Thorne Bay Alaska Community Information

Thorne Bay was founded in the 1960's and incorporated in 1982. It is 59 miles from Hollis and 36 miles east of Klawock. The population is just under 600 year-round residents. Most of the population are involved in the timber industry and there is a lumber and shake mill at Goose Creek. Aside from the timber and logging industry, residents of Thorne Bay are employed by the mainly in fishing, tourism, and by the Federal Government, which maintains a U.S. Forest Service Ranger District here.

Thorne Bay, in the 1880's, was named after a superintendent of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, Frank Manley Thorn. Unfortunately, it was spelled incorrectly when published. The town flourished due to a timber contract between the U.S. Forest Service and the Ketchikan Pulp Company. This contract prompted the construction of a logging camp (which later was called the largest in the United States) and other facilities to replace those in Hollis. This in turn prompted road construction to Craig, Klawock, and Hollis. Incorporation and the shift from logging camp status was a result of Alaska Statehood Act.

Thorne Bay can be reached by Hollis by paved road and offers some of the best Salmon and Steelhead runs on the island in the famed Thorne River. Canoe and kayak trips can be had on the Honker Divide canoe route which begins here and local petroglyphs are a popular attraction. Thorne Bay offers an R.V. Park and and excellent boating facilities.

Thorne Bay, Alaska

Thorne Bay is a city located in Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area, Alaska. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 557.

Geography
Location of Thorne Bay, Alaska
Thorne Bay is located at 55°40'38" North, 132°33'22" West (55.677232, -132.556246)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 78.6 km² (30.4 mi²). 66.1 km² (25.5 mi²) of it is land and 12.5 km² (4.8 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 15.85% water.

Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there are 557 people, 219 households, and 157 families residing in the city. The population density is 8.4/km² (21.8/mi²). There are 327 housing units at an average density of 4.9/km² (12.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 92.46% White, 0.00% Black or African American, 2.87% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races, and 3.95% from two or more races. 1.26% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 219 households out of which 35.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.6% are married couples living together, 4.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% are non-families. 23.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 2.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.54 and the average family size is 3.03.

In the city the population is spread out with 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 115.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 122.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $45,625, and the median income for a family is $46,875. Males have a median income of $40,893 versus $34,375 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,836. 7.8% of the population and 6.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 5.4% of those under the age of 18 and 7.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.