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Additional Information pages for Prince of Wales Island

132° 31' W Longitude - 54° 41' N Latitude
Located 38 air miles northwest of Ketchikan on the eastern side of Prince of Wales Island. On the Island road system, it lies 59 miles from Hollis and 36 miles east of the Klawock Junction.

History:
The Bay was named after Frank Manley Thorn, superintendent of the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey from 1885 through 1889. The name was misspelled when published. Thorne Bay was developed as a result of a long-term timber sales contract between the U.S. Forest Service and the Ketchikan Pulp Company. In 1960, a floating logging camp was built in Thorne Bay, and in 1962 a shop, barge terminal, log sort yard and camp were built to replace facilities at Hollis.  Roads were then constructed to connect Thorne Bay with Hollis, Craig and Klawock. During this time, it was considered the largest logging camp in North America. Thorne Bay evolved from a company-owned logging camp to an incorporated city by 1982, due in part to the land selection program provided for in the Alaska Statehood Act.
Today, evolving from a work camp, Thorne Bay has become a year-round home to many logging employees. The majority of the population are non-Native. Employment is primarily related to the logging industry and U.S. Forest Service management of the National Forest, with some commercial fishing, tourism and government employment. Logging operations run full-scale from March through October or November. Thorne Bay is one of the major log transfer sites for operations all over the Island. Deer, salmon, halibut, shrimp and crab are popular food sources.

Additional Information pages for Prince of Wales Island