Thorne Bay, Alaska

Last updated
Thorne Bay
City
Flag of Thorne Bay, Alaska.gif
Flag
USA Alaska location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Thorne Bay
Location in Alaska
Coordinates: 55°40′38″N132°33′22″W / 55.67722°N 132.55611°W / 55.67722; -132.55611 Coordinates: 55°40′38″N132°33′22″W / 55.67722°N 132.55611°W / 55.67722; -132.55611
CountryUnited States
State Alaska
Incorporated August 9, 1982 [1]
Government
 •  Mayor Harvey McDonald [2]
 •  State senator Bert Stedman (R)
 •  State rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (D)
Area
[3]
 • Total29.72 sq mi (76.97 km2)
 • Land26.67 sq mi (69.08 km2)
 • Water3.04 sq mi (7.88 km2)
Elevation
128 ft (39 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total476
 • Density17.85/sq mi (6.89/km2)
Time zone UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-8 (AKDT)
ZIP code
99919
Area code 907
FIPS code 02-77140
GNIS feature ID 1669435

Thorne Bay is a city in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 471, down from 557 in 2000.

Contents

Geography

Thorne Bay is located at 55°40′38″N132°33′22″W / 55.677232°N 132.556246°W / 55.677232; -132.556246 . [4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 30.4 square miles (79 km2), of which, 25.5 square miles (66 km2) of it is land and 4.8 square miles (12 km2) of it (15.85%) is water.

Climate

The average temperature of Thorne Bay is 45 °F, which is much higher than the Alaska average temperature of 32 °F and is much lower than the national average temperature of 54 °F. [5]

Thorne Bay
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
11
 
 
37
28
 
 
8.5
 
 
40
28
 
 
8.2
 
 
44
31
 
 
6.6
 
 
49
33
 
 
4.2
 
 
58
40
 
 
3.1
 
 
63
46
 
 
3.3
 
 
66
50
 
 
4.9
 
 
66
50
 
 
9.9
 
 
59
44
 
 
16
 
 
50
39
 
 
15
 
 
42
33
 
 
13
 
 
38
30
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: WeatherBase.com (13 March, 2021)
Climate data for Thorne Bay, Alaska (1991–2020 normals, extremes 2007–present)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)59
(15)		52
(11)		66
(19)		73
(23)		80
(27)		89
(32)		90
(32)		90
(32)		83
(28)		71
(22)		58
(14)		55
(13)		90
(32)
Mean maximum °F (°C)49.3
(9.6)		48.2
(9.0)		51.9
(11.1)		61.1
(16.2)		72.2
(22.3)		77.7
(25.4)		82.6
(28.1)		77.8
(25.4)		70.6
(21.4)		59.9
(15.5)		51.2
(10.7)		46.9
(8.3)		85.2
(29.6)
Average high °F (°C)38.2
(3.4)		39.6
(4.2)		42.7
(5.9)		49.9
(9.9)		57.1
(13.9)		62.6
(17.0)		65.5
(18.6)		65.3
(18.5)		58.9
(14.9)		50.6
(10.3)		41.8
(5.4)		37.7
(3.2)		50.8
(10.4)
Average low °F (°C)28.1
(−2.2)		28.3
(−2.1)		29.7
(−1.3)		33.9
(1.1)		40.0
(4.4)		46.2
(7.9)		50.6
(10.3)		50.2
(10.1)		45.2
(7.3)		38.0
(3.3)		32.2
(0.1)		29.6
(−1.3)		37.7
(3.2)
Mean minimum °F (°C)14.8
(−9.6)		15.8
(−9.0)		18.8
(−7.3)		26.4
(−3.1)		32.1
(0.1)		38.8
(3.8)		43.7
(6.5)		44.4
(6.9)		36.2
(2.3)		28.5
(−1.9)		22.4
(−5.3)		16.3
(−8.7)		8.5
(−13.1)
Record low °F (°C)2
(−17)		7
(−14)		8
(−13)		17
(−8)		25
(−4)		34
(1)		38
(3)		32
(0)		32
(0)		17
(−8)		11
(−12)		−2
(−19)		−2
(−19)
Average precipitation inches (mm)8.16
(207)		5.46
(139)		6.25
(159)		5.09
(129)		3.51
(89)		4.08
(104)		5.30
(135)		6.98
(177)		8.63
(219)		12.12
(308)		10.52
(267)		9.08
(231)		85.18
(2,164)
Average snowfall inches (cm)11.7
(30)		11.7
(30)		8.7
(22)		0.6
(1.5)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		trace7.2
(18)		8.2
(21)		48.1
(122)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)21.715.120.818.516.714.416.417.619.623.323.722.0229.8
Average snowy days4.83.63.40.50.00.00.00.00.00.02.93.919.1
Source: NOAA [6]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1890 17—
1970 443—
1980 320−27.8%
1990 56977.8%
2000 557−2.1%
2010 471−15.4%
2020 4761.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]

