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Klawock





Photo by Sharon Brosamle                                                                                                                   

Founded in 1868 / Incorporated 1929
Population est. 850 / City Hall 907-755-2261
 
Klawock is named for Kloo-Wah, A Tlingit Indian from Moria Sound. The town site was a summer fishing camp to which Kloo-Wah permanently moved his clan. A trading post and salmon saltery were established in 1868 and the first cannery in Alaska was built here by a San Francisco firm in 1878. Subsequent canneries in the area were operated under contract, using chinese laborers. A hatchery for red salmon opened at Klawock Lake in 1897. A school was constructed in 1929.          
                                                            Photo by Jon Bolling                                                                               
 
In 1934, Klawock received federal funds for a cannery. In 1971 Alaska Timber Corp. built a sawmill. Soon after, Klawock-Heenya Corp.,Shaan-Seet Corp. of Craig and Sealaska Timber Corp. built a log-sort yard outside of Klawock and a deep-water dock on Klawock Island.
                                               
Klawock is a significant center of Tlingit culture, with an annual celebration of Elizabeth Peratrovich's pioneering Native-rights work. The totem park has restored totem poles, replicas from old Tuxekan Village and 11 new poles. A celebration was held in 2011 and five new poles were added. There is a Heritage Center, a long house and a carving shed on the Hollis Highway at the edge of town.
 
The only airstrip on Prince of Wales Island is near the town. Klawock has a small-boat harbor. A boat launch ramp is north of the cannery. A deep-draft dock on Klawock Island is Primarily used for loading timber.