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BackJuneau, Alaska history
The City and Borough
of Juneau
is a unified
municipality located on the
Gastineau Channel.
It has been the capital of
Downtown Juneau
sits at sea level, with tides averaging 16 feet, below steep
mountains about 3,500 to 4,000 feet high. Atop these mountains
is the Juneau Ice Cap, a large ice mass from which about 30 glaciers
flow; two of these, the
Mendenhall Glacier and the Lemon Glacier, are visible from the local
road system; the Mendenhall glacier has been generally retreating; its
front face is declining both in width and height.
Geography
and climate
-
Average annual rainfall ranges from 55 inches to over 90 inches depending on location;
annual average snowfall is 101 inches.
-
The average high temperature in July is 65°F, and the average low
temperature in January is 20°F.
History
Long before European
settlement in the Americas, the
Gastineau Channel was a favorite fishing ground for local
Tlingit
Indians, known then as the
Auke and
Taku tribes, who had inhabited the surrounding area for thousands of
years. The native cultures are rich with artistic traditions including
carving, weaving, orating, singing and dancing, and Juneau has become a
major social center for the Tlingit,
Haida,
and
Tsimshian of Southeast Alaska.
In 1880,
Sitka mining engineer George Pilz offered a reward to any local
chief who could lead him to gold-bearing ore. Chief Kowee arrived with
some ore and several prospectors were sent to investigate. On their
first trip, to Gold Creek, they found deposits of little
interest. However, at Chief Kowee's urging Pilz sent
Joe Juneau and
Richard Harris back to the Gastineau Channel, directing them to Snow
Slide Gulch (the head of Gold Creek) where they found nuggets "as large
as peas and beans," in Harris' words.
On
October 18,
1880, the two men marked a 160 acre town site where soon a
mining camp appeared. Within a year, the camp became a small town, the
first to be founded after
Alaska's purchase by the United States.
The town was originally
called Harrisburg, after Richard Harris; some time later, its name was
changed to Rockwell. In 1881, the miners met and renamed the town
Juneau, after
Joe Juneau. In 1906, after the diminution of the whaling and fur
trade,
Sitka, the original capital of Alaska, declined in importance and
the seat of government was moved to Juneau.
Juneau is larger in
area than the state of Delaware and was, for many years, the country's
largest city by area. Juneau continues to be the only U.S. state capital
located on an international border: it is bordered on the
east by
Canada.
Transportation
Juneau is only
accessible via sea or air. Cars and trucks are transported to and from
Juneau by barge or
ferry. The State-owned ferry is called the
Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) to indicate that water is the
main transportation system. Juneau is one of only five state capitals
not served by an
interstate highway.
Dover, Delaware;
Jefferson City, Missouri;
Carson City, Nevada (new Interstate 580 completed in 2015); and
Pierre, South Dakota, are the other four state capitals with this
distinction. Approximately one million passengers arrive each summer on
cruise ships. Juneau counts only some 40 miles (64 km) of paved
road. Actually, there are more vehicles in the city than there are
people, as many citizens also own light planes, float planes, and boats.
Local government operates a bus service under the name Capital Transit.
Furthermore there are a few taxicab companies, as well as tour buses,
mainly for cruise ship visitors. Trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, and all terrain vehicles are
popular.
Demographics
As of the 2000 census, there were 30,700 people. By race Juneau was 75% White, 11% Native American, 5% Asian, 0.8% Black, 0.4% Pacific Islander, and 3% Hispanic or Latino of any race. One percent belonged to other races, and 7% to two or more races. 2.61% reported speaking Tagalog at home, while 2.38% speak Spanish and 1.07% Tlingit.
The median income for a
household in the borough was $62,000, and the median income for a family
was $70,300. Males had a median income of $46,700 versus $33,200 for
females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,700. 6% of the
population and 4% of families were below the poverty line. 7% of those
under the age of 18 and 4% of those 65 and older were living below the
poverty line.
Sister Cities
Juneau has 5 official sister cities.
- Whitehorse,
Canada
- Chiayi
City,
ROC (Taiwan)
- Vladivostok,
Russia
- Mishan,
PRC (Chinese
Mainland)
- Bangkok,
Thailand