Living & Working in Ketchikan
Ketchikan is Alaska’s oldest incorporated city in Alaska and is located on Revillagigedo Island and has just over 8100 residents. Ketchikan is named after Ketchikan Creek, which flows through the town, emptying into the Tongass Narrows, a short distance southeast of its downtown. Ketchikan has the world's largest collection of standing totem poles, found throughout the city and at four major locations: Saxman Totem Park, Totem Bight State Park, Potlatch Park, and the Totem Heritage Center. Ketchikan's economy is based on fishing industries, canneries in particular, tourism, government, and forestry. The Misty Fiords National Monument is one of the area's major attractions and is the location of the headquarters of the Tongass National Forest.
Ketchikan serves as both an air and marine transportation hub for southern Southeast Alaska. Ketchikan is supported by the Ketchikan International Airport, which provides daily jet service with Seattle and to other major cities in Alaska. Ketchikan is also supported by two separate ferry systems--the Alaska Marine Highway System's Inside Passage route and the Inter-Island Ferry Authority, which serves Ketchikan with daily service from its homeport in Hollis on Prince of Wales Island. The area supports world-class hunting, fishing, and camping, hiking, skiing, and all types of water sports.
Ketchikan is made up of hard-working people who love the outdoors. It has a fishing culture, a thriving arts community and amazing scenery. It is filled with people who care about what happens to the members of their community and has a strong Native Alaskan culture.