Hyder, Alaska
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| Hyder, Alaska | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Area | |
| - Total | 14.8 sq mi (38.4 km²) |
| - Land | 14.8 sq mi (38.4 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Elevation | 118 ft (36 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 97 |
| - Density | 6.5/sq mi (2.5/km²) |
| Time zone | Alaska (AKST) (UTC-9) |
| - Summer (DST) | AKDT (UTC-8) |
| Area code(s) | 250 |
| FIPS code | 02-34570 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1422711 |
Hyder is a census-designated place (CDP) in Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 97.
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[edit] Geography
Hyder is located at (55.941442, -130.054504)[1].
Hyder is located at the head of the Portland Canal, a 115 km (70 mile) long fjord which forms a portion of the border between the United States and Canada at the southeastern edge of the Alaska Panhandle. Hyder is 3 km (2 miles) from Stewart, British Columbia and 120 km (75 miles) from Ketchikan by air.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 14.8 square miles (38.4 km²), all of it land.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 97 people, 47 households, and 25 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 6.5 people per square mile (2.5/km²). There were 72 housing units at an average density of 4.9/sq mi (1.9/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.88% White, and 4.12% from two or more races. 1.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 47 households out of which 19.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 2.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.7% were non-families. 40.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 18.6% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 16.5% from 25 to 44, 46.4% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 125.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 132.4 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $11,719, and the median income for a family was $30,500. Males had a median income of $56,250 versus $13,750 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $11,491. There were 44.4% of families and 54.1% of the population living below the poverty line, including 81.0% of under eighteens and 50.0% of those over 64.
[edit] History
The Nisga'a, who lived around the Nass River, called the head of Portland Canal "Skam-A-Kounst," meaning safe place, probably because it served them as a retreat from the harassment of the Haidas on the coast. They travelled in the area seasonally to pick berries and hunt birds.
The area around the Portland Canal was explored in 1896 by Captain D.D. Gaillard of the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
In 1898, gold and silver lodes were discovered in the region, mainly on the Canadian side in the upper Salmon River basin. The Stewart brothers, for whom the British Columbia town was named, arrived in 1902.
Hyder was originally called Portland City, after the canal. In 1914, when the United States Postal Service told residents that there were too many cities named Portland in the United States, it was renamed after Frederick Hyder, a Canadian mining engineer who envisioned a bright future for the area. Hyder was the only practical point of access to the silver mines in Canada, and the community became the port, supply point, and post office for miners by 1917. Hyder's boom years occurred between 1920 and 1930, when the Riverside Mine on United States side extracted gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, and tungsten. The mine operated from 1924 until 1950.
In 1948 the old abandoned part of Hyder, which was built on pilings, was destroyed by fire. By 1956 all major mining had closed except for the Granduc Copper Mine on the Canadian side, which operated until 1984. Westmin Resources Ltd. currently operates the only remaining mine in the area, a gold and silver mine on the Canadian side.
Hyder is accessible by highway from Stewart, British Columbia, which connects with the British Columbia highway system. Hyder became popular with long distance motorcycle riders in 1998 when author Ron Ayres set a record of riding to the contiguous 48 states in six days. Ayres went on to add to the 48 state record by continuing on to Hyder, Alaska to establish a new 49-state record of 7 days, 0 hours and 20 minutes. Ayres named the new long distance ride the "48 Plus" and the 49-state ride has become very popular with members of the long distance motorcycle riding Iron Butt Association.
Hyder is also the location of the annual "Hyder-Seek" gathering of long-distance motorcyclists who travel from all over North America each Memorial Day weekend.
[edit] Government Facilities, Utilities and Health Care
(This section was originally excerpted from The Development of the Alaskan Ginseng Industry in Hyder, Alaska)
The community of Hyder is highly dependent on Canada, especially its neighboring town, Stewart. There is no U.S. federal or state law enforcement agency present in Hyder. Law enforcement must be flown in from Ketchikan if a crime occurs. There is a Canadian customs station at the border point in Hyder, but no American one. The only way to get out of Hyder by automobile is through Canada, therefore there is no reason for the government to maintain such an installation.
