Thorne Bay, Alaska
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Thorne Bay
|settlement_type = City
|nickname =
|motto =
|image_skyline =
|imagesize =
|image_caption =
|image_flag = Flag of Thorne Bay, Alaska.gif
|image_seal =
|pushpin_map = USA Alaska
|pushpin_map_caption = Location in Alaska
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = Alaska
|subdivision_type2 =
|subdivision_name2 =
|government_footnotes =
|government_type =
|leader_title = Mayor
|leader_name = Harvey McDonald{{Cite book|title=2015 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory|location=Juneau|publisher=Alaska Municipal League|year=2015|page=154}}
|leader_title1 = State senator
|leader_name1 = Bert Stedman (R)
|leader_title2 = State rep.
|leader_name2 = Rebecca Himschoot (I)
|established_title = Incorporated
|established_date = August 9, 1982{{cite book|title=1996 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory|location=Juneau|publisher=Alaska Municipal League/Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs|date=January 1996|page=150}}
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_km2 = 76.97
|area_land_km2 = 69.08
|area_water_km2 = 7.88
|area_total_sq_mi = 29.72
|area_land_sq_mi = 26.67
|area_water_sq_mi = 3.04
|population_as_of = 2020
|population_footnotes =
|population_total = 476
|population_density_km2 = 6.89
|population_density_sq_mi = 17.85
|timezone = Alaska (AKST)
|utc_offset = -9
|timezone_DST = AKDT
|utc_offset_DST = -8
|elevation_footnotes =
|elevation_m = 39
|elevation_ft = 128
|coordinates = {{coord|55|40|38|N|132|33|22|W|region:US-AK|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type = ZIP code
|postal_code = 99919
|area_code = 907
|area_code_type = Area code
|blank_name = FIPS code
|blank_info = 02-77140
|blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
|blank1_info = {{GNIS 4|1669435}}
|website =
|footnotes =
|pop_est_as_of =
|pop_est_footnotes =
|population_est =
|unit_pref = Imperial
}}
Thorne Bay is a city in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, United States. As of the 2020 census the population was 476, up from 471 in 2010.
Geography
Thorne Bay is located at {{coord|55.677232|-132.556246|type:city_region:US|format=dms|display=inline}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|30.4|sqmi|km2}}, of which, {{convert|25.5|sqmi|km2}} of it is land and {{convert|4.8|sqmi|km2}} of it (15.85%) is water.
=Climate=
The average temperature of Thorne Bay is 45 °F, which is much higher than the Alaska average temperature of 32 °F and is much lower than the national average temperature of 54 °F.{{cite web|url=http://www.usa.com/thorne-bay-ak-weather.htm|publisher=USA.com|accessdate=March 13, 2021|title=Thorne Bay, AK Weather}}
{{climate chart
| Thorne Bay
|28 |37 |10.5
|28 |40 |8.5
|31 |44 |8.2
|33 |49 |6.6
|40 |58 |4.2
|46 |63 |3.1
|50 |66 |3.3
|50 |66 |4.9
|44 |59 |9.9
|39 |50 |16
|33 |42 |14.8
|30 |38 |13.0
|units = imperial
|float = right
|clear = both
|source = [http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=56305&cityname=Thorne-Bay-Alaska-United-States-of-America WeatherBase.com (13 March, 2021)]
}}
{{Weather box
| collapsed =Y
| location = Thorne Bay, Alaska (1991–2020 normals, extremes 2007–present)
| single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 59
|Feb record high F = 52
|Mar record high F = 66
|Apr record high F = 73
|May record high F = 84
|Jun record high F = 89
|Jul record high F = 90
|Aug record high F = 90
|Sep record high F = 83
|Oct record high F = 71
|Nov record high F = 58
|Dec record high F = 55
| Jan avg record high F = 49.3
| Feb avg record high F = 48.2
| Mar avg record high F = 51.9
| Apr avg record high F = 61.1
| May avg record high F = 72.2
| Jun avg record high F = 77.7
| Jul avg record high F = 82.6
| Aug avg record high F = 77.8
| Sep avg record high F = 70.6
| Oct avg record high F = 59.9
| Nov avg record high F = 51.2
| Dec avg record high F = 46.9
|year avg record high F = 85.2
|Jan high F = 38.2
|Feb high F = 39.6
|Mar high F = 42.7
|Apr high F = 49.9
|May high F = 57.1
|Jun high F = 62.6
|Jul high F = 65.5
|Aug high F = 65.3
|Sep high F = 58.9
|Oct high F = 50.6
|Nov high F = 41.8
|Dec high F = 37.7
|year high F= 50.8
|Jan mean F = 33.2
|Feb mean F = 33.9
|Mar mean F = 36.2
|Apr mean F = 41.9
|May mean F = 48.6
|Jun mean F = 54.4
|Jul mean F = 58.1
|Aug mean F = 57.8
|Sep mean F = 52.1
|Oct mean F = 44.3
|Nov mean F = 37.0
|Dec mean F = 33.7
|year mean F =
|Jan low F = 28.1
|Feb low F = 28.3
|Mar low F = 29.7
|Apr low F = 33.9
|May low F = 40.0
|Jun low F = 46.2
|Jul low F = 50.6
|Aug low F = 50.2
|Sep low F = 45.2
|Oct low F = 38.0
|Nov low F = 32.2
|Dec low F = 29.6
|year low F= 37.7
| Jan avg record low F = 14.8
| Feb avg record low F = 15.8
| Mar avg record low F = 18.8
| Apr avg record low F = 26.4
| May avg record low F = 32.1
| Jun avg record low F = 38.8
| Jul avg record low F = 43.7
| Aug avg record low F = 44.4
| Sep avg record low F = 36.2
| Oct avg record low F = 28.5
| Nov avg record low F = 22.4
| Dec avg record low F = 16.3
|year avg record low F = 8.5
|Jan record low F = 2
|Feb record low F = 7
|Mar record low F = 8
|Apr record low F = 17
|May record low F = 25
|Jun record low F = 34
|Jul record low F = 38
|Aug record low F = 32
|Sep record low F = 32
|Oct record low F = 17
|Nov record low F = 11
|Dec record low F = -2
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 8.16
|Feb precipitation inch = 5.46
|Mar precipitation inch = 6.25
|Apr precipitation inch = 5.09
|May precipitation inch = 3.51
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.08
|Jul precipitation inch = 5.30
|Aug precipitation inch = 6.98
|Sep precipitation inch = 8.63
|Oct precipitation inch = 12.12
|Nov precipitation inch = 10.52
|Dec precipitation inch = 9.08
|year precipitation inch= 85.18
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 7.2
|Dec snow inch = 8.2
