***More up-to-date and detailed town profiles and specific employment information about Petersburg and other Region 1 towns can be found at Alaska Job Finder.com.

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Petersburg was first settled by a Norwegian immigrant named - you guessed it - Peter. Because many of his countrymen followed him, the town retains its distinct Nordic influences to this day. Many buildings date from the 1890s. The traditionally Norwegian work ethic still shines through, and the community is relatively tight-knit. The Clausen Museum's history of fishing techniques may show you that, compared to years ago, your Alaska fishing job isn't really all that bad.

Hiking opportunities abound, including the Petersburg Loop, which winds 4.5 miles through both urban and natural settings. The Petersburg Creek Trail runs up to Petersburg Lake and one of the area's several public-use forest service cabins.

Black bears are known to frequent the area, scavenging through garbage for food. Due to their constant exposure to civilization, they have lost their fear of humans and can be dangerous if approached.

Located at the northern end of the Wrangell Narrows on Mitkof Island, Petersburg is nestled in a panorama of mountains. Too small for most cruise ships, a youth hostel, or any sort of bus system, Petersburg is a relatively untouched town. Nonetheless, it's one of the top spots for fisheries employment in Southeast. Petersburg was one of the first cities in Alaska to begin processing fish. In fact, Petersburg Fisheries, founded in 1899, is the oldest operating seafood plant in the state.

The town boasts a large fishing fleet, and deckhands often find work here. There are also three processors in town, along with a good tent city that houses processing workers and "civilians" alike.

This is a great place to meet people and hang out. Each of the processing plants and harbors are located within a short walk of central Petersburg; reaching the tent city on foot requires more time, however. Fortunately, some of the processing plants provide a shuttle bus for employees to get to and from work. Many seasonal cannery workers also bring a bike with them for transportation as well as fun. There are miles of unpaved mountain bike paths criss-crossing the area surrounding Petersburg. Visitors should also try to see LeConte Glacier, the southernmost active tidewater glacier. Located twenty miles east of Petersburg, this spectacular sight can be reached by air taxi or charter boat.

Petersburg Information

Town Website: www.petersburg.org

Population: 3,700

Location: Midway between Ketchikan and Juneau at the north end of Wrangell Narrows on Mitkof Island

Annual precipitation: 104.15 inches

July averages: Temperature 55.9°F; precipitation 5.26 inches

Inexpensive lodging: All four seafood processing plants offer housing. Each of them also have cookhouses for meals. Tides Inn (907) 772-4288, 307 N First Street, is located downtown; nice rooms are $70/night for a single, $85/night for a double; prices are $5 less in winter. Beachcomber Inn, (907) 772-3888, 384 Mitkof Highway, is 2.5 miles south of the ferry dock; ask about their weekly and monthly rates. The Narrows Inn, (907) 772-4284 or (907) 772-3434 (during summer), across the street from the ferry, has clean rooms for $55/night, doubles for $65/night, and a monthly rate of $1,200/month in summer only. Also try Scandia House (907) 772-4281.

Camping: Tent City (907) 772-4224, is located 1.8 miles from town between the airport and Sandy Cove. This is a city-owned campground that has been set up with salmon cannery workers in mind. The campground has fifty raised wooden platforms that keep campers off the damp ground. The tent city has restrooms, new showers, sheltered cooking areas, a pay phone, and firewood. The cost is only $5 per person per night, $30/week, or $125/month. Petersburg Fisheries has a new tent city area located on their site in addition to their bunkhouses.

Ferry terminal : One mile west of town

Airport: One and a half miles out of town

Visitors Information: Petersburg Visitors Bureau, (907) 772-4636

Chamber of Commerce: P.O. Box 649, Petersburg, AK 99833; (907) 772-3646

Hospital: Petersburg Medical Center, (907) 772-4291

Fish & Game: For openings and closings, call (907) 772-3801

Forest Service: (907) 772-3841

***More up-to-date and detailed town profiles and specific employment information about Southeast Alaska (region 1) towns can be found at Alaska Job Finder. Unfortunately, our licensing agreement with AlaskaJobFinder doesn't allow us to use the most current version of their Alaska Job information. Please use this town profile only for general information, as some of the information may be outdated.

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