Metlakatla, Alaska

File:Tsimshian children, Metlakatla, Alaska, June 4, 1904 (COBB 139).jpeg

Metlakatla comes from Maxłaxaała, a Tsimshian word meaning "saltwater passage where the wind dies down." Metlakatla was named after another village of the same name ("Old Metlakatla") in British Columbia, which is on Metlakatla Pass, near Prince Rupert. In a more ancient time, it was a Tlingit hunting ground known as Taquan, or Tàakw.àani. The Tsimshian were granted permission to occupy the land by Chief Johnson of the Tlingit tribe.

File:Metlakahtla Christian Mission Church, Metlakahtla, Alaska. Side view. - NARA - 297328.jpg]]

In 1886, William Duncan, an English tannery employee and lay member of the Church Missionary Society,{{cite web|title= The Church Missionary Atlas (British Columbia)|pages= 227–232|date= 1896| url= http://www.churchmissionarysociety.amdigital.co.uk/Documents/Details/CMS_OX_Atlas_01|access-date=October 19, 2015 | publisher = Adam Matthew Digital |url-access=subscription }} had a doctrinal dispute with the Church authorities in Metlakatla, B.C. He and a devoted group of Tsimshian followers decided to leave Metlakatla. Duncan went to Washington, D.C., in the United States and asked the U.S. government to give his group land in Alaska. The U.S. under President Cleveland gave them Annette Island after a Tsimshian search committee in seagoing canoes discovered its calm bay, accessible beaches, nearby waterfall, and abundant fish."[http://www.metlakatla.com/communityOrigins2.php Community Origins]." Metlakatla Indian Community. 2005. Web. Retrieved August 24, 2011.

File:Alaskaitshistory00bruc 0185.jpg

In 1887, the group arrived on the island and built a settlement in the Port Chester area. They laid out the town in a European-style grid pattern. It contained a church, a school, a cannery, and a sawmill. They named the town New Metlakatla, after the town they had left behind, but later dropped the "New." In 1888, William Duncan returned to Washington and lobbied the U.S. Congress for an Indian reserve on Annette Island. Although the reservation system had not been used in Alaska, Congress granted his request in 1891. Duncan remained at Metlakatla until his death in 1918.

File:Group in native dress taken on occasion of Edward Marsden's wedding day at Metlakahtla. - NARA - 297646.tif

During World War II, the United States made a treaty with the Metlakatla Indian Community to permit construction and operation of a military airbase on Annette Island. In exchange, the US promised to build a road connecting the ocean-side city to Alaska's Inside Passage (in order to allow year-round ferry service to Ketchikan). The airfield on Annette Island was garrisoned by Canadians during the war. This airfield became "the first Canadian force ever based in U.S. territory to directly assist in American defense."

After the war, the property was adapted as a United States Coast Guard search and rescue base.Lundberg, Murray. "[http://explorenorth.com/library/yafeatures/bl-Annette.htm Annette Island, Alaska in World War II]." Explore North. 2009. Web. Retrieved August 24, 2011. This airfield served the area commercially until the 1970s, when the new Ketchikan Airport was built at Gravina Island in the Inside Passage.

Annette Islands Reserve, including surrounding islands, today is the only Indian Reserve in Alaska. In the 1970s, the Metlakatla did not accept the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and thus kept the Reserve Status, and maintained sovereign immunity.[http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/06/26/audrey-hudson-nmais-meet-native-america-series-164923 Dennis Zotigh, "Audrey Hudson: NMAI's Meet Native America Series"], Indian Country Today, June 26, 2016; accessed June 27, 2016 "Annette Islands Reserve consists of 132,000 acres of land and water base. Metlakatla Indian Community has exclusive commercial and subsistence fishing rights to the islands’ waterways extending from 3,000 feet at mean low tide."

Please note that the Annette island's Reserve is not a reservation. It is a reserve

Travelers into Metlakatla usually reach it via the Alaska Marine Highway ferry. They can also travel to Ketchikan on Revillagigedo Island and cross the Revillagigedo Channel to Annette Island by boat or seaplane.

More than 50 years after the end of WWII, in 1997 the US Federal Government began construction of the cross-island road promised to Metlakatla under its wartime M.O.A. treaty. From 1997 to 2007, a joint task force under the overall command of Alaska Command, and led by the Missouri Army National Guard, worked at constructing a 15-mile road from one side of Annette Island to the other. Members of the Active and Reserve components of the Army, Navy, United States Air Force, and the Marines deployed to the island on 2- to 3-week rotations to build the road.[https://www.jber.jb.mil/ Fact Sheet, "Operation Alaska Road,"],

Elmendorf Air Force Base; retrieved February 6, 2008

File:Jail and fire department, Metlakatla, Alaska, nd (COBB 255).jpeg

Metlakatla is located at {{coord|55|7|37|N|131|34|35|W|type:city}} (55.126916, −131.576393).{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}} It is within the Port Chester Bay, on Annette Island, about {{convert|25|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Ketchikan.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of {{convert|2.3|sqmi|km2}}, of which, {{convert|2.3|sqmi|km2}} of it is land and {{convert|0.04|sqmi|km2}} of it (0.85%) is water.

