Craig, Alaska#1982 deaths

Craig is the largest town on Prince of Wales Island, the fourth-largest island in the United States. Craig is approximately {{Convert|56|mi|km}} by air northwest of Ketchikan and {{Convert|220|mi|km}} south of Juneau.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|9.4|sqmi|km2|1}}, of which, {{convert|6.7|sqmi|km2|1}} of it is land and {{convert|2.7|sqmi|km2|1}} of it (28.94%) is water.

Craig has an oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb). Summers are mild with cool nights, while winters are chilly and wet. Precipitation is abundant year-round but is heaviest in autumn.

{{Weather box

|location = Craig, Alaska (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1936–present)

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 65

|Feb record high F = 73

|Mar record high F = 64

|Apr record high F = 74

|May record high F = 86

|Jun record high F = 88

|Jul record high F = 79

|Aug record high F = 84

|Sep record high F = 76

|Oct record high F = 73

|Nov record high F = 59

|Dec record high F = 63

|year record high F = 88

|Jan avg record high F = 52.1

|Feb avg record high F = 52.5

|Mar avg record high F = 54.0

|Apr avg record high F = 61.5

|May avg record high F = 68.1

|Jun avg record high F = 71.7

|Jul avg record high F = 72.4

|Aug avg record high F = 73.3

|Sep avg record high F = 69.0

|Oct avg record high F = 61.2

|Nov avg record high F = 53.4

|Dec avg record high F = 50.4

|year avg record high F = 76.9

|Jan high F = 39.3

|Feb high F = 40.0

|Mar high F = 41.7

|Apr high F = 47.2

|May high F = 53.0

|Jun high F = 56.7

|Jul high F = 59.7

|Aug high F = 61.0

|Sep high F = 56.8

|Oct high F = 49.8

|Nov high F = 43.0

|Dec high F = 39.6

|year high F = 49.0

|Jan mean F = 36.1

|Feb mean F = 36.1

|Mar mean F = 37.3

|Apr mean F = 42.2

|May mean F = 48.0

|Jun mean F = 52.4

|Jul mean F = 55.8

|Aug mean F = 56.8

|Sep mean F = 52.6

|Oct mean F = 45.7

|Nov mean F = 39.6

|Dec mean F = 36.6

|year mean F = 44.9

|Jan low F = 33.0

|Feb low F = 32.1

|Mar low F = 32.8

|Apr low F = 37.3

|May low F = 42.9

|Jun low F = 48.2

|Jul low F = 52.0

|Aug low F = 52.7

|Sep low F = 48.4

|Oct low F = 41.7

|Nov low F = 36.3

|Dec low F = 33.5

|year low F = 40.9

|Jan avg record low F = 19.6

|Feb avg record low F = 21.4

|Mar avg record low F = 22.2

|Apr avg record low F = 30.2

|May avg record low F = 35.6

|Jun avg record low F = 41.5

|Jul avg record low F = 46.8

|Aug avg record low F = 47.1

|Sep avg record low F = 40.4

|Oct avg record low F = 32.2

|Nov avg record low F = 25.3

|Dec avg record low F = 22.0

|year avg record low F = 14.3

|Jan record low F = -2

|Feb record low F = 5

|Mar record low F = 4

|Apr record low F = 15

|May record low F = 23

|Jun record low F = 30

|Jul record low F = 38

|Aug record low F = 33

|Sep record low F = 30

|Oct record low F = 23

|Nov record low F = 11

|Dec record low F = 2

|year record low F = -2

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 9.08

|Feb precipitation inch = 6.90

|Mar precipitation inch = 8.12

|Apr precipitation inch = 7.16

|May precipitation inch = 5.50

|Jun precipitation inch = 3.96

|Jul precipitation inch = 5.11

|Aug precipitation inch = 7.34

|Sep precipitation inch = 10.43

|Oct precipitation inch = 13.12

|Nov precipitation inch = 12.34

|Dec precipitation inch = 10.86

|year precipitation inch = 99.92

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 23.1

|Feb precipitation days = 16.2

|Mar precipitation days = 20.5

|Apr precipitation days = 20.6

|May precipitation days = 17.2

|Jun precipitation days = 17.6

|Jul precipitation days = 16.8

|Aug precipitation days = 19.7

|Sep precipitation days = 20.7

|Oct precipitation days = 24.3

|Nov precipitation days = 24.4

|Dec precipitation days = 22.5

|year precipitation days =

|Jan snow inch = 4.0

|Feb snow inch = 3.6

|Mar snow inch = 2.3

|Apr snow inch = 0.4

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.0

|Nov snow inch = 1.6

|Dec snow inch = 3.0

|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 2.8

|Feb snow days = 2.1

|Mar snow days = 2.1

|Apr snow days = 0.4

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.0

|Nov snow days = 1.1

|Dec snow days = 2.1

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00502227&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Craig, AK

