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Economies of Specific Communities

Information from the State of Alaska, Department of Commerce

Population: 5,037 2003
All Copper River Communities Business Licenses: 946 2004 issued

Chistochina Population 85, 1 Business License
Chistochina is located at mile 32.7 on the Tok Cutoff to the Glenn Highway, 42 miles northeast of Glennallen. Sinona Creek, Bolder Creek, Chistochina River and Copper River surround the village. Began as an Ahtna fish camp and a stopover place for traders and trappers. The village access road later became part of the Valdez-Eagle Trail, constructed by miners during the gold rush to the Eagle area in 1897. Chistochina Lodge was built as a roadhouse for prospectors. The Trail was used for construction of U.S. Army Signal Corps telegraph lines from Valdez to Eagle between 1901 and 1904. Gold was mined along the upper Chistochina River and its runoff creeks. The area was settled by homesteaders, although it has remained a traditional Native village.

A federally recognized tribe is located in the community — the Chistochina Village Council. 63.4% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native. During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 59 total housing units, and 22 were vacant. 7 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 30 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 41.18%, although 63.86% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $24,107, per capita income was $12,362, and 28.57% of residents were living below the poverty level.

Economy: Chistochina is the most traditional of all Copper River Athabascan Indian villages. Subsistence activities are a crucial component of the lifestyle in the village.

Subsistence hunting, fishing, trapping and gathering are the basis of the village's economy. Most cash employment is seasonal.

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Chitina Population 132, 33 Business Licenses
Chitina is located on the west bank of the Copper River at its confluence with the Chitina River, at mile 34 of the Edgerton Highway, 53 miles southeast of Copper Center.

Athabascan Indians have reportedly occupied this region for the last 5,000 to 7,000 years. Archaeological sites are located to the south and east of Chitina. Chitina was historically a large Native village whose population was slowly decimated by the influx of people, disease and conflicts. Rich copper deposits were discovered at the turn of the century along the northern flanks of the Chitina River valley, bringing a rush of prospectors and homesteaders to the area. The Copper River & Northwestern Railway enabled Chitina to develop into a thriving community by 1914. It had a general store, clothing store, meat market, stables, a tinsmith, five hotels, rooming houses, a pool hall, bars, restaurants, dance halls and a movie theater. Almost all of Chitina was owned by Otto Adrian Nelson, a surveying engineer for the Kennecott Mines. He supplied electric power to all structures with a unique hydroelectric system. After the mines closed in 1938, support activities moved to the Glennallen area, and Chitina became a virtual ghost town with only the Natives and a few non-Natives staying on. In 1963, the Nelson estate was purchased by "Mudhole" Smith, a pioneer bush pilot, who sold off the townsite and buildings.

A federally recognized tribe is located in the community — the Chitina Traditional Indian Village. 48.8% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native. Students are home-schooled or attend school at Kenny Lake, 28 miles away. Most Athabascan residents are involved in subsistence activities year-round. During the summer, subsistence dipnetting for salmon on the Copper River brings a large number of Alaskans from Anchorage and other areas of the state. Gardening, berry picking, herb gathering and other "wildcrafting" are popular pursuits, as are various arts and crafts. Winter activities include trapping, snow machining, dog mushing, skiing and skijoring, ice fishing. During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 54 total housing units, and 2 were vacant. 39 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 32.69%, although 62.5% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $26,000, per capita income was $10,835, and 12.69% of residents were living below the poverty level.

Economy: Employment is primarily with the village council, village corporation, or the National Park Service. Many residents are self-employed or work in retail establishments. The summer influx of fishermen, tourists and campers provides some cash income in fish guiding and other services. Two residents hold commercial fishing permits.

The Edgerton Highway and Richardson Highway link Chitina with the rest of the state road system. The State owns the Chitina Airport, with a 2,850' long by 75' wide gravel airstrip, 5 miles north of town along the Edgerton Highway.

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Copper Center / Kluti-kaah Population 400, 148 Business Licenses (many business licenses are for enterprises located in other nearby communities)
Copper Center is located along the Richardson Highway between Mileposts 101 and 105. It is on the west bank of the Copper River at the confluence of the Klutina River.