Metlakatla has a Marine west coast climate (Köppen Cfb), with windy and wet weather year-round, cool winters, and mild summers, and straddles the border between USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 7 and 8.http://www.arborday.org/treeinfo/ZoneInfo.cfm?ZipCode=99926&submit=Look+it+up%21 {{dead link|date=January 2022|fix-attempted=yes}} Due to its southerly and maritime location, with an annual mean temperature of {{convert|47.7|°F|1}}, the town is one of the warmest locations statewide. Most days during the winter see precipitation fall, and the seasonal total snowfall of {{convert|34.8|in|cm|0}} occurs mostly from November to March, with some accumulation during April; warm spells raise the high to {{convert|50|°F}} for several days each month. During summer, there is an average of 23 days with {{convert|70|°F|0}}+ highs, and rain still falls on around half of the days. Precipitation averages more than {{convert|101|in|m|sigfig=3}} annually, with June and July being the driest months and October and November the wettest. Extreme temperatures have ranged from {{convert|−4|°F|0}} on January 30, 1947, up to {{convert|93|°F|0}} on June 19, 2004, with the temperature having fallen below {{convert|0|°F|0}} only on a handful of occasions. In addition, the Annette Island Airport holds the Alaska state monthly record high temperatures for April ({{convert|82|°F|0|disp=or}} on April 29, 1976) and November ({{convert|67|°F|0|disp=or}} on November 1, 1970).{{Cite web|url=http://climate.gi.alaska.edu/Climate/Atlas/tables/Temperature/temp_extremes.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610200139/http://climate.gi.alaska.edu/Climate/Atlas/tables/Temperature/temp_extremes.html|url-status=dead|title=All-time Statewide Daily Temperature Extremes|archive-date=June 10, 2010|access-date=February 2, 2022}}

{{Weather box

|collapsed= Y

|single line = Y

|location= Annette Island Airport, Alaska, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1941–2019{{cite web|url=https://www.weather.gov/media/notification/scn19-75asos_annette_ak.pdf |title=Service Change Notice 19-75 |publisher=National Weather Service |date=September 3, 2019 |access-date=September 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016160211/https://www.weather.gov/media/notification/scn19-75asos_annette_ak.pdf |archive-date=October 16, 2020}}

