Juneau Travel Alaska - Alaska Cruise & Vacation Information

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The City and Borough of Juneau is a unified municipality located on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has been the capital of Alaska since 1906, when the government of the then-Alaska Territory was moved from Sitka.

The municipality unified in 1970 when the City of Juneau merged with the City of Douglas and the surrounding borough to form the current home rule municipality.

The area of Juneau is larger than that of Rhode Island or Delaware and almost as large as the two states combined. Juneau is nestled at the base of Mount Juneau and across the channel from Douglas Island. As of the 2000 census, the City and Borough had a population of 30,711. The U.S. Census Bureau's 2005 population estimate for the City and Borough was 30,987. Juneau's only power utility is Alaska Electric Light & Power.

Juneau was named after gold prospector Joe Juneau, though the place was for a time called Rockwell and then Harrisburg (after Juneau's co-prospector, Richard Harrisâ€”several books credit the Tlingit Chief Kowee with showing these prospectors where the gold was). The Tlingit name of the town is DzÃ¡ntik'i HÃ©eni "river where the flounders gather", and Auke Bay just north of Juneau proper is called Aak'w "little lake" in Tlingit. The Taku River, just south of Juneau, was named after the cold t'aakh wind, which occasionally blows down from the mountains. Downtown Juneau sits at sea level, with tides averaging 16 feet (4.9 m), below steep mountains about 3,500 to 4,000 feet (1,200 m) high. Atop these mountains is the Juneau Ice Cap, a large ice mass from which about 30 glaciers flow; two of these, the Mendenhall Glacier and the Lemon Glacier, are visible from the local road system; the Mendenhall glacier has been generally retreating; its front face is declining both in width and height.

The current Alaska State Capitol is an office building in downtown Juneau, originally built as the Federal and Territorial Building in 1931. Originally housing federal government offices, the federal courthouse, and a post office, it became the home of the Alaska Legislature and the offices for the governor of Alaska and lieutenant governor of Alaska. Through the years, there has been discussion on relocating the seat of state government and building a new capitol, without significant development.

Geography and climate

Juneau is located at 58Â°21 5â€³N, 134Â°30 42 W (58.351422, -134.511579). According to the KÃ¶ppen Classification, Juneau has a humid continental climate despite its coastal location, though it is influenced by the Pacific Ocean.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 3,255.0 square miles (8,430.4 kmÂ²), making it the second-largest municipality in the United States by area (the largest is Sitka, Alaska). 2,716.7 square miles (7,036.1 kmÂ²) of it is land and 538.3 square miles (1,394.3 kmÂ²) of it (16.54%) is water.

* Average annual rainfall ranges from 55 inches (1,400 mm) to over 90 inches (2,300 mm) depending on location[3]; annual average snowfall is 101 inches (257 cm).
* The average high temperature in July is 65 Â°F (18 Â°C), and the average low temperature in January is 20 Â°F (-7 Â°C).

History

Long before European settlement in the Americas, the Gastineau Channel was a favorite fishing ground for local Tlingit Indians, known then as the Auke and Taku tribes, who had inhabited the surrounding area for thousands of years. The native cultures are rich with artistic traditions including carving, weaving, orating, singing and dancing, and Juneau has become a major social center for the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian of Southeast Alaska.

In 1880, Sitka mining engineer George Pilz offered a reward to any local chief who could lead him to gold-bearing ore. Chief Kowee arrived with some ore and several prospectors were sent to investigate. On their first trip, to Gold Creek, they found deposits of little interest. However, at Chief Kowee's urging Pilz sent Joe Juneau and Richard Harris back to the Gastineau Channel, directing them to Snow Slide Gulch (the head of Gold Creek) where they found nuggets "as large as peas and beans," in Harris' words.

On October 18, 1880, the two men marked a 160 acre (0.6 kmÂ²) town site where soon a mining camp appeared. Within a year, the camp became a small town, the first to be founded after Alaska's purchase by the United States.

The town was originally called Harrisburg, after Richard Harris; some time later, its name was changed to Rockwell. In 1881, the miners met and renamed the town Juneau, after Joe Juneau. In 1906, after the diminution of the whaling and fur trade, Sitka, the original capital of Alaska, declined in importance and the seat of government was moved to Juneau.

In 1954, Alaskans passed a measure to move the capital north. Robert Atwood, then publisher of the Anchorage Times and an Anchorage 'booster,' was an early leader in capital move effortsâ€”efforts which many in Juneau and Fairbanks resisted. One provision required the new capital to be at least 30 miles (48 km) from Anchorage and Fairbanks, to prevent either city from having undue influence. In the end Juneau remained the capital. In the 1970s, voters passed a plan to move the capital to Willow, a town 70 miles (110 km) north of Anchorage. But pro-Juneau people there and in Fairbanks got voter to also approve a measure (the FRANK Initiative) requiring voter approval of all bondable construction costs before building could begin. Alaskans later voted against spending the estimated $900 million. A 1984 "ultimate" capital-move vote also failed, as did a 1996 vote.