The Ahtna people have occupied the Copper River basin for the past 5,000 to 7,000 years. They had summer fish camps at every bend in the river and winter villages throughout the region. Copper Center was a large Ahtna Athabascan village at one time. In 1896, Ringwald Blix built Blix Roadhouse, which was very highly regarded for its outstanding services. The Trail of '98 from Valdez joined with the Eagle Trail to Forty Mile and Dawson. 300 destitute miners spent the winter here, and many died of scurvy. Copper Center became the principal supply center for miners in the Nelchina-Susitna region. A telegraph station and post office were established in 1901. A school was constructed in 1905, which brought a number of Native families to Copper Center. In 1909, it was designated a government agricultural experiment station. In 1932, the original roadhouse was destroyed in order to build the Copper Center Lodge. This lodge is on the National Register of Historic Roadhouses and is now considered the jewel of Alaskan roadhouses. In the late 30s and early 40s, construction of the Richardson and Glenn Highways made the region more accessible. The first church in the Copper River region, the Chapel on the Hill, was built here in 1942 by Vince Joy and U.S. Army volunteers stationed in the area. Mr. Joy built other churches and a bible college in the area over the years.

The National Park Service's Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center and the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge were completed in 2002 at Copper Center. A federally recognized tribe is located in the community — the Native Village of Kluti-Kaah. 50.6% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native. Athabascan Indians represent the primary Alaska Native group. There are two distinct settlements, a Native village and a non-Native area. During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 163 total housing units, and 31 were vacant. 13 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 90 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 26.83%, although 62.03% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $32,188, per capita income was $15,152, and 18.8% of residents were living below the poverty level.

Economy: The economy is based on local services and businesses and highway-related tourism. The National Park Service's Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center was completed in 2002. The Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge was also completed in 2002. Two RV Parks and three riverboat charter services operate from Copper Center. Many Native residents depend on subsistence hunting, fishing, trapping and gathering. Eight residents hold commercial fishing permits.

Copper Center lies on the Richardson Highway. A State-owned 2,200' long by 55' wide gravel airstrip provides for chartered flights and general aviation.

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Copperville Population 176, 0 Business Licenses
Copperville is approximately 5 miles south of Glennallen on the Richardson Highway, between the Tazlina and Copper Rivers.

This area was developed during the Trans-Alaska pipeline construction. 21.2% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native. Copper River is traditional Ahtna Athabascan territory; the community is primarily non-Native. During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 77 total housing units, and 16 were vacant. 11 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 78 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 14.29%, although 43.88% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $53,125, per capita income was $21,733, and 7.14% of residents were living below the poverty level.

Economy: Residents are employed in government, schools, retail businesses and other services along the Richardson Highway. Subsistence is important, particularly to the Native community.

The Richardson Highway connects the area to the remainder of the state. An airstrip is nearby, at Brenwick's.

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Cordova / Eyak Population 2,372, 430 Business Licenss
Cordova is located at the southeastern end of Prince William Sound in the Gulf of Alaska. The community was built on Orca Inlet, at the base of Eyak Mountain. The traditional native village of Eyak is located within the municipal boundary. Cordova is the only incorporated government within the watershed.

The area has historically been home to the Alutiiq, with the addition of migrating Athabascan and Tlingit natives who called themselves Eyaks. Alaskan Natives of other descents also settled in Cordova. Orca Inlet was originally named "Puerto Cordova" by Don Salvador Fidalgo in 1790. One of the first producing oil fields in Alaska was discovered at Katalla, 47 miles southeast of Cordova, in 1902. Although the area had been the location of traditional Eyak villages for hundreds of years, the town of Cordova was named in 1906 by Michael Heney, builder of the Copper River and Northwestern Railroad, and the City was formed in 1909. Cordova became the railroad terminus and ocean shipping port for copper ore from the Kennecott Mine up the Copper River. The first trainload of ore was loaded onto the steamship "Northwestern," bound for a smelter in Tacoma, Washington, in April 1911. The Bonanza-Kennecott Mines operated until 1938 and yielded over $200 million in copper, silver and gold. The Katalla oil field produced until 1933, when it was destroyed by fire. Fishing became the economic base in the early 1940s.

