POPULATION & DEMOGRAPHICS EDUCATION HEALTH CARE TRANSPORTATION As of July 2015, Sitka’s estimated population was Enrollment 2015-2016 - Grades K-12 Health care is Sitka’s second largest economic Land: No roads connect Sitka to other communities. 8,929 with a median age of 38.4. Residents aged 65 • Sitka School District: 1,276 (K-12) driver. Two hospitals, Southeast Alaska Regional There are 13.8 miles of paved highway. years and over made up 13.9% of the total population.* • Mt. Edgecumbe High School (MEHS)*: 428 Health Consortium (SEARHC) and Sitka *MEHS is a state boarding school Community Hospital, provide critical care and 9,906 Population Demographic Profile 2015 Registered Vehicles/Boats/Trailers: Educational Attainment a full range of health care services including Passenger Vehicles: 4,817 (2015 DMV) 1990: 8,588 Male/Female 51% / 49% specialty clinics. H.S. Graduate Bachelor’s Degree Transit System: Community Ride Bus 1995: 8,868 White: 75% Facing the Pacific Ocean and surrounded or Higher or Higher In addition, Sitka has four American Medical by the Tongass National Forest with Association dentists, a public health center, 2000: 8,835 Alaska Native/Am. Ind.: 21.1% its abundant lakes and streams, Sitka The U.S. Forest Service Sitka 92% 33% optometrist, and chiropractic service providers. Air: The major air carrier is Alaska Airlines. Delta enjoys an extensive variety of outdoor Starrigavan cabin was constructed Commercial & light industrial property available at the Owning your own island is a possiblity in Trailers make up a large segment of provides summer service. There are several small air 2005: 8,948 Asian: 7.6% Alaska 92% 28% Sitka, this home is offered for $750,000. Sitka’s lowest cost housing. activities: sailing, kayaking, fishing, in 2008 from young Sitka spruce Sawmill Cove Industrial Park with year-round, Sitka’s two hospitals host the annual Sitka Health carriers with scheduled and charter air service. 2010: 8,881 African American: 1.5% diving, camping, beachcombing, hiking, trees harvested around U.S.A. 86% 29% Summit. A number of successful community hunting and even surfing. Starrigavan Creek. ice-free deep water access. wellness projects have been initiated from the HOUSING Daily jet service via Alaska Airlines & 2015: 8,929* Other: 1.7% Source: American Community Survey 2008-2012 5-Year Estimates www.sawmillcove.com Summit and independently. A variety of wellness Delta Airlines (seasonal) Note: Race alone or in combination with one or more other races. RECREATION & CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYMENT & ECONOMY programs are offered throughout the community. Sitka has an estimated 4,105 housing units with an University owner occupancy rate of just over 57.6%. The me- Distance in air miles from nearby cities: Source: US Census, Bureau, *AK Dept. of Labor Sitka has a great variety of indoor and outdoor recreation A branch of the University of Alaska Southeast provides In 2016, Sitka was awarded the Silver level Juneau, Alaska - 94 (38 mins. flight time) Sitka’s largest economic driver is the seafood dian value for owner-occupied units was estimated at opportunities and a very active events calendar on-site and distance learning opportunities, including designation as a bicycle friendly community. There Anchorage, Alaska - 596 (3.25 hrs. flight time) industry supporting three large seafood processing $335,800. throughout the year. specialized degree and certificate programs in fisheries is a community gym with workout equipment, Seattle, Washington - 858 (2.25 hrs. flight time) technology, education, health care, and law enforcement. plants and the largest commercial fishing fleet in classes and group activities. Annual events include: Sitka Salmon Derby, Jazz Southeast Alaska (632 vessels 2015). Sitka’s An estimated 51.2% of homes are heated with fuel oil Marine: Sitka is served by the Alaska Marine Festival, Sitka Summer Music Festival, WhaleFest, status as a major U.S. seafood port has grown over According to a study by the Robert Wood Johnson and 33.4% are heated by electricity. Highway offering weekly scheduled ferry service for Alaska State Trooper Academy the past decade and in 2014 Sitka ranked as the Foundation, Sitka ranks as the 2nd healthiest Artigras Festival of Arts and Music, Farmers Markets, The Department of Public Safety Academy, located community in Alaska - just behind Juneau. Source: American Community Survey 2008-2012 5-Year Estimates passengers and vehicles. Fine Arts Camps, Seafood Festival, film festivals, in Sitka, is one of the nation’s finest training facilities. 