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Kupreanof Alaska
56.45N - 133.30W
Population: 23
Location: Kupreanof is located on the northeast shore of Kupreanof Island, across the Wrangell Narrows from Petersburg and Mitkof Island. It lies about 120 miles south of Juneau and 120 miles north of Ketchikan.
History: Early residents homesteaded in the area around the turn of the century, when it was known as West Petersburg. The first business in Kupreanof was a small sawmill started in 1911 by the Knudsen brothers. In its early years, the mill produced barrels for salted fish which were shipped out of Petersburg. The Yukon Fur Farm began raising foxes in the early 1920s, but shortly shifted to mink. It became the first mink farm in Alaska. During the 1920s, over 100 persons resided in West Petersburg. In addition to the sawmill, residents operated a small store, a gaff hook factory, operated one of several mink ranches, or were involved in commercial fishing. During the 1930s and 40s, a small ship repair facility, an outboard motor shop, commercial logging, a clam cannery, and a barrel-maker were operating. Although the Knudsen Mill and the Yukon Fur Farm continued into the 1960s, the economics of living on the Island became more difficult. The population fell from 60 in 1950 to 26 in 1960. The population has since remained stable. Kupreanof was named after the Island when it incorporated as a second class city in 1975 to forestall annexation by Petersburg and to protect the tranquil, self-sufficient lifestyle that characterizes the community.
Culture: Kupreanof is a small, closely-knit non-Native community near Petersburg. All of the homes are built on the waterfront; there are no roads. Residents use skiffs to travel to Petersburg for goods and services.
Economy: The majority of Kupreanof's working residents are self-employed. Some commute by boat to jobs in Petersburg. Subsistence and recreational uses of resources around Kupreanof supplement household incomes; deer, salmon, halibut, shrimp and crab are favorites. The City has no paid staff, few services, and no public utilities.
Transportation: Small boats are the primary means of transportation to, from and within Kupreanof. Boat travel to Petersburg provides connection to that City's transportation services, including jet flights and the State ferry. Float planes can land at Government dock, but it is not a designated seaplane dock. There are no harbor facilities.
Climate: Kupreanof is located in the maritime climate zone. Summer temperatures average 40 to 56, and winter temperatures average 27 to 43. Precipitation averages 105 inches per year, including 93 inches of snow.
Facilities: There are no public utilities in Kupreanof. Residents pipe water from nearby creeks; individual septic tanks or pit privies are used for sewage disposal. Less than half of the homes are fully plumbed. There is no central electric system. Residents operate individual generators. Household refuse is composted, recycled, burned and buried.
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