|Jan snow inch = 11.7
|Feb snow inch = 11.7
|Mar snow inch = 8.7
|Apr snow inch = 0.6
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|year snow inch= 48.1
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 21.7
|Feb precipitation days = 15.1
|Mar precipitation days = 20.8
|Apr precipitation days = 18.5
|May precipitation days = 16.7
|Jun precipitation days = 14.4
|Jul precipitation days = 16.4
|Aug precipitation days = 17.6
|Sep precipitation days = 19.6
|Oct precipitation days = 23.3
|Nov precipitation days = 23.7
|Dec precipitation days = 22.0
|year precipitation days=
| 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 = 3.9
| Jan snow days = 4.8
| Feb snow days = 3.6
| Mar snow days = 3.4
| Apr snow days = 0.5
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
|year snow days =
| source 1 = NOAA{{cite web |url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=ajk |title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date = August 11, 2022}}
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00509148&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: Thorne Bay, AK
|access-date = February 15, 2023
}}
}}
Demographics
{{US Census population
|1890= 17
|1970= 443
|1980= 320
|1990= 569
|2000= 557
|2010= 471
|2020= 476
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Total Population in Thorne Bay city, Alaska|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=February 16, 2023}}
}}
Thorne Bay first appeared on the 1890 census as the unincorporated settlement of "Tolstoi Bay."{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TcpJAQAAMAAJ&q=tolstoi+bay&pg=PA83 |title = Bulletin|year = 1906}}{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rr9RAQAAMAAJ&q=tolstoi+bay&pg=PA49 |title = Geological Survey Professional Paper|year = 1949}} It had 17 residents, of which 13 were Native and 4 were White.{{cite web |title=Report on Population and Resources of Alaska at the Eleventh Census: 1890 |url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1890a_v8-01.pdf |website=United States Census Bureau |publisher=Government Printing Office}} It would not appear again until 1970 when it returned as Thorne Bay, also an unincorporated village. It was made a census-designated place (CDP) in 1980. It formally incorporated in 1982.
As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 557 people and 219 households, including 157 families, residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|21.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 327 housing units at an average density of {{convert|12.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 92.46% Caucasian, 2.87% Alaska Native, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races, and 3.95% from two or more races. 1.26% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 219 households, out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.6% were married couples living together, 4.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 28.4% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 30.3% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 115.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 122.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,625, and the median income for a family was $46,875. Males had a median income of $40,893 versus $34,375 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,836. About 6.3% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.
Namesake
Thorne Bay is named for Frank Manly Thorn (1836–1907), who served as the sixth Superintendent of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1885 to 1889. The name of the bay was misspelled when published in the original record, and the spelling was never corrected to match the spelling of Thorn's last name.{{Cite web|url=http://www.seconference.org/thornebay|title=Thorne Bay | Southeast Conference|website=www.seconference.org}}
History and culture
Thorne Bay originally began as a large logging camp for the Ketchikan Pulp Company in 1960 that was originally located in Hollis. Being a floating camp at the time, most Hollis residents resided in float houses. In the 1960s and 1970s it was the largest logging camp in North America and was host to over 1500 residents at its peak. It became a second-class city in 1982 and in 2001 the logging company pulled out having been a victim of breach of contract from the U.S. Forest Service. {{citation needed|date=November 2016}} The U.S. Forest Service signed a fifty-year contract in 1954 guaranteeing {{convert|150|e6board foot|e3m3|abbr=unit|lk=on}} per year for the pulp mill and sawmills in Ketchikan. {{citation needed|date=November 2016}} By 1990 that figure was down to approximately {{convert|50|e6board foot|e3m3|abbr=unit}} per year. Currently Thorne Bay features many seasonal residents and an employment sector based primarily in Forest Service and public education.
World's largest logging camp
In the 1960s–1970s, Thorne Bay was the world's largest logging camp. Thorne Bay also has the world's largest tree grapple, which is known as "the claw". The grapple sits in front of the small town with a sign that says "Thorne Bay".{{Cite web|access-date=February 16, 2021|title=Thorne Bay, Alaska - Our Story |url=https://discoverpowisland.com/communities/thorne-bay/ |website=Discover Prince of Wales Island}}
Education
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.smalltownpapers.com/listAIN.htm Southeast Alaska's Island News – Local newspaper] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917210844/http://www.smalltownpapers.com/listAIN.htm |date=September 17, 2016 }}
{{Prince of Wales – Hyder Census Area, Alaska}}
{{authority control}}
Category:1960 establishments in Alaska
Category:Cities in Prince of Wales–Hyder Census Area, Alaska
Category:Logging communities in the United States
Category:Populated coastal places in Alaska on the Pacific Ocean