Sitka is the fifth largest city in Alaska with a population of 8,644, from the 2007 US Census report. Located on the outer coast of Baranof Island, part of the Alexander Archipelago in Southeast Alaska, Sitka is considered Alaska’s most beautiful town and often refered to as “Paris of the Pacific”. Sitka’s past is a combination of both Tlingit culture and Russian History and the location of Castle Hill, where on October 18th, 1867 the United States lowered the Imperial Russian Flag and raised the Stars and Stripes. Agreeing to purchase Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million dollars, about two cents an acre.
No roads connect Sitka to the rest of the State but it is easily accessible by air and water transportation. Alaska Airlines and the Alaska Marine Highway (ferry) System are the two main transportation services in and out of Sitka.
The climate in Sitka has moderate temperatures ranging from 20-35 in winters and summers between 45-70, with a few summer days in the upper 80’s. Rain is very abundant in Sitka with a yearly rainfall of around 90 inches and is keep warmer in the wintertime by the Japanese Ocean current that swings this way .
Sitka is also current on technology with high speed DSL Internet service, high definition Satellite TV and Satellite radio.
Sitka has a very diversified economy with healthcare, education, tourism, government, and four major seafood processing companies. It ranks 13th as the largest port by value in the United States and 23rd by volume. Each summer Sitka welcomes 250,000 cruise ship passengers that generate over 70 million dollars.
Wildlife is Sitka’s hidden treasure with Brown Bear, Sitka Blacktail Deer, Sea Otters, Whales, Sea Lions, Puffins and many more all in large abundance right around each turn. Host to World Class fishing of King Salmon and Halibut plus other goodies like King Crab and Shrimp. Sitka is also a popular feeding ground for the large Humpback Whales in late fall and early spring, but frequent the waters nearly year around. St. Lazaria National Wildlife Refuge is only a 30 minute boat ride from town and is populated with tufted puffins, sea gulls, bald eagles and other sea birds.
Sitka is a special place and a different way of life, but all that visit find out why Sitka is the most beautiful place in Alaska!
We hope you can visit someday and welcome you to Sitka!