Sand Point

Location

Sand Point is located on Humboldt Harbor on Popof Island, off the Alaska Peninsula, 570 air miles from Anchorage. It lies at approximately 55d 20m N Latitude, 160d 30m W Longitude. (Sec. 08, T056S, R073W, Seward Meridian). Sand Point is located in the Aleutian Islands Recording District. The area encompasses 7.8 sq. miles of land and 21.1 sq. miles of water.

History

Sand Point was founded in 1898 by a San Francisco fishing company as a trading post and cod fishing station. Aleuts from surrounding villages and Scandinavian fishermen were the first residents of the community. Sand Point served as a repair and supply center for gold mining during the early 1900s, but fish processing became the dominant activity in the 1930s. The St. Nicholas Chapel, a Russian Orthodox church, was built in 1933 and is now on the National Register of Historical Places. Aleutian Cold Storage built a halibut plant in 1946. Today, it is home to the largest fishing fleet in the Aleutian Chain. The City government was incorporated in 1966.

Culture

Sand Point is characterized as self-sufficient and progressive, with commercial fishing activities at the heart of the local culture. There is a large transient population for fishing and cannery work.

Economy

Sand Point is home to the largest fishing fleet in the Aleutian Chain. The state provides sub-regional services through public safety, fish and game, and the court system. rident Seafoods has a major bottomfish, pollock, salmon and fish meal plant, and provides fuel and other services. Peter Pan Seafoods owns a storage and transfer station. In 1991, New West Fisheries moored a floating processor near the City dock for Pacific Cod processing. 116 residents hold commercial fishing permits. In 2000, gross fishing revenues of residents was nearly $13 million. Two exploratory mining operations are currently underway nearby, namely Battle Mountain Gold and Alaska Apollo. Locals participate in subsistence consumption of fish and caribou.

Facilities

Water is derived from Humboldt Creek and is treated. The City operates a piped water and sewer system, serving 170 households and 22 businesses, and all are fully plumbed. Trident Seafoods has first water rights. Funds have been requested to develop a new groundwater source. Relocation of the landfill is currently under design. Trident recently built its own power generation facility.

Transportation

Sand Point offers a new State-owned airport with a 4,300 foot paved runway. Direct flights to Anchorage are available. A runway expansion and airport road paving is planned. Marine facilities include a 25-acre boat harbor, with four docks, 134 boat slips, a barge off-loading area, and a 150-ton lift. A harbormaster building is under construction. A new boat harbor is scheduled to be constructed at Black Point by the Corps of Engineers. Regular barge services supply the community. The State Ferry operates bi-monthly between May and October.

Climate

Sand Point lies in the maritime climate zone. Temperatures range from -9 to 76. Snowfall averages 52 inches, annual precipitation is 33 inches.