The Port of Ketchikan is the southeastern-most city of significant size in the State of Alaska. Located about 380 kilometers south of the State's capital, Juneau, the Port of Ketchikan covers southwestern Revillagigedo Island and part of the Alexander Archipelago.
The Misty Fjords National Monument is east of the Port of Ketchikan. The local economy depends on tourism and fishing, and the Port of Ketchikan is sometimes called the "Salmon Capital of the World." In 2000, about 7900 people lived in the Port of Ketchikan.
The site of the Port of Ketchikan was originally settled for fishing by the Cap Fox and Tongass Tlingit who named a nearby creek "Kitschk-hin."
In the 1880s, white men built a cannery there. The Port of Ketchikan became a supply center for gold miners during the 1890s.
Over time, fish canning became the Port of Ketchikan's main economic activity, although logging and lumbering also occurred, particularly during the Second World War. The pulp mill closed in 1997.
Today, the Port of Ketchikan has a more diverse economy based on fishing, fish processing, timber, and tourism. It is a popular stop for cruise ships traveling the Inside Passage.
Most of the city is at the waterfront, and many buildings are above the water on pilings. The Port of Ketchikan is the site of many fishing tournaments, with catches of salmon, cod, snapper, trout, and halibut). The Deer Mountain Hatchery releases huge numbers of salmon each year, and tourists enjoy visiting it.
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