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With a population of 30,981, located on the mainland of Southeast Alaska,
opposite Douglas Island, Juneau was built at the heart of the Inside Passage
along the Gastineau Channel. It lies 900 air miles northwest of Seattle and
577 air miles southeast of Anchorage. Even though it is on the mainland, it
is the only land locked capital in the United States. Therefore, it is only
accessible via boat or plane.
Juneau has a mild, maritime climate. Average summer temperatures range from
44 to 65; winter temperatures range from 25 to 35. It is in the mildest
climate zone in Alaska. Annual precipitation is 92 inches in downtown
Juneau and 54 inches ten miles north at the airport. Snowfall averages 101
inches.
As the state capital, Juneau is built on mine tilling (crushed rocks)
mainly from the more than 100 miles of tunnels that honeycomb Mount Roberts. Juneau
has a reputation, supported by both locals and visitors, as one of the most
scenically beautiful cities in the USA. A 1995 Los Angeles Times readers’
poll listed Juneau among the top ten cruise destinations in the world for
its scenic beauty and shopping opportunities. Overhead are the
snowcapped peaks of Mt Juneau and Mt Roberts, while the Gastineau Channel
provides a bustling waterfront. Juneau is supported largely by State and Federal
employment and by tourists cruising the Inside Passage. It is the third
largest community in Alaska. About one-third of residents live downtown or
on Douglas Island; the remaining two-thirds live in lemon creek, the valley
or "out the road" along the inhabited
area. Juneau has a Tlingit history with a strong historical influence from
the early prospectors and became a boom town that grew around full-scale gold mining
operations. Today Juneau is not only famous for gold and government, but
also for its breathtakingly beautiful glaciers and stunning views of both
water and mountains.
The area was a fish camp for the indigenous Tlingit Indians. In 1880, nearly
20 years before the gold rushes to the Klondike and Nome, Joe Juneau and
Richard Harris were lead to Gold Creek by Chief Kowee of the Auk Tribe. They
found mother lode deposits upstream, staked their mining claims, and
developed a 160 acre incorporated city they called Harrisburg, which brought
many prospectors to the area. Basically the Gold Rush Era in Alaska
began with the discovery of gold by Joe Juneau and Richard Harris. Soon
hundreds of prospectors poured into the site that later became Alaska’s
capital city in 1900. The
state capital was transferred from Sitka to Juneau in 1906 while Alaska was
a U.S. Territory. The Treadwell and Ready Bullion mines across the channel
on Douglas Island became world-scale mines, operating from 1882 to 1917. In
1916, the Alaska-Juneau gold mine was built on the mainland and became the
largest operation of its kind in the world. In 1917, a cave-in and flood
closed the Treadwell mine on Douglas. It produced $66 million in gold in its
35 years of operation. Fishing, canneries, transportation, trading
services, and a sawmill contributed to Juneau's growth through the early
1900s. The A-J Mine closed in 1944 after producing over $80 million in gold.
In 1970, the Cities of Juneau and Douglas were unified into the
City & Borough of Juneau.
The State, City & Borough of Juneau, and federal agencies provide nearly 45%
of the employment in the community. Juneau is home to State Legislators and
their staff during the legislative session between January and May. Tourism
is a significant contributor to the private sector economy during the summer
months, providing a $130 million income and nearly 2,000 jobs. Over 690,000
visitors arrive by cruise ship, and another 100,000 independent travelers
visit Juneau each year. The Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau Icefield air tours,
Tracy Arm Fjord Glacier, State Museum, and Mount Roberts Tramway are local
attractions. Support services for logging and fish processing contribute to
the Juneau economy, and 519 residents hold commercial fishing permits. DIPAC,
a private non-profit organization, operates a fish hatchery which increases
the local salmon population. The Kennecott Green's Creek Mine produces gold,
silver, lead and zinc, and is the largest silver mine in North America.
Juneau is accessible only by air and sea. Scheduled jet flights and air
taxis are available at the Municipally-owned Juneau International Airport.
The airport includes a paved 8,456' runway and a seaplane landing area.
Marine facilities include a seaplane landing area at Juneau Harbor, two deep
draft docks, five small boat harbors and a State ferry terminal. The Alaska
Marine Highway System and cargo barges provide year-round services.
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