Famous dog show breeders, Lee and Maria Miller, at Memorial to Patsy Ann: "Official Greeter of Juneau."

Alaskans thus several times voted on moving their capital, but Juneau remains the capital.[4] Once Alaska was granted statehood in 1959, Juneau grew with the growth of state government. Growth accelerated remarkably after the construction of the Alaska Pipeline in 1977, the state budget being flush with oil revenues; Juneau expanded for a time due to growth in state government jobs, but that growth slowed considerably in the 1980s.[5] The state demographer expects the borough to grow very slowly over the next twenty years.[6] Cruise ship tourism rocketed upward from about 230,000 passengers in 1990 to nearly 1,000,000 in 2006 as cruise lines built more and larger shipsâ€”even 'mega-ships', sailing to Juneau seven days a week instead of six, over a longer season, but this primarily summer industry provides few year-round jobs.

Juneau is larger in area than the state of Delaware and was, for many years, the country's largest city by area. Juneau continues to be the only U.S. state capital located on an international border: it is bordered on the east by Canada.

Transportation

Juneau is a popular cruise ship destination.

Juneau is only accessible via sea or air. Cars and trucks are transported to and from Juneau by barge or ferry. The State-owned ferry is called the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) to indicate that water is the main transportation system. Juneau is one of only five state capitals not served by an interstate highway. Dover, Delaware; Jefferson City, Missouri; Carson City, Nevada; and Pierre, South Dakota, are the other four state capitals with this distinction. Approximately one million passengers arrive each summer on cruise ships. Juneau counts only some 40 miles (64 km) of paved road. Actually, there are more vehicles in the city than there are people, as many citizens also own light planes, float planes, and boats. Local government operates a bus service under the name Capital Transit. Furthermore there are a few taxicab companies, as well as tour buses, mainly for cruise ship visitors.

The only airport in town is Juneau International Airport. Alaska Airlines is now the sole local commercial jet passenger operator (as start-up MarkAir and Western Airlines (whose successor, Delta doesn't serve Juneau) are no longer in business). The company provides service to Anchorage and Fairbanks as well as to many small communities in the state. Seattle is an important destination for most Juneau residents.

Some air carriers provide U.S. mail service. A few hardy Juneauites bicycle daily, even in inclement weather. (Rain and snow are common as the area is a rainforest.) Other residents walk, hike, or ride bicycles recreationally. A study has been conducted to make Juneau a more walkable area. Trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, and all terrain vehicles are popular.

Avalanche hazards, steep slopes, cold weather and environmental protection concerns are factors that make road construction and maintenance difficult and costly. Juneau's roads remain separate from other roads in Alaska and in the Lower 48. Local opinions on constructing a road link to the outside world are mixed. Some see such a road as a much-needed link between Juneau and the rest of Alaska. Others are concerned about environmental, social, and economic impacts. There were plans to connect Juneau to Haines and Skagway by road, but the State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities announced in 2005 that the connection was to be provided partly by road, and partly by fast ferry. Construction was scheduled to begin in 2007 on this 65-mile-long road, but permits had not been granted for a 16-mile (26 km) section where the road would traverse a Land Use Designation (LUD) II area in Berner's Bay, as that LUD area has national protection as a wilderness area. The road plan, announced under out-going Governor Frank Murkowski, was subsequently withdrawn by Governor Sarah Palin promptly after she took office in December 2006.

A very popular destination is Mendenhall Glacier. A bridge connects Douglas Island with the rest of Juneau, and there are about five places where roads end. Float planes and helicopters offer glacier tours in summer. Dog sled rides are often given to tourists landing on the glaciers or ice caps. Other companies offer boat rides. One of the signature places in Juneau is The Mount Roberts Tramway, an aerial tramway stretching from a station on the cruise ship docks to a point on the southwestern ridge of Mount Roberts.

Districts
Two districts have been defined by the Assembly of the City and Borough of Juneau:

District 1 precinct
o Downtown Juneau
o Salmon Creek
o Lemon Creek
o Switzer Creek
o Juneau International Airport
o Douglas Island

District 2 precincts
o Mendenhall Valley
o Auke Bay
o Fritz Cove
o Lynn Canal
o Tee Harbor

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there were 30,700 people, 11,500 households, and 7,600 families residing in Juneau. The population density was 4.4/kmÂ² (11.3/sq mi). There were 12,300 housing units at an average density of 4.5/sq mi (1.7/kmÂ²). By race Juneau was 75% White, 11% Native American, 5% Asian, 0.8% Black, 0.4% Pacific Islander, and 3% Hispanic or Latino of any race. One percent belonged to other races, and 7% to two or more races. 2.61% reported speaking Tagalog at home, while 2.38% speak Spanish and 1.07% Tlingit.

There were 11,500 households out of which 37% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51% were married couples living together, 11% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34% were non-families. 24% of all households were made up of individuals and 4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.6 and the average family size was 3.1.