|access-date = March 7, 2023

}}

|source 2 = National Weather Service

{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=ajk

|publisher = National Weather Service

|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Juneau

|access-date = March 7, 2023

}}

}}

Originally, Craig's townsite was a temporary fishing camp used for gathering herring.

{{Cite web

| title=Tongass National Forest - Prince of Wales Island communities - Craig

| publisher=U.S. Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture

| url=http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/pow/island_info/communities.shtml

}}

Craig was named after Craig Miller (also spelled Millar) who established a fish saltery on nearby Fish Egg Island in 1907 with the assistance of the local Haida natives who moved onto Prince of Wales Island, being driven from Haida Gwaii (British Columbia's Queen Charlotte Islands) starting in the 18th century.

{{Cite web

| title=Craig, Alaska

| publisher=SEATrails.Org

| url=http://www.seatrails.org/com_craig/index.htm

}}

Craig Miller constructed a cold storage plant and packing company at the present site of Craig, and in 1922 was instrumental in the incorporation of the city (originally as an Alaska second-class city within the Alaska Territory, pre-statehood).

The commercial fishing industry was responsible for Craig's relatively large population compared to neighboring communities. In the 1930s, record pink salmon runs brought many new settlers. The 1950s saw a collapse of the fishing industry because of depleted salmon populations. In 1972, a large sawmill was established nearby providing a steady source of year-round employment. Today, Craig relies on commercial fishing, fish processing, and the timber industry.

On September 7, 1982, the fishing boat Investor was found burning off the coast of Craig, and the boat's passengers and crew were found to have been killed.{{cite web|last=Tibbits|first=George|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19851011&id=ibkwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YPsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5551,4253964&hl=en|title=Suspect in murder living life on edge|publisher=Lakeland Ledger|agency=Associated Press|date=October 11, 1985|accessdate=November 7, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/04/26/us/ex-crewman-acquitted-in-8-boat-killings-in-1982.html|title=Ex-Crewman Acquitted in 8 Boat Killings in 1982|work=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press|date=April 26, 1988|accessdate=November 7, 2015}} Due to the badly burned state of the bodies, investigators were only certain that they had recovered the remains of seven bodies, but a coroner's jury ruled that all eight who were aboard the boat had been killed. The boat's owner, Mark Coulthurst, from Blaine, Washington, his wife Irene, and their two young children were among the victims. In September 1984, a suspect, John Kenneth Peel, from Bellingham, Washington, was arrested for the murders. Peel's first trial ended in a hung jury, and his retrial, in 1988, ended in his acquittal. In 2017, Tim DeSpain, spokesman for the Alaska State Troopers stated that "the case is closed".People

On November 14, 2004, Robert Claus, a now retired Alaska state trooper, received a call in the police station that a hunter had found a burning van with potential human remains in it over on a logging road.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-28 |title='My Family Is Going To Hate Me,' 16-Year-Old Weeps After Confessing She Had Her Mom Killed |url=https://www.oxygen.com/fatal-frontier-evil-in-alaska/crime-news/lauri-waterman-killed-after-daughter-rachelle-asked |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Oxygen Official Site |language=en-US}} At the same time, a local man named Doc Waterman reported that his wife, Lauri Waterman, was missing, as she had been last seen at a Chamber of Commerce dinner 24 hours before and her Chrysler minivan was also gone. They identified the burning van as the Chrysler and concluded that the human remains have been identified as being from Lauri Waterman. Doc was a decorated serviceman who had met Lauri in Utah before they moved to Alaska and were parents to two children. On November 18, 2004, Brian Radel, was arrested and charged with murder, as he explained that he had broken into Lauri's home and abducted her, tying her up with a synthetic robe. He forced her to drink wine so she would be intoxicated, then put her bound on the car's backseat. When he and Jason Arrant, his accomplice, reached an isolated spot, he dragged her out of her car, wrestling with her to snap her neck and simulate a car accident, but he strangled her instead after it failed. Rachelle Waterman, Lauri′s 16-year-old daughter, and Jason Arrant were arrested the next day, as they were charged with conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping, burglary, and first degree murder. In June 2005, Brian Radel pleaded guilty and received a 99-year sentence. Arrant, meanwhile, as he didn't actually commit the murder, received 50 years. Rachelle went to trial in January 2006. Both Radel and Arrant testified against her, but the trial ended in a hung jury. A retrial was held in 2011, and she was only convicted of criminally negligent homicide and sentenced to three years in prison. Rachelle has since been released from prison and left Alaska behind.