11th seafood port in the U.S. based on value, with basketball and softball tournaments, triathlons and an estimated $44 million ex-vessel value. It has In 2015, 48 single family homes were sold with an Harbors: The City & Borough of Sitka owns five The Alaska Law Enforcement Training Program offers other races, Spring herring fishery & wildlife viewing. specialized classes and practical training for a variety been estimated that 19% of Sitka’s population over average price of $404,344. Source: Davis Realty small boat harbors with 1,326 permanent slips. This of law enforcement careers. In 2015, 56 officers age 16 are directly involved, in some aspect, in the is the largest small boat harbor system in Alaska. Additional concerts, workshops, and other activities take completed training in Sitka. seafood industry. A total of 114 homes (all types) sold in 2015. In addi- Registered Boats (all types): 2,048 (2015 DMV) place every month of the year. tion 30 vacant residential lots were sold. Source: CBS Commercial Fishing Vessels: 632 Virtually all commercial fishermen are self- Museums - 4 Restaurants - 21+ and a Brew Pub Arts and Science Opportunities employed and their activities are not included in the HUD - Fair Market Rent - 2016 Freight: Regularly scheduled barge service from New Public Library Movie Theaters - 2 payroll employment and unemployment rate data • Efficiency: $823 Seattle and Alaska Airlines air cargo service both Alaska Arts Southeast provides year-round opportunities CLIMATE - Temperate Maritime Parks - 7 Fishing - Awesome below. • One-Bedroom: $899 move goods to and from Sitka. Sitka has two U.S. for youth and adults with a wide range of music, visual • Two-Bedroom: $1,203 Post Office locations and is also served by UPS and Trails - 14+ and ATV Trail Wildlife Viewing - Super and performing arts classes and workshops. The core Sitka is located within the Tongass National Forest, the Payroll Employment & Earnings - 2015 • Three-Bedroom: $1,656 Federal Express for air parcel delivery. largest temperate rainforest in the world. The maritime Campgrounds - 2 Skateboard Park - 1 program is the nationally acclaimed Sitka Fine Arts Camp, held in June and July each year. In the summer of • Total Earnings: $195,725,438 climate is moderated by the Kuroshio (Japan) Current of Ball Fields - 9 Clubs & Fraternal Organizations - Many TAXES - Local and State the Pacific Ocean. 2016 the camp was attended by over 900 students. • Avg. Monthly Wage: $3,572 Shooting Ranges - 2 4th of July Parade & Fireworks - Yes • Avg. Total Monthly Employment: 4,638 PUBLIC SAFETY City Sales Tax: 5% Oct.-Mar. / 6% Apr.-Sept. The annual temperature range between winter and sum- Swimming Pool Alaska Day Parade, Ball and Events - Sitka Sound Science Center (SSSC) is a research Sales Tax Revenues FY15: $9,678,727 mer is comparatively narrow with average temperatures Unique and education facility with a variety of programs focusing • Government Employment : 1,176 Sitka has been designated by the National Weather on the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of the Gulf of during the coldest month being 40°F high/32°F low and Golf Course - 9 hole Volunteer Opportunities - Numerous • Private Employment: 3,390 Services as a tsunami-ready community. The Sitka Property Tax: 6 mils during the warmest month 62°F high/53F° low. Tempera- Alaska. Local Emergency Planning Committee has been active Property Tax Revenues FY15: $6,245,146 Auditoriums / Stages - 4 Active High School Sports Teams (3 H.S.) tures rarely fall below 21°F or rise above 68°F. in performing hazard assessments for the City and M.V. Fairweather, passengers and vehicles can travel to Juneau Playgrounds - 3 Adult Play: Baseball, Softball, Basketball .... The SSSC offers a variety of programs for youth and Unemployment Rate & Labor Force - 2015 Borough, and ensuring community awareness and Bed Tax: 6% in about 4 hrs. Photo by John Reed of Harris Aircraft Services. adults including summer science camps, field courses Average annual precipitation falls as 86” rain and 39” • 4.5% average annual unemployment practical emergency response education. Bed Tax Revenues FY15: $411,916 snow. The longest day of the year is June 20th with 17.55 Places of Worship - 20+ Always Something TO DO! and lectures. The facility houses a salt-water aquarium, Source: City Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, FY 2015 UTILITIES hours of daylight and the shortest day is December 21st touch tank and salmon hatchery, one of only two on the • Highest: 6.4% in January Public safety personnel include: 15 full-time police with 6.42 hours of daylight. west coast. SSSC also hosts the annual Sitka WhaleFest • Lowest : 3.2% in August officers, 10 full-time fire personnel, and 85 EMS/SAR/ Fish Box Tax: $10 per box of Charter caught fish Electricity: Over 95% of Sitka’s electricity is generated by two hydro-electric power plants with the remainder Climate data based on historical records from 1974 to 2012 for the Sitka QUALITY OF LIFE science symposium. Dive Volunteers. Average response to a working fire is 10- Fish Box Tax Revenues FY15: $136,360 • Average monthly labor force: 4,638 being provided by diesel generators. The Blue Lake Rocky Gutierrez Airport. 