Angoon

Admiralty Island has long been the home of the Kootznoowoo Tlingit tribe. Kootznoowoo means “fortress of brown bears”, literally xoots-noow-ú” brown bear-fortress-possessive”.Angoon has a less-rainy climate than most of southeastern Alaska and was valued by the Tlingit for that reason. Angoon is derived from the Tlingit term Aangóon, which means “Isthmus Town”, a wonderfully descriptive name given Angoon’s strategic location on the narrow peninsula that separates Chatham Strait from Kootznahoo Inlet. From the 1700s to the mid-1800s, fur trading was the major money-making activity in the area. In 1878, the Northwest Trading Company established a trading post and whaling station on nearby Killisnoo Island, and villagers were employed to hunt whales. Whaling, a Bureau Of Indian Affairs school, and a Russian Orthodox Church attracted many Tlingits to Killisnoo.

Commercial fishing and fish processing are the mainstays of Angoon’s economy. Most of the populations live a subsistence lifestyle.

Angoon is the only permanent settlement on Admiralty Island, located on the southwest coast at Kootznahoo Inlet. Angoon is 55 miles southwest of Juneau and 41 miles northeast of Sitka. The community lies at approximately 57.503330° North Latitude and -134.583890° West Longitude. The area encompasses 22.5 sq. miles of land and 16.1 sq. miles of water.  Angoon’s maritime climate is characterized by cool summers and mild winters. Summer temperatures range from 45 to 61 °F. Winter temperatures range from 25 to 39 °F. Extremes in temperature have been recorded, ranging from a low of -6 to a high of 77 °F. Angoon receives much less precipitation than is typical of Southeast Alaska, averaging 43 inches annually. Annual snowfall averages 63 inches. Strong north winds during winter months cause rough seas, which may prevent aircraft landings. *State of AK, DOT AMHS.

459 (2010 US Census)

2^nd Class City incorporated in 1963. The city currently employs 7 staff members. Regular elections are held the 1^st Tuesday in October. The City Council meets every third Tuesday. The current city sales tax is 3%.

Inside Passage Electric Cooperative Kilowatt Capacity: 1,830. In November of 2010 the small commercial rate for 1,500kWh/month was $0.5680 and $0.5090 for above 500 kWh with a monthly fee of $15.00. (JEDC Asset Mapping Report)

Water is provided by Tillinghast Lake reservoir then treated at the Tillinghast Lake Water Treatment Plant before being piped to 95% of the community that has complete plumbing. Sewage is processed at a secondary treatment plant that flows to an ocean outfall.

City-operated sewage system, refuse collection & landfill.