{{Main|2013 Craig, Alaska earthquake}}

On January 5, 2013, at 3:58 am ET Craig was hit by a 7.5-magnitude offshore earthquake 63 miles (102 km) west of the town.{{cite web |url =http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/05/us/alaska-earthquake/index.html |title =7.5-magnitude earthquake strikes off coast of Alaska; tsunami warning canceled |publisher =CNN |date =January 5, 2013 |accessdate=January 6, 2013 }}{{cite web |url =https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usc000ejqv#summary |title =M7.5 - 94km W of Craig, Alaska |publisher =United States Geological Survey |accessdate=January 6, 2013 }} Regional tsunami warnings and advisories were issued. Voluntary evacuations of the town occurred. Despite this, no fatalities, serious injuries, or incidents of damage were reported and the tsunami threat never materialized other than minor, localized sea level rises.

{{US Census population

|1920= 212

|1930= 231

|1940= 505

|1950= 374

|1960= 273

|1970= 272

|1980= 527

|1990= 1260

|2000= 1397

|2010= 1201

|2020= 1036

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}

}}

Craig first appeared on the 1920 U.S. Census as an unincorporated village. It incorporated in 1922.

Craig's demographic characteristics have varied following trends in the commercial fishing industry, from 1980 through 2000 Craig's population more than doubled.

As of the census of 2000,{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }} there were 1,397 people, 523 households, and 348 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|209.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 580 housing units at an average density of {{convert|86.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 67.07% White, 0.07% Black or African American, 21.69% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.57% from other races, and 10.02% from two or more races. 2.79% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 523 households, out of which 41.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 31.9% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 4.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 119.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 118.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,298, and the median income for a family was $52,500. Males had a median income of $41,111 versus $23,558 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,176. About 7.8% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Craig, the island's largest population center{{Cite web

| title=Prince of Wales Island Community Profies - Craig

| publisher=Prince of Wales Island Chamber of Commerce

| url=http://www.princeofwalescoc.org/profiles.html

| access-date=June 30, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000203095942/http://www.princeofwalescoc.org/profiles.html

| archive-date=February 3, 2000

| url-status=dead

}} and administrative hub for many island companies and organizations,{{Cite web

| title=Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area: Economic Overview

| publisher=Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development

| url=http://www.dced.state.ak.us/dca/aeis/POW/General/POW_General_Narrative.htm

| access-date=June 30, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040827221110/http://www.dced.state.ak.us/dca/AEIS/POW/General/POW_General_Narrative.htm

| archive-date=August 27, 2004

| url-status=dead

}} actually has limited-direct transportation off Prince of Wales Island.

Transportation is primarily via floatplane charters at Craig Seaplane Base. Klawock Airport can accommodate wheeled-aircraft and is a short drive away.

Inter-Island Ferry Authority provides regularly scheduled year-round ferry service between Ketchikan and Hollis located on the Eastern coast of Prince of Wales island. The Inter-Island Ferry Authority's central offices are located in Klawock. The ferry terminal is located an hour drive outside of Craig and the ferry takes 3 hours to get to Ketchikan, Alaska.

{{Cite web

| title=Inter-Island Ferry Authority

| publisher=Inter-Island Ferry Authority

| url=http://www.InterIslandFerry.com/

}}

There are a few marine shipping companies providing scheduled cargo barge service to South-Eastern, Alaska. Craig is usually one of their ports-of-call, handling inter-modal shipping containers for deliveries to other communities.{{Cite web

|title=Prince of Wales Island Transportation - Craig

|publisher=Prince of Wales Island Chamber of Commerce

|url=http://www.princeofwalescoc.org/transport.html

|url-status=dead

|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513050832/http://www.princeofwalescoc.org/transport.html

|archivedate=May 13, 2008

}}

Prince of Wales Transportation based in Craig, provides island-wide shuttle services from the ferry terminals to the other communities and island attractions.{{Cite web

| title=Prince of Wales Island guide - 2007

| publisher=Prince of Wales Chamber of Commerce

| url=http://www.princeofwalescoc.org/POW_2007.pdf

| access-date=July 1, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070923003739/http://www.princeofwalescoc.org/POW_2007.pdf

| archive-date=September 23, 2007

| url-status=dead

}}

Commercial fishing and related support business comprises the largest portion of Craig's economy. This is supplemented by timber industry related activities like the sawmill, and many residents use subsistence resources in addition to the formal economy.