Thorne Bay first appeared on the 1890 census as the unincorporated settlement of "Tolstoi Bay." [8] [9] It had 17 residents, of which 13 were Native and 4 were White. [10] It would not appear again until 1970 when it returned as Thorne Bay, also an unincorporated village. It was made a census-designated place (CDP) in 1980. It formally incorporated in 1982.

As of the census [11] of 2000, there were 557 people and 219 households, including 157 families, residing in the city. The population density was 541.8 people per square mile (8.4/km2). There were 327 housing units at an average density of 12.8 per square mile (4.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.46% Caucasian, 2.87% Alaska Native, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races, and 3.95% from two or more races. 1.26% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 219 households, out of which 98.2% had children under the age of 35 living with them, 6.6% were married couples living together, 46.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 92.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 22.54 and the average family size was 33.03.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 28.4% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 30.3% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 10 females, there were 11.9 males. For every 10 females age 18 and over, there were 12.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $52,625, and the median income for a family was $46,875. Males had a median income of $98,600 versus $10,25 for females. The per capita income for the city was $108,625. About 6.3% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

History and culture

Thorne Bay is named for Frank Manly Thorn, who served as Superintendent of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1885 to 1889. The name of the bay was misspelled when published in the original record, and the spelling was never corrected to match the spelling of Thorn's last name. [12]

Thorne Bay originally began as a large logging camp for the Ketchikan Pulp Company in 1960 that was originally located in Hollis. Being a floating camp at the time, most Hollis residents resided in float houses. In the 1960s and 1970s it was the largest logging camp in North America and was host to over 1500 residents at its peak. It became a second-class city in 1982 and in 2001 the logging company pulled out having been a victim of breach of contract from the U.S. Forest Service. [ citation needed ] The U.S. Forest Service signed a fifty-year contract in 1954 guaranteeing 150 million board foot (350 thousand  m3 ) per year for the pulp mill and sawmills in Ketchikan. [ citation needed ] By 1990 that figure was down to approximately 50 million board foot (120 thousand m3) per year. Currently Thorne Bay features many seasonal residents and an employment sector based primarily in Forest Service and public education.

World's largest logging camp

In the 1970s–1980s, Thorne Bay was the world's largest logging camp, and it still holds the record. Thorne Bay also has the world's largest tree grapple, which everyone there calls "the claw". The grapple is placed in front of the small town, with a sign that says "Thorne Bay".

Education

The school is the Thorne Bay School, operated by Southeast Island School District. [13]

Related Research Articles

Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska Borough in Alaska, United States

Ketchikan Gateway Borough is a borough located in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2020 census its population was 13,948, up from 13,477 in 2010. The borough seat is Ketchikan. The borough is the second most populous borough in Southeast Alaska, the first being Juneau Borough.

Yakutat, Alaska Consolidated city-borough in Alaska, United States

The City and Borough of Yakutat is a borough in the U.S. state of Alaska and the name of a former city within it. The name in Tlingit is Yaakwdáat. It derives from an Eyak name, diyaʼqudaʼt, and was influenced by the Tlingit word yaakw.

Goodnews Bay, Alaska City in Alaska, United States

Goodnews Bay is a city in Bethel Census Area, Alaska, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city was 243, up from 230 in 2000.

