Tonsina Alaska

on the Richardson Highway

Serving the State Highway Maintenance camp, and Alyeska Pipeline Pump Station 12

A U.S. Army Signal Corps telegraph station, post office and general store were established here in 1902. The Tonsina Lodge was built in 1903 along the Valdez-Eagle Trail

Current Population:	90 (2006 Estimated Population (not Certified))
Incorporation Type:	Unincorporated
Borough Located In:	Unorganized
Taxes:	No taxing authority

Location and Climate

Tonsina is located at mile 79 on the Richardson Highway, south of the Tonsina River, next to Kenny Lake, 52 miles northeast of Valdez. The community lies at approximately 61.655830° North Latitude and -145.175280° (West) Longitude. (Sec. 35, T002S, R001E, Copper River Meridian.) Tonsina is located in the Chitina Recording District. The area encompasses 147.8 sq. miles of land and 0.2 sq. miles of water. Tonsina lies in the continental climate zone. Temperature extremes range from -58 to 91. Snowfall averages 52 inches, with total precipitation of 12 inches per year.

Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care

Households have individual water wells and septic systems and are fully plumbed. Seasonal residents have water delivered by truck or haul water from a public tap. Copper Basin Sanitation provides garbage collection, and hauls refuse to the Glennallen landfill. Electricity is provided by Copper Valley Electric Assoc. There are no state operated schools located in the community. Local hospitals or health clinics include Copper Center Health Clinic (822-3541) in Copper Center or Cross Road Medical Center in Glennallen (822-3203). Tonsina is classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 2E in the Copper River Region. Emergency Services have highway and air access. Emergency service is provided by volunteers Auxiliary health care is provided by Copper Center Clinic or Cross Road Medical Center in Glennallen.

Economy and Transportation

Roadhouses, the Ernestine State Highway Maintenance camp, and Alyeska Pipeline Pump Station 12 are the nearest employers. Subsistence activities supplement income.

Tonsina is connected to the remainder of the state road system by the Richardson Highway. A State-owned airstrip is available at Upper Tonsina, and other airstrips are in the vicinity.

History, Culture and Demographics

A U.S. Army Signal Corps telegraph station, post office and general store were established here in 1902. The Tonsina Lodge was built in 1903 along the Valdez-Eagle Trail; it burned in 1928. The Tiekel Lodge and Tsaina Lodge were also built in this area. Development began during the oil era. Pump Station 12 was constructed nearby to move oil over Thompsen Pass to the pipeline terminal in Valdez.

The population of the community consists of 9.8% Alaska Native or part Native. There is no clearly-defined community in Tonsina; it is best characterized as an occupied geographic area. During the 2000 U.S. Census, total housing units numbered 45, and vacant housing units numbered 11. Vacant housing units used only seasonally numbered 2. U.S. Census data for Year 2000 showed 18 residents as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 28 percent, although 72.73 percent of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $32,188, per capita income was $13,390, and 6.73 percent of residents were living below the poverty level.

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