Unfortunately, our licensing agreement with AlaskaJobFinder doesn't allow us to use the most current version of their Alaska employment information. Please use this town profile only for general information, as some of the information may be outdated.

Claimed for the Russian Czar in 1799 by explorer Alexander Baranof, Sitka was Alaska's first permanent non-Native settlement. The city's history has had a blend of influences, and Russian, American, and Alaska Native relics all are visible throughout the area.

Sights include cone-shaped Mt. Edgecombe, an onion dome cathedral, the gorgeous campus of Sheldon Jackson College, and a bishop's residence dating from the Russian colonization of Alaska. Sitka is one of the state's most beautiful cities. Its art galleries, cultural festivals, and the Sheldon Jackson Museum collection legitimize Sitka's rivalry with Homer and Juneau as Alaska's cultural center. In the last century, Sitka was actually referred to as the "Paris of the Pacific," bigger than either Seattle or San Francisco.

Sitka is also home to the Raptor Rehabilitation Center where injured birds are nursed back to health. You can either take a paid guided tour or check it out yourself for free. An interesting summer event is the Alaska Logging Championship, held around Independence Day - perfect for the flannel shirt brigade. For fun and a good workout, try a halibut sportfishing charter in Alaska.

Hiking and biking are popular, and outdoorspeople flock to the Mt. Edgecombe Trail, the Mt. Verstovia Trail, and the Indian River Trail. More than twenty-two forest service cabins dot the area for those who want to really leave it all behind.

The city boasts a huge population of boat enthusiasts. The waterways are filled with sailboats and kayaks, and you may see locals poring over tide maps planning routes during their free time. Finally, the yearly Summer Music Festival attracts classical musicians from around the world.

Because it is a college town and a very popular tourist destination, Sitka is less dependent on the fishing industry than most towns in Southeast. It does have a good, busy port, but only two salmon processing plants. Every processing plant and harbor in town is within walking distance from the downtown area.

Sitka Information

Population: 8,400

Location: West side of Baranof Island

Annual precipitation: 82 inches

July averages: Temperature 57°F; precipitation 3.8 inches

Inexpensive lodging: Sitka Hotel (907) 747-3288, 118 Lincoln St., Sitka, AK 99835, $50-$70/day. When paying by the day, every seventh day is free, and maid service is included. There is a $300 damage deposit required to rent a room by the month, and no maid service is included in monthly rates: $375/month for single or double without bath, $450/month for single or double with bath. Sitka Youth Hostel (AYH) (907) 747-8356 (June-August) (907) 747-8425 (September-May), Box 2645, 303 Kimsham, Sitka, AK 99835. Located in United Methodist Church at the corner of Kimsham and Edgecombe, $10/night or $8/night for AYH members. Open June 1-September 1. Don't call until June 1. Inexpensive housing may also be available in college dorms at Sheldon Jackson College.

Camping: Starrigavan Campground, located a mile north of the ferry terminal (seven miles from city), has thirty units, picnic tables, fireplaces, and toilets, but no drinking water; there's a $8/day fee. Sawmill Creek Campground, located six miles east of Sitka on Sawmill Creek Road (1.4 miles of rough gravel road), offers eleven camping units, trout fishing, and boating on nearby Blue Lake; there is no fee to camp here, but there is no garbage service or water available. Some people camp illegally on the college campus, but this is not recommended.

Ferry terminal: Six miles north of town

Airport: On Japonski Island, a mile from town

Visitors Information: Sitka Convention & Visitors Bureau, (907) 747-5940

Chamber of Commerce: P.O. Box 638, Sitka, AK 99835; (907) 747-8604

Hospital: Sitka Community Hospital, (907) 747-3241; Search Hospital, (907) 966-2411

Forest Service: (907) 747-6671

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