In the borough, the population was spread out with 27% under the age of 18, 8% from 18 to 24, 33% from 25 to 44, 26% from 45 to 64, and 6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 102 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $62,000, and the median income for a family was $70,300. Males had a median income of $46,700 versus $33,200 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,700. 6% of the population and 4% of families were below the poverty line. 7% of those under the age of 18 and 4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Politically, Juneau is more liberal than the rest of the state. In the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections, downtown Juneau was the only election district in the state carried by the Democratic candidate.

Arts and entertainment
Juneau is home to Perseverance Theatre, Alaska's only professional theater. The area hosts the annual Alaska Folk Festival and Juneau Jazz & Classics music festivals, and the Juneau Symphony performs regularly. Downtown Juneau boasts dozens of art galleries, which participate in the monthly First Friday Gallery Walk and the enormously popular December Gallery Walk held in the first week of December. The Juneau Arts & Humanities Council coordinates events while fund-raising, distributing some grant money, and operating a gallery at its office near 2nd Street and Franklin Street. On summer Friday evenings open-air music and dance performances are held at Marine Park. The University of Alaska Southeast Campus also offers lectures, concerts, and theater performances.

The Juneau Lyric Opera and Opera to Go are the two local opera companies. JLO produces operas in English and Italian and sponsors two annual choral workshop festivals, as well as the touring group the "3 Tenors from Juneau."

Some Juneau artists include violinists Linda and Paul Rosenthal, sopranos Kathleen Wayne and Joyce Parry Moore, bass John d'Armand, baritones Philippe Damerval and David Miller, tenors Jay Query, Brett Crawford and Dan Wayne, Rory Merritt Stitt, folk musician Buddy Tabor, playwright Robert Bruce "Bo" Anderson, and painters Rie MuÃ±oz, David Woodie, Barbara Craver, Rob Roys, Elise Tomlinson, and Herb Bonnet. Photographer Ron Klein is a past president of the International Association of Panoramic Photographers.

Media

Juneau's only daily newspaper is the Juneau Empire; however there is also a regional weekly newspaper, the Capital City Weekly. Juneau-Douglas High School has The Ego and the Alterego, a monthly magazine, and the University of Alaska Southeast has The Whalesong, a college newspaper.

Juneau is also served by television and radio. Juneau's major television affiliates are KTOO (PBS), KATH-LP (NBC) and KJUD (ABC)-(KIMO retransmission). The Juneau-Douglas High School also has a program with KTOO airing one hour a week during the school year produced entirely by students with the help of Ryan Conarro, "the DL (Down Low)"

Leading radio stations include AM Stations KJNO 630 and KINY 800. FM Stations include recently expanded public radio station KTOO 104.3, KXLL "Excellent Radio" 100.7 and KRNN "Rain Country Radio" 102.7 (both operated by KTOO), but also include country music station KTKU 105.1 ("Taku 105"), KSUP 106.3, and the freeform LPFM station KBJZ-LP 94.1.

Additionally the offices of CoastAlaska, a regional public radio station consortium, are located in Juneau. AP (the Associated Press), Anchorage news outlets, and other Alaska media entities send reporters to Juneau during the annual Legislative session.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Juneau is served by the Juneau School District and includes the following schools:
* Gastineau Elementary School
* Harborview Elementary School
* Riverbend Elementary School
* Mendenhall River Elementary School
* Glacier Valley Elementary School
* Auke Bay Elementary School
* Juneau Community Charter School
* Dzantik'i Heeni Middle School
* Floyd Dryden Middle School
* Juneau-Douglas High School
* Thunder Mountain High School
* YaaoosgÃ© DaakahÃdi Alternative High School
* HomeBRIDGE (homeschooling program)

In addition, the following private schools also serve Juneau:

* (Glacier) Valley Baptist Academy
* Thunder Mountain Learning Center (Formerly Thunder Mountain Academy)

Colleges and universities

Juneau is the home of the following institutes of higher education:
* University of Alaska Southeast

Economy

As the capital of Alaska, the primary employer in Juneau, by a large margin, is government. This includes the federal government, state government, municipal government (which does include the local airport, the local hospital, harbors, and the school district), and the University of Alaska Southeast.

Another large contibutor to the local economy, at least on a part-time basis, is the tourism industry. In 2005, the cruise ship industry was estimated to bring nearly one million visitors to Juneau[12] for up to 11 hours at a time, between the months of May and September.

The fishing industry used to be a major part of the Juneau economy. Until recently, Juneau was the 49th most lucrative U.S. fisheries port by volume and 45th by value taking in 15 million pounds of fish and shellfish valued at 21.5 million dollars in 2004 according to the National Marine Fisheries Service. Tree-trunk exporting also has a fondly remembered place in Juneau's economic history.

Real estate agencies, federally-funded highway construction, and mining are apparently still viable non-government local industries. Local mines include Greens Creek, owned by Hecla Mining Company (Greens Creek Mine was a 90% Kennecott & 10% Hecla Joint Venture until Spring of 2008 when Hecla purchased the 90% Kennecott owned) and (soon) the Kensington, owned by Couer Alaska. The "Alaskan Brewing Company", although subsidized by the municipal government, is also a thriving part of the local economy.