In 2000, Craig had 42 vessel owners with operations in federal fisheries, 84 vessel owners with operations in state fisheries, and 149 registered crew members; 199 residents held 437 commercial fishing permits; 3,405 sport fishing licenses were sold, 2,590 licenses to non-residents of Alaska.

Commercial fishing generates much of the income in Craig. There are two harbors in the center of town one which primarily contains smaller charter and recreational boats, and the North Cove Harbor where the trollers, seiners, longliners, shrimp, crab, and dive boats that make up the local fleet are moored. During the peak of the fishing season in summer, the harbor is usually so full that boats must anchor out in the bay.

Tourism provides jobs and income to the community. Many charter fishing lodges cater to guests who visit the island for the salmon fishing as well as black bear and deer hunting.

The other main employer in Craig is the U.S. Forest Service. The rest of the economy is mainly supportive. There is a city-run medical clinic, a few restaurants, a general store, two banks, a grocery store, a coffeeshop/bookstore, clothing store, gift store, nursery and outdoor outfitter.

Craig has an elementary, middle, high school and an alternative school with 35 teachers and about 300 students.

City of Craig provides piped water from the North Fork Lake reservoir, as well as providing a public sewage system.

Alaska Power & Telephone (an employee owned company) provides hydro-electric power, telephone, and internet service to much of southeastern Alaska, including Craig. There are a few cellular carriers providing service on Prince of Wales Island, mostly to the more densely populated communities like Craig.{{Cite web

| title=Prince of Wales Island - Utilities

| publisher=Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development

| url=http://www.dced.state.ak.us/dca/AEIS/POW/Utilities/POW_Utilities_Narrative.htm

}}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

• Holly Madison (born 1979), model, television personality; one of the stars of the E! channel's The Girls Next DoorThe Girls Next Door Episode 3: "Half-Baked Alaska" - December 23, 2007

{{Refbegin|2}}

• {{Cnote|A|Alaska's boroughs are equivalent to counties in other U.S. states.}}
• {{Cnote|B|Census Areas are abstractions of the U.S. Census Bureau to either consolidate or sub-divide legal-official civil sub-divisions to make counting and presenting population statistics easier and more meaningful. Census abstractions have no legal or official basis in either federal or state law.{{Cite web

| title=United States Code Title--13 Census

| publisher=Government Printing Office

| url=http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title13/title13.html

| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215104109/http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title13/title13.html

| archivedate=February 15, 2008

}}{{cite web

| title=Alaska Statutes

| publisher=Alaska Legislature

| url=http://www.legis.state.ak.us/folhome.htm

}} other than for determining federal electoral boundaries and federal assistance applications. In Craig's case: the Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area provides a method of subdividing the huge Unorganized Borough (over half of Alaska's area, {{convert|374,712|sqmi|km2}}, an area larger than any other U.S. state, with a population of 81,803, 13% in the 2000 Census), and consolidating Craig statistics with "nearby" communities on Prince of Wales Island along with other "nearby" communities surrounding Ketchikan.}}

{{Cnote|C|Craig incorporated in Territory of Alaska as a second-class city.}}

{{Cnote|D|Craig (re-)incorporated as a first-class city in State of Alaska.}}

{{Refend}}

{{Refbegin|2}}

• {{Cite web

| title=City of Craig on Alaska CIS

| publisher=Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development

| url=http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/commdb/CIS.cfm?Comm_Boro_Name=Craig

| access-date=June 30, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604013249/http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/commdb/CIS.cfm?Comm_Boro_Name=Craig

| archive-date=June 4, 2011

| url-status=dead

}}

{{Refend}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• [http://www.craigak.com City of Craig website]
• [http://craigtribe.org Craig Tribal Association]

{{wikivoyage|Craig (Alaska)}}

{{Prince of Wales – Hyder Census Area, Alaska}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Alaska

Category:Cities in Prince of Wales–Hyder Census Area, Alaska

Category:Populated coastal places in Alaska on the Pacific Ocean

Category:1907 establishments in Alaska