Togiak Alaska

Togiak's economic base is primarily commercial salmon, herring, and herring roe-on-kelp fisheries

Freight is brought in by air or barge

The Bay is ice-free from June through mid-November

Current Population:	783 (2006 DCCED Certified Population)
Incorporation Type:	2nd Class City
Borough Located In:	Unorganized
Taxes:	Sales: 2%, Property: None, Special: 2% Raw Fish Tax

Location and Climate

Togiak is located at the head of Togiak Bay, 67 miles west of Dillingham.

It lies in Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, and is the gateway to Walrus Island Game Sanctuary.

The community lies at approximately 59.061940° North Latitude and -160.376390° (West) Longitude. (Sec. 12, T013S, R067W, Seward Meridian.)

Togiak is located in the Bristol Bay Recording District.

The area encompasses 45.2 sq. miles of land and 183.3 sq. miles of water.

Togiak is located in a climatic transition zone, however the arctic climate also affects this region.

Average summer temperatures range from 37 to 66; winter temperatures average 4 to 30.

Precipitation is 20 to 26 inches annually. Fog and high winds are prevalent during the winter.

.The Bay is ice-free from June through mid-November

Organizations with Local Offices

City - City of Togiak

P.O. Box 190

Togiak, AK 99678

Phone 907-493-5820

Fax 907-493-5932

E-mail ctyoftog@unicom-alaska.com

Village Corporation - Togiak Natives Corporation

P.O. Box 150

Togiak, AK 99678

Phone 907-493-5520

Fax 907-493-5554

Village Council - Togiak Traditional Council

P.O. Box 310

Togiak, AK 99678-0310

Phone 907-493-5004

Fax 907-493-5005

E-mail tradcounciltogiak@starband.net

Regional Organizations

Regional Native Corporation - Bristol Bay Native Corporation

800 Cordova Street, Suite 200

Anchorage, AK 99501-6299

Phone 907-278-3602

Fax 907-276-3924

E-mail HawkinsT@bbnc.net

Web http://www.bbnc.net

Regional Native Non-Profit - Bristol Bay Native Association

P.O. Box 310

Dillingham, AK 99576

Phone 907-842-5257

Fax 907-842-5932

E-mail bayweb@bbna.com

Web http://www.bbna.com

Native Housing Authority - Bristol Bay Housing Authority

P.O. Box 50

Dillingham, AK 99576

Phone 907-842-5956

Fax 907-842-2784

E-mail dmcclure@bbha.org

CDQ Group - Bristol Bay Econ. Dev. Corp.

P.O. Box 1464

Dillingham, AK 99576-1464

Phone 907-842-4370

Fax 907-842-4336

E-mail Bryce@bbedc.com

Web http://www.bbedc.com

Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care

Water is derived from a well, is treated and stored in a 500,000-gal. tank. The majority of households (125 residences) are connected to the piped water and sewer system installed in 1976; the remaining homes have new individual wells and septic tanks. 35 new HUD housing units were recently completed in the Togiak Heights Subdivision, with a sewage system. In all, 210 homes are fully plumbed, and 14 are not. The water system is 25 to 30 years old and suffers from broken or corroded pipes, valves and service connections. A new landfill was recently completed. Electricity is provided by AVEC. There is one school located in the community, attended by 229 students. Local hospitals or health clinics include Togiak Sub-Regional Health Clinic (493-5511). The clinic is a qualified Emergency Care Center. Togiak is classified as an isolated town/Sub-Regional Center, it is found in EMS Region 2I in the Bristol Bay Region. Emergency Services have coastal and air access. Emergency service is provided by Togiak Department of Public Safety. Auxiliary health care is provided by Togiak Department of Public Safety (493-5212 or 911).

Economy and Transportation

Togiak's economic base is primarily commercial salmon, herring, and herring roe-on-kelp fisheries. 244 residents hold commercial fishing permits; fishermen use flat-bottom boats for the shallow waters of Togiak Bay. There is one on-shore fish processor and several floating processing facilities near Togiak. The entire community depends heavily on subsistence activities. Salmon, herring, seal, sea lion, whale and walrus are among the species harvested. A few residents trap.

A State-owned 4,400' long by 98' wide lighted gravel airstrip with a 1,200' long by 49' wide crosswind airstrip and navigation aids is available. Scheduled and chartered flights are available from Dillingham. Freight is brought in by air or barge and lightered to shore. There are no docking facilities. Skiffs, autos, ATVs and snowmachines are used for local transportation.

History, Culture and Demographics

In 1880, "Old Togiak," or "Togiagamute," was located across the Bay, and had a population of 276. Heavy winter snowfalls made wood-gathering difficult at Old Togiak, so gradually people settled at a new site on the opposite shore, where the task was easier. Many residents of the Yukon-Kuskokwim region migrated south to the Togiak area after the devastating influenza epidemic in 1918-19. A school was established in an old church in 1950. A school building and a National Guard Armory were constructed in 1959. Togiak was flooded in 1964, and many fish racks and stores of gas, fuel oil and stove oil were destroyed. Three or four households left Togiak after the flood and developed the village of Twin Hills upriver. The City government was incorporated in 1969.

A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Togiak Traditional Council. The population of the community consists of 92.7% Alaska Native or part Native. Togiak is a traditional Yup'ik Eskimo village with a fishing and subsistence lifestyle. The sale, importation or possession of alcohol is banned in the village. During the 2000 U.S. Census, total housing units numbered 221, and vacant housing units numbered 19. Vacant housing units used only seasonally numbered 7. U.S. Census data for Year 2000 showed 173 residents as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 26.84 percent, although 66.67 percent of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $23,977, per capita income was $9,676, and 29.9 percent of residents were living below the poverty level.

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