in Haines Borough, Alaska, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 1,811. Haines has no municipal government; in November 2002, voters approved a measure consolidating the city of Haines and the Haines Borough into a home rule borough.^[1]

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Attractions
5 Education
6 Media
7 Transportation
8 References
9 External links

[edit] History

The area around present-day Haines was called "'Dtehshuh" or "end of the trail" by the Chilkat group of Tlingit. It received this name because they could portage (carry) their canoes from the trail they used to trade with the interior, which began at the outlet of the Chilkat River, to Dtehshuh and save 32 km (20 miles) of rowing around the Chilkat Peninsula. George Dickinson, an agent for the North West Trading Company, settled at Dtehshuh in 1880. In 1881, the Chilkat asked Sheldon Jackson to send missionaries to the area. S. Young Hall, a Presbyterian minister, was sent. He built the Willard mission and school at Dtehshuh, on land given the church by the Chilkat. The mission was renamed Haines in 1884 in honor of Mrs. F. E. Haines, the chairwoman of the committee that raised funds for its construction.

Four canneries were constructed around the mission by 1900. During the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898-1899, Haines grew as a supply center, since the Dalton Trail from Chilkat Inlet offered a route to the Yukon for prospectors. Gold was also discovered 36 miles from Haines in 1899 at the Porcupine District. During this time, the name Haines came into use for the area around the mission and not for just the mission itself. With the finishing of the White Pass and Yukon Route railway in neighboring Skagway, the Dalton Trail was mostly abandoned and Haines declined economically.

Fort William H. Seward, a United States Army installation was constructed south of Haines in 1904, on property donated by the mission from its holdings. In 1922, the fort was renamed Chilkoot Barracks. It was the only United States Army post in Alaska before World War II. During World War II, it was used as a supply point for some U. S. Army activities in Alaska. The fort was deactivated in 1946 and sold as surplus property to a private group who called it Port Chilkoot. In 1970, Port Chilkoot merged with Haines into one municipality. In 1972, the fort was designated a National Historic Landmark and the name, Fort William H. Seward, was restored.

The last of the four canneries closed in 1972 due to declining fish stocks. Logging and sawing timber has been an industry around Haines but has declined also in recent years. Tourism is now an important source of income in the community.

[edit] Geography

Haines is located at 59°14′2″N, 135°26′49″W (59.233800, -135.447009)^[2].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 21.5 square miles (55.8 km²), of which, 13.5 square miles (35.0 km²) of it is land and 8.0 square miles (20.8 km²) of it (37.26%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 1,811 people, 752 households, and 505 families residing in the city. The population density was 134.0 people per square mile (51.7/km²). There were 895 housing units at an average density of 66.2/sq mi (25.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.62% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 13.86% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 5.14% from two or more races. 1.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 752 households out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,926, and the median income for a family was $51,316. Males had a median income of $41,103 versus $30,278 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,505. About 5.8% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Attractions

Many tourists visit during the annual appearance of bald eagles in the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve between October and February.

The community and surrounding area is also extremely popular for outdoor recreation. Rafting in the Chilkat River and hiking in the Takshanuk Mountains (Mount Ripinski and other peaks) are both popular as are the winter recreational opportunities available at and around Chilkat Pass for which Haines serves as a gateway with the Haines Highway. The Davidson Glacier, due to its relatively accessible nature, is also a popular attraction.

Haines also has a number of cultural offerings. Alaska Indian Arts ^[4] offers demonstrations by traditional craftsmen. History of the town of Haines and the local Tlingit people are featured in the Sheldon Museum & Cultural Center ^[5]. The Hammer Museum ^[6] is dedicated to the history of the hammer in human society. The Tsirku Canning Company Museum offers a glimpse of Haines' historic salmon canneries.

Many tourists also visit annually on cruise ships.

[edit] Education

Haines is home to the highly popular Haines Borough Public Library and also the Haines Borough School District its high school. Some students from Haines also choose to attend Klukwan High School in nearby Klukwan, although it is administered by a separate school district (Chatham School District).

[edit] Media

Haines is served a weekly newspaper, the Chilkat Valley News^[7], as well as the public radio station KHNS which serves upper Lynn Canal (Haines, Skagway, and Klukwan) although its primary studios are located in Haines.

Haines also receives circulation of the free regional newspaper Capital City Weekly.

[edit] Transportation

Main Street, downtown Haines.

Haines is much more accessible than most other Southeastern communities of its size, having the advantages of being connected to the North American highway system by the Haines Highway, however snow and ice conditions in the winter and the long driving times can often make this route less-feasible than in theory. The primary mode of inter-Southeastern transportation is by the Alaska Marine Highway. The Lynn Canal route of the ferry system (Juneau-Haines-Skagway) is the only profitable route in the entire system^{citation needed} and often receives a large amount of ferry traffic, especially in the summer.

However, the Haines Airport also receives a large amount of traffic as well with three bush carriers serving it with services to Gustavus, Skagway, and Juneau: L.A.B. Flying Service, Wings of Alaska, and Skagway Air Service.