A federally recognized tribe is located in Cordova/Eyak, the Native Village of Eyak. There is a significant Eyak Athabascan population with an active Village Council. 15% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native Commercial fishing and subsistence are central to the community's culture. During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 1,099 total housing units, and 141 were vacant. 68 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 1,221 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 6.86%, although 33.75% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $50,114, per capita income was $25,256, and 7.52% of residents were living below the poverty level.

Economy: Cordova supports a large fishing fleet for Prince William Sound and several fish processing plants. 343 residents hold commercial fishing permits, and nearly half of all households have someone working in commercial harvesting or processing. Copper River red salmon, pink salmon, herring, halibut, bottom fish and other fisheries are harvested. Reduced salmon prices have affected the economy. The largest employers are North Pacific Processors, Cordova School District, Cordova Hospital, the City, and the Department of Transportation. The U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Coast Guard maintain personnel in Cordova.

Cordova is accessed by plane or boat. It is linked directly to the North Pacific Ocean shipping lanes through the Gulf of Alaska. It receives year-round barge services and State Ferry service. The Merle K. "Mudhole" Smith Airport at mile 13 is State-owned and operated, with a 7,499' long by 150' wide asphalt runway and 1,875' long by 30' wide gravel crosswind runway. The State-owned and City-operated Cordova Municipal Airport has a 1,800' long by 60' wide gravel runway. Daily scheduled jet flights and air taxis are available. Float planes land at the Lake Eyak seaplane base or the boat harbor. Harbor facilities include a breakwater, dock, a small boat harbor with 850 berths, boat launch, boat haul-out, a ferry terminal, and marine repair services. A 48-mile gravel road provides access to the Copper River Delta to the east. Plans for a highway up the Copper River to connect with the statewide road system have been controversial.

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Gakona Population 214, 76 Business Licenses
Gakona is at the confluence of the Copper and Gakona Rivers, 15 miles northeast of Glennallen. It lies at mile 2 on the Tok Cutoff to the Glenn Highway, just east of the Richardson Highway.

Ahtna Indians have lived in the Copper River basin for 5,000 to 7,000 years. Gakona served as a wood and fish camp, and later became a permanent village. In 1904 Doyle's Roadhouse was constructed at the junction of the Valdez-Eagle and Valdez-Fairbanks Trails, and became an essential stopping point for travelers.

A federally recognized tribe is located in the community — the Native Village of Gakona. 17.7% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native. The community has a commercial district, a non-Native residential area, and an Athabascan village. During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 90 total housing units, and 6 were vacant. 2 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 63 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 14.86%, although 59.35% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $33,750, per capita income was $18,143, and 10.78% of residents were living below the poverty level.

Economy: Gakona depends upon local businesses and seasonal tourist travel. There is a motel, restaurant, bar, newspaper print shop, sawmill and dog sled maker in Gakona. Summers provide income for local fishing and hunting guides, rafting operations and outfitters. Three residents hold commercial fishing permits. Some residents rely on subsistence activities and trapping. Recording equipment for the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) is located near Gakona.

The Glenn/Tok Cutoff and Richardson Highway provide access to the Anchorage, Fairbanks and the Lower 48. A 5,000' paved runway is available at nearby Gulkana.

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Glennallen Population 574, 235 Business Licenses
The community of Glennallen lies along the Glenn Highway at its junction with the Richardson Highway, 189 road miles east of Anchorage. The name was derived from Maj. Edwin Glenn and Lt. Henry Allen, both leaders in the early explorations of the Copper River region. It is one of the few communities in the region that was not built on the site of a Native village.

12.1% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native. The area has historically been occupied by the Ahtna, although Glennallen is currently a non-Native community. During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 269 total housing units, and 65 were vacant. 35 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 303 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 5.02%, although 33.99% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $38,846, per capita income was $17,084, and 8.04% of residents were living below the poverty level.

Economy: Glennallen is the supply hub of the Copper River region. Local businesses serve area residents and Glenn Highway traffic, supplies and services, schools and medical care. State highway maintenance and federal offices are in Glennallen. RV parks, lodging, fuel and other services cater to independent travelers. The National Park Service's Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center and the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge were completed in 2002 at Copper Center. Offices for the Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State Troopers, and the Dept. of Fish and Game are located here. There are several small farms in the area. Four residents hold commercial fishing permits.