|Jan record high F = 66

|Feb record high F = 65

|Mar record high F = 65

|Apr record high F = 82

|May record high F = 88

|Jun record high F = 93

|Jul record high F = 90

|Aug record high F = 90

|Sep record high F = 82

|Oct record high F = 71

|Nov record high F = 67

|Dec record high F = 62

|Jan avg record high F = 51.6

|Feb avg record high F = 51.9

|Mar avg record high F = 53.5

|Apr avg record high F = 64.0

|May avg record high F = 71.2

|Jun avg record high F = 77.5

|Jul avg record high F = 77.8

|Aug avg record high F = 78.3

|Sep avg record high F = 69.2

|Oct avg record high F = 60.2

|Nov avg record high F = 53.3

|Dec avg record high F = 50.7

|year avg record high F = 82.0

|Jan high F = 42.9

|Feb high F = 44.1

|Mar high F = 46.0

|Apr high F = 51.8

|May high F = 58.6

|Jun high F = 62.9

|Jul high F = 65.9

|Aug high F = 66.3

|Sep high F = 61.1

|Oct high F = 53.6

|Nov high F = 46.8

|Dec high F = 43.1

|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 37.7

|Feb mean F = 38.3

|Mar mean F = 40.1

|Apr mean F = 45.4

|May mean F = 51.7

|Jun mean F = 56.4

|Jul mean F = 59.7

|Aug mean F = 60.0

|Sep mean F = 55.1

|Oct mean F = 47.9

|Nov mean F = 41.7

|Dec mean F = 38.3

|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 32.5

|Feb low F = 32.6

|Mar low F = 34.1

|Apr low F = 38.9

|May low F = 44.8

|Jun low F = 49.9

|Jul low F = 53.5

|Aug low F = 53.8

|Sep low F = 49.1

|Oct low F = 42.3

|Nov low F = 36.5

|Dec low F = 33.5

|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 16.8

|Feb avg record low F = 19.9

|Mar avg record low F = 24.1

|Apr avg record low F = 30.7

|May avg record low F = 36.3

|Jun avg record low F = 43.2

|Jul avg record low F = 47.7

|Aug avg record low F = 46.9

|Sep avg record low F = 39.3

|Oct avg record low F = 30.8

|Nov avg record low F = 23.2

|Dec avg record low F = 18.4

|year avg record low F = 10.0

|Jan record low F = −4

|Feb record low F = 2

|Mar record low F = 1

|Apr record low F = 21

|May record low F = 30

|Jun record low F = 37

|Jul record low F = 40

|Aug record low F = 40

|Sep record low F = 30

|Oct record low F = 18

|Nov record low F = −3

|Dec record low F = 1

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 10.43

|Feb precipitation inch = 7.71

|Mar precipitation inch = 7.88

|Apr precipitation inch = 7.18

|May precipitation inch = 5.55

|Jun precipitation inch = 5.09

|Jul precipitation inch = 5.17

|Aug precipitation inch = 7.92

|Sep precipitation inch = 10.16

|Oct precipitation inch = 12.87

|Nov precipitation inch = 12.55

|Dec precipitation inch = 11.00

|year precipitation inch =

|Jan snow inch = 7.0

|Feb snow inch = 7.3

|Mar snow inch = 7.8

|Apr snow inch = 1.0

|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 = 3.6

|Dec snow inch = 8.1

|year snow inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 21.9

|Feb precipitation days = 17.9

|Mar precipitation days = 22.0

|Apr precipitation days = 19.1

|May precipitation days = 15.3

|Jun precipitation days = 15.5

|Jul precipitation days = 15.4

|Aug precipitation days = 15.8

|Sep precipitation days = 19.5

|Oct precipitation days = 22.5

|Nov precipitation days = 23.3

|Dec precipitation days = 23.2

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 4.7

|Feb snow days = 4.2

|Mar snow days = 5.4

|Apr snow days = 1.4

|May snow days = 0.1

|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 = 2.9

|Dec snow days = 4.9

|Jan humidity = 77.1

|Feb humidity = 78.1

|Mar humidity = 75.4

|Apr humidity = 75.4

|May humidity = 74.9

|Jun humidity = 77.0

|Jul humidity = 78.6

|Aug humidity = 80.8

|Sep humidity = 81.6

|Oct humidity = 81.5

|Nov humidity = 79.1

|Dec humidity = 78.8

|year humidity= 78.2

|Jan dew point C = −2.8

|Feb dew point C = −0.8

|Mar dew point C = −0.8

|Apr dew point C = 1.3

|May dew point C = 4.3

|Jun dew point C = 7.6

|Jul dew point C = 10.1

|Aug dew point C = 10.7

|Sep dew point C = 8.7

|Oct dew point C = 4.9

|Nov dew point C = 0.7

|Dec dew point C = −1.6

|Jan sun = 49.6

|Feb sun = 70.6

|Mar sun = 105.4

|Apr sun = 147.0

|May sun = 186.0

|Jun sun = 162.0

|Jul sun = 148.8

|Aug sun = 145.7

|Sep sun = 108.0

|Oct sun = 68.2

|Nov sun = 51.0

|Dec sun = 34.1

|year sun =

|Jand sun = 1.6

|Febd sun = 2.5

|Mard sun = 3.4

|Aprd sun = 4.9

|Mayd sun = 6.0

|Jund sun = 5.4

|Juld sun = 4.8

|Augd sun = 4.7

|Sepd sun = 3.6

|Octd sun = 2.2

|Novd sun = 1.7

|Decd sun = 1.1

|yeard sun = 3.5

|source 1= NOAA (humidity and dew point 1961–1990, mean maxima/minima 1981–2010)

{{cite web

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

|title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = September 1, 2022}}{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00025308&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = August 24, 2022

}}

|source 2 = Deutscher Wetterdienst (sun 1961–1990)

{{cite web

|url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_703980_kt.pdf

|title = Klimatafel von Annette / Annette Island, Alaska / USA

|work = Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world

|publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst

|language = de

|access-date = November 28, 2016}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1890= 823

|1900= 465

|1910= 602

|1920= 574

|1930= 466

|1940= 674

|1950= 817

|1960= 798

|1970= 1050

|1980= 1056

|1990= 1407

|2000= 1375

|2010= 1405

|2020= 1454

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 6, 2013}}

}}

Metlakatla first appeared on the 1890 U.S. Census as the unincorporated (Tsimshian) village of "Metlakahtla." From 1900-30, it returned as Metlakatla. From 1940-60, it was spelled as "Metlakahtla" again. In 1970 and in every census since, it has been spelled as Metlakatla. It was made a census-designated place (CDP) beginning in 1980.

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 1,375 people, 469 households, and 338 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|593.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 531 housing units at an average density of {{convert|229.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 9.53% White, 0.22% Black or African American, 81.82% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.51% from other races, and 7.85% from two or more races. 1.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 469 households, out of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.50.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 33.1% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $43,516, and the median income for a family was $49,671. Males had a median income of $36,696 versus $22,292 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,140. About 7.7% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Metlakatla is served by the Annette Island School District.

A free Adult Education and GED program serves the community. It is run through the Southeast Regional Resource Center, which is based out of Juneau.{{Cite web|url=https://tlcalaska.org/|title=The Learning Connection | Helping people build a better life through education|website=Tlcalaska.org|access-date=February 2, 2022}}

• Metlakatla Seaplane Base (IATA: MTM, ICAO: PAMM, FAA LID: MTM)

{{Commons category|Metlakatla, Alaska}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.metlakatla.com Metlakatla.com]

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

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Category:Census-designated places in Alaska

Category:Census-designated places in Prince of Wales–Hyder Census Area, Alaska

Category:Census-designated places in Unorganized Borough, Alaska

Category:Populated coastal places in Alaska on the Pacific Ocean