Overview

Introduction Sitka, Alaska

Sitka, Alaska, in Sitka county, is 630 miles SE of Anchorage, Alaska.

Sitka History

Sitka was originally inhabited by the Tlingit Indians. The town derived its name from an Indian term meaning 'people on the outside of shee.' In fact, it was derived from the Tlingit words 'Shee Atika.' It became the capital of Russian America in 1808. It was the first capital of Alaska and remained so until 1912. The official transfer of Alaska to the United States took place at Sitka on October 18, 1867. The city's fortunes declined until World War II. Sitka was incorporated on December 2, 1971.

Sitka and nearby Attractions

  • Isabel Miller Museum
  • Sheldon Jackson Museum
  • Sitka National Historic Park
  • Baranof Castle State Historic Site

Things To Do In Sitka

The city of Sitka has a few museums worth visiting including the Sitka Historical Museum, which supplies information through it informative displays of the Tlingits, Finns, early Americans, and Russian settlers. The Kettleson Memorial Library is also worth visiting. At Sitka Wildlife Quest one has an opportunity to watch sea otters, puffins, bald eagles, and humpback whales in their natural habitat.

Sitka Transportation

The Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport provides facilities for air travel.

Sitka Higher Education

The University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Alaska Anchorage, Peninsula College, Whatcom Community College, and Skagit Valley College offer higher education facilities.

Demographics

People

Total Population8,738
Male Share of the Population51.2%
Female Share of the Population48.8%
Senior Citizens14.5%
Employed Population 16+4,716
Age of the Population39

Families

% of people married49.7%
Average household size2

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher32%
Median Earnings25+$42,400
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$43,021
Median Earnings With High School Degree$35,448

Wealth

Median Family Income$89,911
% Above Poverty Level92.5%
% Below Poverty Level7.5%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time11 minutes
% Working from Home4.1%
% Walking and Biking to Work19.3%
% Using Public Transportation1%

Housing

People Living Alone32.7%
Median Gross Rent$1,123
Median House Value$349,300

Ancestry

Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)38.8%
German15.4%
Irish10.1%
English9.3%
Norwegian6.6%
French Except Basque5%
Italian3.5%
Swedish2.9%
Scottish2.6%
Dutch1.8%
Polish1.4%
Welsh1.3%
Swiss1.3%
Russian1.2%
Hungarian0.7%
Danishn0.7%
Canadian0.7%
Ukrainian0.6%
Finnish0.5%
Austrian0.4%
African0.3%
Croatian0.3%
Czech0.3%
Nigerian0.2%
Greek0.2%
Lebanese0.2%
Arab0.2%
Portuguese0.2%
Icelander0.2%
Lithuanian0.2%
West Indian0.1%
US/American0.1%
Belgian0.1%
Iranian0.1%
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Sitka Almanac

CategoryValue
CountySitka City and Borough, Petersburg Census Area
Standard Zip Codes99835
P.O. Box Zip Codes99836
Phone Area Codes907
Time ZoneAmerica/Juneau
Approximate Latitude56.73
Approximate Longitude-135

Sitka Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationPETERSBURG 1
Distance41.5 miles
Jan Temp23 to 35 F
Apr Temp34 to 50 F
Jul Temp48 to 64 F
Oct Temp38 to 48 F
Annual Precip109.9 inches
StationSITKA MAGNETIC OBSY
Distance52 miles
Jan Temp27 to 38 F
Apr Temp34 to 50 F
Jul Temp49 to 62 F
Oct Temp38 to 51 F
Annual Precip96 inches
StationLITTLE PORT WALTER
Distance53.2 miles
Jan Temp29 to 37 F
Apr Temp35 to 47 F
Jul Temp49 to 62 F
Oct Temp40 to 50 F
Annual Precip225.5 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Kake578$52,969

Sitka Public Libraries

Sitka Public Library
320 HARBOR DRIVE
Sitka, Alaska
(907) 747-8708

library logo

More Information for Librarians

Sitka Hospitals

Sitka Community Hospital
(Government - Local)
209 Moller Avenue
(907) 747-3241
Sitka (searhc Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital)
(Government - Federal)
222 Tongass Drive
(907) 966-2411

Sitka Public Schools

Baranof Elementary
305 Baranof Street
ZIP: 99835
Primary
Total Enrollment 254
Blatchley Middle School
601 Halibut Point Road
ZIP: 99835
Middle
Total Enrollment 266
Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary
307 Kashevaroff
ZIP: 99835
Primary
Total Enrollment 397
Mt. Edgecumbe High School
1330 Seward Avenue
ZIP: 99835
High
Total Enrollment 421
Pacific High School
509 Lincoln
ZIP: 99835
High
Total Enrollment 36
Sitka Correspondence
305 Baranof Street
ZIP: 99835
Other
Total Enrollment 40
Sitka High School
1000 Lake Street
ZIP: 99835
High
Total Enrollment 344

Sitka Private Schools

Sitka Sda School
1613 Halibut Point Rd
ZIP: 99835
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 6
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