The Glenn/Tok Cutoff and Richardson Highways provide year-round road access to other areas of the state. Brenwick's Airport provides public air access, and scheduled services are available. The 2,070' turf airstrip is owned and operated by Copper Basin District, Inc. The Gulkana Airport is located 4.3 miles northeast.

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Gulkana Population 98, 0 Business Licenses
Gulkana is located on the east bank of the Gulkana (Kulkana) River at its confluence with the Copper River. It lies at mile 127 of the Richardson Highway, 14 miles north of Glennallen.

The Ahtna people have occupied this area for 5,000 to 7,000 years. Gulkana was originally established in 1903 as a telegraph station, and was named "Kulkana" after the nearby river. The Gulkana Roadhouse was built in the early 1900s by C.L. Hoyt, a fur dealer who ran the roadhouse until 1916. A store, post office and Orr stage station were located nearby. Gulkana was originally located across the river from its present site; it was cut in half during construction of the Richardson Highway during World War II. In the early 1950s, the first house was built at the new site. Chief Ewan and his family were the first Native residents, and eventually all of the villagers relocated.

A federally recognized tribe is located in the community — the Gulkana Village Council. 73.9% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native. Gulkana is an Athabascan village. Subsistence activities supplement incomes. The sale, importation and possession of alcohol are prohibited. During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 43 total housing units, and 10 were vacant. 4 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 22 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 38.89%, although 63.93% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $26,875, per capita income was $13,548, and 40.74% of residents were living below the poverty level.

Economy: Residents of Gulkana rely on subsistence hunting, fishing, trapping and gathering. Employment is limited to the village council and seasonal construction.

The Richardson Highway passes close by the village and is maintained year-round. A State-owned 5,000' long by 100' wide asphalt runway is available at the Gulkana Airport.

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Kenny Lake Population 369, 0 Business Licenses
Kenny Lake lies off of the Richardson Highway, between mile 1 and 22 on the Edgerton Highway, and between mile 1 and 11 of the Old Edgerton Highway.

The Ahtna people have occupied the region historically. The area was settled in the 1960s by a number of homesteaders due to the rich fertile soil and agricultural potential. However, a number of homesteaders cleared 20 acres of land, built a cabin and lived there for 6 months of every year for five years as required to obtain ownership, then subdivided and sold the property. There are still four original homesteaders farming their land. Until the 1970s the Old Edgerton Highway was the only road into Kenny Lake.

13.4% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native. Kenny Lake is an agricultural community. The Kenny Lake Community League organizes activities, is an advocate for local concerns, and administers state grants. During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 190 total housing units, and 47 were vacant. 33 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 102 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 3.77%, although 67.62% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $28,750, per capita income was $13,121, and 25.88% of residents were living below the poverty level.

Economy: Agricultural crops such as hay and vegetables are grown locally, and cattle are raised as well. A school, sawmill and lumber business, a fur farm, a feed and seed supplier, a glass company and a construction company are located in Kenny Lake. Horse backpacking trips are available for visitors.

From the Edgerton Highway, Kenny Lake has access to the entire state road system. Landing strips are available nearby for general aviation.

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McCarthy Population 53, 3 Business Licenses
McCarthy lies 61 miles east of Chitina off the Edgerton Highway. It is on the Kennicott River at the mouth of McCarthy Creek, 12 miles northeast of the junction of the Nizina and Chitina Rivers, in the heart of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.

The Kennecott copper mines and camp were established about 1908 across from the Kennicott Glacier, 4.5 miles up the mountain from McCarthy. An early misspelling named the mine and mining company Kennecott, while the town, river and glacier are spelled Kennicott. In 1911, the Copper River & Northwestern Railway carried its first car load of ore from Kennecott to Cordova. Since no gambling or drinking were allowed at the town of Kennicott, nearby McCarthy developed as a colorful diversion for the miners. It provided a newspaper, stores, hotels, restaurants, saloons, and a red light district, housing over 800 residents. Kennicott became a company town with homes, a school, hospital, gym, tennis court and silent movie theater. Over its 30-year operation, $200 million in ore was extracted from Kennecott, the richest concentration of copper ore known in the world. In 1938, the mines closed and both towns were abandoned.

0% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native. The old artifacts, colorful history, and mine buildings attract visitors during the summer months. The area ranks as one of the nation's most endangered landmarks by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Emergency stabilization of the old buildings has been required, and future work will be necessary. During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 47 total housing units, and 21 were vacant. 21 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 3 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 80%, although 89.66% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $17,188, per capita income was $16,045, and 15.2% of residents were living below the poverty level.

Economy: Employment is limited and seasonal. Local businesses include lodges, a museum, a small store, gift shop, and guide services.

McCarthy is accessible from the Richardson and Edgerton Highways. The 58-mile McCarthy Road starts in Chitina and continues into the Park. A footbridge is used to cross the Kennicott River. There are two gravel airstrips in the vicinity. The Jake's Bar airstrip is 1,000' long by 25' wide; McCarthy No. 2 is 3,500' long by 60' wide. DOT performs irregular winter maintenance of the McCarthy Airport. The May Creek Airport, across the Nizina River from McCarthy, is currently under expansion.

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Mendeltna Population 67, 0 Business Licenses
The community is at Mile 154 of the Glenn Highway near Mendeltna River, 30 miles southwest of Glennallen.

Mendeltna is an Indian name first reported by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1915. Mendeltna was originally a stop on the trail used by Natives from Lake Tyone to Tazlina Lake. Gold in the creeks draining from the Chugach Mountains brought prospectors to this area in the late 1800s. The Eureka Lodge was built to serve miners, and the Nelchina area offered several trails into the mountains.

7.9% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native. The Nelchina-Mendeltna Community Association has been organized to advocate for local issues and planning. During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 33 total housing units, and 10 were vacant. 7 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 12 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 33.33%, although 70.73% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $30,000, per capita income was $11,289, and 0% of residents were living below the poverty level.

Economy: The area offers a general store, a lodge, and air taxi services for fly-in fishing and mountaineering, and a state highway maintenance station. The largest RV campground in Alaska is located here, complete with showers, cabins, restaurant and bar. A local farm raises cattle and hogs, and is used to test new varieties of seed and grains by the University Cooperative Extension Service. Summer employment coupled with a subsistence lifestyle sustain local residents.

The community lies on the Glenn Highway and accesses the statewide road system. There are several air strips in the area, and air taxi services are available.

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Mentasta Lake Population 143, 1 Business License
Mentasta Lake is located 6 miles off the Tok-Slana Cutoff of the Glenn Highway on the west side of Mentasta Pass, 38 miles southwest of Tok Junction.

The area is reported to have been the best-known route of Native immigration across the Alaska Range. Early village settlements have been located at various sites around the lake. The families that presently reside in Mentasta Lake come from Nabesna, Suslota, Slana and other villages within the area. The U.S. Army Signal Corps established a telegraph station at Mentasta Pass in 1902. A post office was established at the village in 1947, but was discontinued in 1951.

A federally recognized tribe is located in the community — the Mentasta Lake Village Council. 71.1% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native. The community is primarily Athabascan, and subsistence activities are important. During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 89 total housing units, and 35 were vacant. 5 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 36 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 28%, although 60.44% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $17,344, per capita income was $11,274, and 35.66% of residents were living below the poverty level.

Economy: Subsistence hunting, fishing, trapping and gathering make up much of Mentasta Lake's economy. Cash employment is limited and seasonal.

Mentasta Lake is connected to the Tok Cutoff to the Glenn Highway by a 6-mile spur road. There is a small airstrip at Mentasta Lodge.

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Nelchina Population 63, 0 Business Licenses
Nelchina is located between Milepost 137.5 and 150.5 of the Glenn Highway, at the junction of the Little Nelchina River and Crooked Creek. It is about 30 miles west of Glennallen and Mendeltna, just east of the Mat-Su Borough boundary.

Nelchina is an Athabascan Indian name. Gold in the creeks draining from the Chugach Mountains brought prospectors to this area in the late 1800s. Nelchina area offered several trails into the mountains. Nelchina was a mining settlement established around 1913. It was first reported by Theodore Chapin in a 1915 USGS publication.

9.9% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native. The community consists of approximately 33 homes, nearly all occupied year-round. The Nelchina-Mendeltna Community Association has been organized to advocate for local issues and planning. During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 33 total housing units, and 6 were vacant. 3 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 17 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 15%, although 65.31% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $40,625, per capita income was $10,743, and 17.81% of residents were living below the poverty level.