Lower Kalskag, Alaska City in Alaska, United States

Lower Kalskag is a city in Bethel Census Area, Alaska, United States. It is twenty-six miles west of Aniak. At the 2010 census the population was 282, up from 267 in 2000.

Nightmute is a city and village in Bethel Census Area, Alaska, United States. The population was 208 at the 2000 census and 280 as of the 2010 census.

Anderson, Alaska City in Alaska, United States

Anderson is a city in the Denali Borough, Alaska, United States, and the borough's only incorporated community. At the 2010 census the population was 246, down from 367 at the 2000 census. At the 2020 census, the population dropped to 177 residents. The city is named after one of the original homesteaders.

Manokotak is a city in Dillingham Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 442, up from 399 in 2000.

Togiak is a city in Dillingham Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 817, up from 809 in 2000.

Pilot Point, Alaska City in Alaska, United States

Pilot Point is a city in Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska, United States, on the Alaska Peninsula. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 70, up from 68 in 2010.

Teller, Alaska City in Alaska, United States

Teller is a city in the Nome Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 229, a decrease from 268 in 2000.

White Mountain, Alaska City in Alaska, United States

White Mountain is a city in Nome Census Area, Alaska, United States. The population was 190 at the 2010 census, down from 203 in 2000. The city is an Iġaluŋmiut Inupiat village, with historical influences from and relationships with Qawiaraq (Mary's Igloo Inupiat and Golovin and Elim Yup’iks. 86.2% of the population is Alaska Native or part Native. Subsistence activities are prevalent. White Mountain is the only village on the Seward Peninsula located inland, not on the ocean.

Coffman Cove, Alaska City in Alaska, United States

Coffman Cove is a city in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, in the United States. It is located on Prince of Wales Island. The population was 176 at the 2010 census, down from 199 in 2000.

Craig, Alaska City in Alaska, United States of America

Craig is a city in the Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area in the Unorganized Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. The population was 1,036 at the 2020 census, down from 1,201 in 2010.

Edna Bay, Alaska City in Alaska, United States

Edna Bay is a city on Kosciusko Island in the Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. The community was officially incorporated on October 13, 2014 and has a population of 42 as of the 2010 Census, down from 49 in 2000.

Kasaan, Alaska City in Alaska, United States

Kasaan is a city in the Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. The population was 49 at the 2010 census, up from 39 in 2000. The name "Kasaan" comes from Tlingit Kasa'aan, meaning "pretty town".

Klawock, Alaska City in Alaska, United States

Klawock is a city in Prince of Wales–Hyder Census Area, in the U.S. state of Alaska, on the west coast of Prince of Wales Island, on Klawock Inlet, across from Klawock Island. The population was 755 at the 2010 census, down from 854 in 2000. It is located 90 kilometres (56 mi) from Ketchikan, 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from Craig, and 39 kilometres (24 mi) from Hollis.

Naukati Bay, Alaska Census-designated place in Alaska, United States

Naukati Bay is a census-designated place (CDP) in the Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area of the Unorganized Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. The population was 113 at the 2010 census, down from 135 in 2000.

Kotlik is a city in Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 577, down from 591 in 2000.

Kaltag, Alaska City in Alaska, United States

Kaltag(KAL-tag) is a city and village in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 190, down from 230 in 2000.

Nikolai, Alaska City in Alaska, United States

Nikolai is a city in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. The population was 94 as of the 2010 census, down from 100 in 2000.

References

  1. ↑ 1996 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory. Juneau: Alaska Municipal League/Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs. January 1996. p. 150.
  2. ↑ 2015 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory. Juneau: Alaska Municipal League. 2015. p. 154.
  3. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  4. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. ↑ "Thorne Bay, AK Weather". USA.com. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
  6. ↑ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Bulletin". 1906.
  9. ↑ "Geological Survey Professional Paper". 1949.
  10. ↑ http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1890a_v8-01.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  11. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. ↑ "Thorne Bay | Southeast Conference". www.seconference.org.
  13. ↑ "Thorne Bay School." Alaska Department of Education. Retrieved on June 2, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.