15 firefighters. In addition, Sitka hosts the Alaska Public dam expansion project was completed in the fall Sitka has the services and amenities of a much larger The Alaska Raptor Center provides medical treatment • Peak labor force: 6,000 in August Safety State Trooper Academy and a US Coast Guard Air Raw Fish Tax: tax assessed on fish processors. of 2015, raising the dam by 83 feet and increasing city, all within a compact area. Residents of the bor- to 100-200 injured bald eagles & other birds every year. Source: Alaska Dept. Labor & Workforce Development Station as well as the US Coast Guard Cutter Maple. Raw Fish Tax for Harbor Fund FY15: $1,009,033 Sitka’s electric capacity by approximately 23%. ough have one of the shortest average daily commutes Over 36,000 people visit the Raptor Center annually and in the United States at only 13.51 minutes This leaves more than 15,000 children around the country take part in Health care is the largest sector for payroll The U.S. Coast Guard has over 200 personnel stationed State Taxes: The State of Alaska has NO state sales Supplier: City and Borough of Sitka time to do other things. With the long daylight hours in the exciting raptor classroom presentations. employment accounting for 14.1% of all payroll jobs in Sitka. tax, inheritance tax or personal property tax. Corpo- Generative Capacity: hydro 32 MW / diesel 25 MW summer you can even go salmon fishing, play a round with monthly average employment of 658 in 2015. rate Income Tax rate varies from 1% to 9.4%. Peak Load: 25 MW Reserve Capacity: 7 MW of golf or take a hike after work. Residential Rates: Based on usage - from $0.1203 Sitka is a U.S. Coast Guard City (9.4% is maximum rate for taxable income over $90k) to $0.1370 per kWh. Plus $20.48 per month service Cool weather crops that like Sitka’s climate include carrots, beets & cauliflower. Top Payroll Employers - 2015 Sitka has a summer farmers market and a U-Pick garden. charge. One of Smithsonian Magazine’s Employer Employees “Best Small Towns to Visit in 2013” COMMUNICATION Commercial Rates Small Customer Large Cus- LOCAL GOVERNMENT S.E.A.R.H.C. 482 tomer Telephone & Internet: Local, long distance, cellular First 500 kWh - per kWh $0.1860 $0.1860 The City & Borough of Sitka is a unified home rule • Nominated to the list of 2010 Dozen Distinctive Sitka School District 219 and satellite telephone services are available. A Destinations by the National Trust for municipality created in 1971. It is governed by a U.S. Coast Guard 209 fiber-optic network was completed in 2007. Cable Additional kWh over 500 - per $0.1308 $0.1303 seven member Assembly that includes the Mayor. Historic Preservation. modem, DSL and dial-up connections are available. kWh Sitka Community Hospital 176 The Borough shares governmental responsibilities • The National Geographic Society named Sitka as Television: Cable and satellite services are available. Customer Charge - per $40.95 $63 with the nine member Council of the Sitka Tribe of one of the world’s top historic destinations in 2008. City & Borough of Sitka 165 month Alaska, a federally recognized Indian Tribe. • Sitka is designated as a “Preserve America Radio Stations: Local stations are KCAW 104.7 FM Demand Charge over 25 kW $5.88 per kW $5.88 per kW Mt. Edgecumbe High School 154 Raven Radio (public radio), KIFW 1230 AM (commercial Community.” Water: Sitka is blessed with abundant fresh water. The City & Borough of Sitka encompasses 4,811.5 Hames Corporation 150 radio), KSBZ 103.1 FM (class rock/rock), KRSA 94.9 square miles of which 1,937.6 square miles (40.27%) • Sitka is one of the “12 Great Places You’ve Never FM/580 AM (Christian programming). Satellite radio is Drinking water comes from Blue Lake and is so pure are water. Heard Of” - Mother Earth News (Aug-Sep 2006) Sitka Tribe of Alaska 134 also available. it does not require filtering prior to purification and distribution to the consumer. • Sitka has been featured on Good Morning America, Sitka Pioneers’ Home 105 Sitka Air Station Jay Hawk crew conducts a training flight. For more information go to the web sites: Students of the Bald eagle at the Newspaper: Daily Sitka Sentinel - publishes Monday Utility Rates: for current rate information contact Utility and in Smithsonian, National Geographic Traveler, Source: CBS Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, 2015 US Coast Guard photo by AET1 William Greer www.cityofsitka.com and www.sitkatribe.org Gourmet, Sunset, and Dining Out Magazines. Sitka Fine Arts Camp Alaska Raptor Center through Friday. Customer Service Department at 907-747-1800