Economy: The Little Nelchina State Recreation site at mile 137.6 offers camping and a boat launch. The Nelchina Cabins and Grizzly Store provide convenience items. Residents utilize the services of Glennallen.

The community lies on the Glenn Highway and accesses the statewide road system. There are several air strips in the area. Snow machining is a prevalent local means of transportation.

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Paxson Population 44, 6 Business Licenses
Paxson lies on Paxson Lake, at mile 185 of the Richardson Highway, at its intersection with the Denali Highway. It is south of Delta Junction and 62 miles north of Gulkana.

More than 400 archeological sites indicate that this area has been inhabited for at least 10,000 years. In 1906 Alvin Paxson established the Timberline Roadhouse at mile 192, which consisted of a small cabin for a kitchen and two tents for bunkhouses. His cook, Charles Meier, later started Meier's Roadhouse at mile 174. Paxson then built a two-story roadhouse at mile 191. He later added a barn with a drying room, pump and sleeping quarters, two rooms and a bath. A post office, store, wood house and small ice room followed. The Denali Highway was built in the 1950s from Paxson to Cantwell and the Denali National Park. The 160-mile gravel road was the only access into the park prior to construction of the George Parks Highway. The Denali Highway also provides access to the Tangle Lakes Recreation Area, Summit Lake, and the largest active gold mine in Alaska.

0% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native. The primary residents of Paxson are State highway maintenance personnel and their families. There is no local school. It is a non-Native community. During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 117 total housing units, and 96 were vacant. 96 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 14 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 0%, although 36.36% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $46,500, per capita income was $26,071, and 0% of residents were living below the poverty level.

Economy: There are five lodges with restaurants and bars in the area, several gift shops, a post office, gas station, grocery store and bunk house. This area has been a testing site for snow machine companies for the past several years. Most income is generated during the summer months. One resident holds a commercial fishing permit. Hunting and other subsistence activities contribute to their livelihoods.

Paxson Lodge owns and maintains a 2,800' long by 65' wide gravel airstrip, and float planes can land at Summit Lake. The Richardson Highway provides access to Anchorage or Fairbanks. The Denali Highway provides summer access to Cantwell and the Denali Park.

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Slana Population 118, 8 Business Licenses
Slana stretches along the Nabesna Road, which runs south of the Tok Cutoff at mile 63. It lies at the junction of the Slana and Copper Rivers, 53 miles southwest of Tok.

Slana is an Indian village name, derived from the river's name. The Nabesna Mine opened in 1923, which employed 60 people at its height. Over thirty different minerals were extracted from this site, although gold was the primary source of profit. It operated sporadically through the late 1940s. Slana developed rapidly in the 1980s when homesteads were offered for settlement by the federal government.

15.3% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native. The community is comprised primarily of homesteaders. The last location of BLM's homesite program, individuals received 5 acres of free land in Slana. However, the lack of road access to these properties has created conflicts between land owners. During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 193 total housing units, and 131 were vacant. 20 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 26 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 46.94%, although 73.74% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $19,583, per capita income was $20,019, and 23.48% of residents were living below the poverty level.

A roadside lodge provides groceries, gas, liquor, an auto mechanic and RV parking. Other local businesses include a general store, art gallery, canoe rental, bed & breakfast, snow machine sales and solar panel sales. A Park Ranger Station and state highway maintenance camp are located nearby. Subsistence activities supplement income.

Economy: Slana has road access to the statewide system by the Glenn and Richardson Highways. Individual adjacent lots have no roads and owners must hike through other's private property. The nearest public airstrip is south, at Chistochina. A 900' gravel private airstrip has been constructed at Duffy's Tavern.

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Tazlina Population 192, 0 Business Licenses
Tazlina is located 5 miles south of Glennallen on the Richardson Highway, at mile 110.5. It is comprised of several small residential subdivisions and a business district. Copperville, Aspen Valley, Tazlina Terrace and Copper Valley School Road are all part of this area.

The village reportedly was a fishing camp of the Ahtna Indian tribes who historically moved up and down the Copper River and its tributaries. Tazlina is Athabascan for "swift water." By 1900 a permanent village had been established on the north and south banks off the Tazlina River near its confluence with the Copper River. During the pipeline era, Tazlina developed around the old Copper Valley School, built to board students from all over the state. It closed in 1971, when local high schools were constructed in the remote areas of the state and boarding schools were discontinued.

