Electrical Power for Valdez and the Copper River Basin-1981

Table 3Historical Population of Valdez1900 3511920 4661930 4421940 529 ( 1 )1950 5541960 5551970 1,0081972 1,1061973 1,7601974 2,2711975 6,670 (2 )1976 8,2531977 7,4831978 4,4811979 3,500-------(1) Source - U.S. Census(2) Source - City of Valdez and U.S. Census aata utilizea for RevenueSharing.The Copper River Basin:Approximately 110 miles from Valdez, near the intersection of theGlenn and Richardson Highways, lies Glennallen, the next largestpopulation center in this region of the study area. Numerous villagesdot the highway leading from Valdez to Glennallen and radiating to thenorth and west of Glennallen. The largest of these conrnunities is CopperCenter. Copper Center is located south of Glennallen on Mile 103 of theRichardson Highway. Other villages include (but are not limited to)Coppervi11e. Gu1kana. Gakona. Chistochina. Paxson. Taz1ina. To1sona.Ne1china, Eureka. Tonsina, Ernestine, Kenny Lake, Old Edgerton Cutoff,and Chitina. Like Copper Center, these settlements are unincorporatedvillages within an unorganized borough.History:Historically. Copper Center and Chitina are the more significantsettlements of Copper River region. Unlike Valdez, Native Alaskans havebeen known to occupy tne area for at least 5,000 years. Rich copperdeposits were discovered at the turn of the century along the northernflanKs of the Chitina River Valley, bringing an onrush of prospectors andsettlers to the region. The Copper River and Northwestern Railroad wasbuilt in 1908 to accommodate the growing traffic of are, supplies, and15