Ketchikan
City in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska
Ketchikan is a city in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska, with 8,192 residents (2020 Census). It sits at 0 ft (0 m) above sea level. The nearest town is Saxman, 4.1 miles SE.
- 8,192residents (2020 Census)
- 0 ftelevation · 0 m
- 3.8 sq miland area · 9.9 km²
- 2,139 / sq mipopulation density
About Ketchikan
Ketchikan ( KETCH-ih-kan; Tlingit: Kichx̱áan, pronounced [kʰɪt͡ʃʰχáːn]) is a city in and the borough seat of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough on Revillagigedo Island of Alaska. It is the state's southeasternmost major settlement. Downtown Ketchikan is a National Historic Landmark District.
With a population at the 2020 census of 8,192, up from 8,050 in 2010, it is the sixth-most populous city in the state, and thirteenth-most populous community when census-designated places are included. The surrounding borough, encompassing suburbs both north and south of the city along the Tongass Highway (most of which are commonly regarded as a part of Ketchikan, albeit not a part of the city itself), in addition to small rural settlements accessible mostly by water, registered a population of 13,948 in that same census.
Incorporated on August 25, 1900, Ketchikan is the earliest extant incorporated city in Alaska, because consolidation or unification elsewhere in Alaska resulted in the dissolution of those communities' city governments. Ketchikan is located on Revillagigedo Island, so named in 1793 by Captain George Vancouver.
Ketchikan is named after Ketchikan Creek, which flows through the town, emptying into the Tongass Narrows a short distance southeast of its downtown. "Ketchikan" comes from the Tlingit name for the creek, Kitschk-hin, the meaning of which is unclear. It may mean "the river belonging to Kitschk"; other accounts claim it means "Thundering Wings of an Eagle". In modern Tlingit, this name is Kichx̱áan.
One of Ketchikan's ZIP codes, 99950, is the ZIP code with the highest number in the United States.
Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Ketchikan weather: 7-day forecast
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Source: National Weather Service (NOAA).
Live webcams in Ketchikan
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Living in Ketchikan
- Median household income
- $85,275
- Median home value
- $352,400
- Median rent
- $1,417/mo
- Median age
- 37.4
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Map of Ketchikan
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Open in Google Maps ›Ketchikan, AK population
Ketchikan had 8,192 residents in the 2020 Census.
| 2020 Census | 8,192 |
|---|---|
| Density | 2,139 per sq mi (826 per km²) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.
Ketchikan at a glance
| State | Alaska (AK) |
|---|---|
| County | Ketchikan Gateway Borough |
| Type | City |
| Population | 8,192 (2020) |
| Land area | 3.83 sq mi (9.9 km²) |
| Water area | 1.07 sq mi (2.78 km²) |
| Elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Coordinates | 55.3571° N, 131.6746° W |
| Official website | ketchikan.gov |
| Census code (GEOID) | 0238970 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.
Towns near Ketchikan
- Saxman4.1 mi SE
- Loring17.3 mi N
- Metlakatla17.4 mi S
- Kasaan32.0 mi NW
- Thorne Bay40.0 mi NW
- Hollis41.7 mi W
- Hydaburg46.3 mi W
Straight-line distance between town centers.
Frequently asked questions about Ketchikan
What county is Ketchikan in?
Ketchikan is in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska.
What is the population of Ketchikan, AK?
8,192 people lived in Ketchikan at the 2020 Census.
What is the elevation of Ketchikan?
0 feet (0 m) above sea level.
What towns are near Ketchikan?
Saxman (4.1 mi), Loring (17.3 mi), Metlakatla (17.4 mi), Kasaan (32.0 mi), Thorne Bay (40.0 mi).
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