A federally recognized tribe is located in the community — the Native Village of Tazlina. 30.2% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native. Two organization represent Tazlina: the Athabascan village council and The Association of Tazlina Residents. During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 87 total housing units, and 28 were vacant. 10 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 70 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 12.82%, although 34.58% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $56,000, per capita income was $23,992, and 8.11% of residents were living below the poverty level.

Economy: Some residents depend on subsistence fishing and hunting. Local businesses include a combined grocery, liquor, hardware, gas and sporting goods store, a wholesale bread distributor, a freight service, and an RV park. The Prince William Sound Community College, Division of Forestry, State Highway Maintenance station, Division of State Parks, and Division of Communications are located in the area.

Tazlina is located on the Richardson Highway, which is maintained year-round. Air travel is not of great importance to local people because it is costly and can be more time consuming than road travel. Guides and subsistence hunters use planes extensively. There is a State-owned 900' long by 42' wide gravel airstrip, and a seaplane facility at Smokey Lake.

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Other communities: The city of Valdez is located outside the watershed by about 25 miles, but is a significant component to the economy of the Copper River watershed.

Valdez: Population 4,060, 500+ Business Licenses
Valdez is located on the north shore of Port Valdez, a deep-water fjord in Prince William Sound. It lies 305 road miles east of Anchorage, and 364 road miles south of Fairbanks. It is the southern terminus of the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline.

The Port of Valdez was named in 1790 by Don Salvador Fidalgo for the celebrated Spanish naval officer Antonio Valdes y Basan. Due to its excellent ice-free port, a town developed in 1898 as a debarkation point for men seeking a route to the Eagle Mining District and the Klondike gold fields. Valdez soon became the supply center of its own gold mining region, and incorporated as a City in 1901. Fort Liscum was established in 1900, and a sled and wagon road was constructed to Fort Egbert in Eagle by the U.S. Army. The Alaska Road Commission further developed the road for automobile travel to Fairbanks; it was completed by the early 1920s. A slide of unstable submerged land during the 1964 earthquake destroyed the original City waterfront, killing several residents. The community was rebuilt on a more stable bedrock foundation 4 miles to the west. During the 1970s, construction of the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline terminal and other cargo transportation facilities brought rapid growth to Valdez. In March 1989, it was the center for the massive oil-spill cleanup after the "Exxon Valdez" disaster. In a few short days, the population of the town tripled.

10.2% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native. As a result of significant oil taxation revenues, the City offers a variety of quality public services. During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 1,645 total housing units, and 151 were vacant. 46 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 2,076 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 6.2%, although 30.64% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $66,532, per capita income was $27,341, and 6.2% of residents were living below the poverty level.

Economy: Valdez has one of the highest municipal tax bases in Alaska as the southern terminus and off-loading point of oil extracted from Prudhoe Bay on the North Slope. Four of the top ten employers in Valdez are directly connected to the oil terminus. Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. employs nearly 300 persons. Valdez is a major seaport, with a $48 million cargo and container facility. City, state, and federal agencies combined provide significant employment. 42 residents hold commercial fishing permits. Three fish processing plants operate in Valdez, including Peter Pan and Seahawk Seafood's. Valdez Fisheries Dev. Assoc. will open its year-round processing facility in October 2003. Seven cruise ships will dock in Valdez in 2004. Valdez is a Foreign Free Trade Zone.

The Richardson Highway connects Valdez to Anchorage, Fairbanks and Canada. Port Valdez is ice-free year round and is navigated by hundreds of ocean going oil cargo vessels each year. The State Ferry provides transport to Whittier, Cordova, Kodiak, Seward and Homer in the summer; Cordova only in the winter. Valdez has the largest floating concrete dock in the world, with a 1,200' front and water depth exceeding 80'. Numerous cargo and container facilities are present in Valdez. A small harbor accommodates 546 commercial fishing boats and recreational vessels. Boat launches and haul-out services are available. Both barges and trucking services deliver cargo to the City. The airport is operated by the state, with a 6,500' long by 150' wide paved runway, instrument landing system and control tower. A State-owned seaplane base is available at Robe Lake.

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