Hyder is the only community in Alaska that does not use the area code 907; instead, it uses the local British Columbia area code 250. Telephone service is provided to both Stewart and Hyder by Telus Communications, a Canadian telephone company, although Hyder customers are billed by an American "reseller" of the Canadian service. Electrical power is provided by the Tongass Power and Light Company, which services both of the communities. Plumbing and sewers (present in 90% of Hyder's homes) are maintained by their owners. Drain fields and wells are common methods.
The only U.S. federal presence in Hyder is the Hyder Post Office and the Tongass National Forest. The Forest Service operates the Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Area, where visitors can view bears pulling salmon from the river. The Tongass National Forest has an office in the Community Association Building. The Post Office is the only business in Hyder that requires the use of U.S. currency. All other businesses will accept Canadian or American currency.
The State of Alaska maintains the Hyder Deep Water Port and the Hyder Sea Plane Base. Renovations of the seaplane dock and parking are currently under way by the state.
Until 2000, all students living in Hyder were bussed to Stewart each day. Used textbooks were sent from Ketchikan by the state of Alaska to teach these students American history (not taught in Canadian schools). The state also paid the British Columbia government for the use of Canadian educational facilities. In 2000, Hyder received its own school, which is attended by 18 students from the community. The school is administered by the Southeast Island School District, based in Thorne Bay, Alaska.
[edit] Transportation
(This section was originally excerpted from The Development of the Alaskan Ginseng Industry in Hyder, Alaska)
Hyder is unique in that it is one of only three communities on the Alaskan Panhandle that is accessible by road (the others are Skagway and Haines) from the North American highway network. Hyder is at the western end of the Stewart-Hyder Cutoff, Highway 37A, of Canada's Cassiar Highway (Highway 37). Highway 37A extends west of Highway 37 from Meziadin Lake. It is maintained year round and is in the process of being paved. Many of the goods sent to Stewart and Hyder arrive by truck. Lindsay's Cartage and Storage, Arrow Transportation, Bandstra Transportation, and Seaport Limousine Ltd. provide cargo transport for both Hyder and Stewart.
The Salmon River Road runs north out of Hyder to Mountain View Camp and the Ninemile Ruins. This road at one time provided access to the lucrative Riverside mine.
Hyder has a deep water port which actually lies some distance off the coast from the town. There is a long wooden causeway which juts out into the Portland Canal which connects the loading site to the town. The state also has built a boat launching ramp and harbor for smaller private craft. The Alaska ferry served Hyder from 1986 until the late 1990's when the route was phased out due to expense and lack of interest. It is roughly a 10 hour trip by boat from Ketchikan, as it is necessary to head south through the Dixon Entrance and then head back up the Portland Canal. As a result of this, travel between Hyder and other southeastern Alaska cities is primarily by air.
The Canadian government maintains a 3900 foot paved airstrip out of Stewart. All planes without floats coming or going to Hyder therefore must go through Canada. The state of Alaska maintains a medivac helicopter landing pad in Hyder in case of emergencies. Air service in and out of the Stewart Airport is provided by Vancouver Island Helicopters and Taquan Air, as well as other charter outfits from surrounding towns. A Taquan Air float plane (based in Ketchikan) flies the U.S. Mail to Hyder on every Monday and Thursday, weather permitting. Periods of up to three weeks without mail are not unusual when weather fronts refuse to leave, especially between December and March.
Aside from running freight, Seaport Limousine Ltd. also manages the only bus line in the area. It travels to and from Terrace,BC, Canada each weekend and makes connections with the Greyhound Bus Line in Kitwanga and Terrace.
[edit] References
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- Hyder, Alaska is at coordinates Coordinates:
- The Development of the Alaskan Ginseng Industry in Hyder, Alaska - a high school student paper that provides a considerable amount of additional information about Hyder.
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