HOONAH-ANGOON CENSUS AREA, AK HISTORY AND LOOKUP

Borough & Census Area History Books

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Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, Alaska: A Genealogical Overview

Located in the heart of the Alaska Panhandle, the Hoonah-Angoon Census Area is a breathtaking landscape of islands, fjords, and temperate rainforest, encompassing nearly all of Chichagof Island and the northern part of Admiralty Island. This is the ancestral homeland of the Huna and Angoon Tlingit peoples, and its history is deeply rooted in their ancient traditions and relationship with the sea. For genealogists, research in this area is unique, as it involves navigating a system without county governments and focusing on state, federal, and tribal records to piece together the stories of Tlingit clans, fishermen, and pioneers in the Last Frontier.

I. Administrative Formation and Evolution

It is critical for researchers to understand that the Hoonah-Angoon Census Area is not a county. It is part of Alaska’s “Unorganized Borough” and has no centralized county seat or county-level government. Record-keeping is handled primarily at the state and local city level.

  • Census Area Status: The U.S. Census Bureau defines the area’s boundaries for statistical purposes. All legal and administrative functions are handled by the State of Alaska or by the incorporated cities within the area’s boundaries.
  • Timeline of Designation: The area’s designation has changed several times:
    • 1980: It was part of the Skagway-Yakutat-Angoon Census Area.
    • 1992: Following the incorporation of Yakutat, it was renamed the Skagway-Hoonah-Angoon Census Area.
    • 2007: Skagway incorporated as a borough, and the remaining territory was officially designated the Hoonah-Angoon Census Area.
  • Name Origin: The name is derived from the area’s two largest and most historically significant communities: the Tlingit villages of Hoonah and Angoon.
  • Principal Communities: The main incorporated cities that maintain local records are Hoonah, Angoon, Tenakee Springs, and Pelican.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The region has been inhabited for thousands of years by the Tlingit people. The area is the traditional territory of two major groups: the Huna Ḵwáan (Huna people) and the Xutsnoowú Ḵwáan (Angoon people). Their society was organized around a complex matrilineal system of clans and moieties, and their culture is renowned for its sophisticated art forms, including totem poles, weaving, and carving. Their ancestral stories are tied to the landscape, particularly the Huna’s origin in Glacier Bay, from which they were displaced by an advancing glacier in the 1700s.
  • Russian and American Eras: Contact with Russian fur traders was present but less intensive than in other parts of Southeast Alaska. The American era, beginning after the Alaska Purchase in 1867, brought significant change with the establishment of salmon canneries, logging camps, and Christian missions, profoundly impacting the traditional Tlingit subsistence economy and culture.
  • Key Historical Events:
    • Bombardment of Angoon (1882): A pivotal and tragic event in the area’s history, the U.S. Navy shelled and burned the village of Angoon following a cultural and legal misunderstanding. The event caused lasting trauma and remains a significant part of the community’s oral and written history.
    • Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) of 1971: This federal act settled aboriginal land claims by transferring land titles to newly created Alaska Native corporations. For this area, it established village corporations like the Huna Totem Corporation and Kootznoowoo, Inc., and the regional Sealaska Corporation. These entities are now central to the region’s economy and are vital sources for genealogical and cultural information.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

There is no county courthouse in the Hoonah-Angoon Census Area. Research is distributed among state, federal, corporate, and local entities.

  • State-Level Records (Primary Source):
    • Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics (Juneau): This is the central repository for all official vital records in the state. It holds birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates from 1913 to the present for all individuals in the census area.
    • Alaska State Archives (Juneau): This archive holds historical records from Alaska’s territorial and state governments, including records from the court system that served the judicial districts before the current system was established.
  • Federal Records:
    • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA): BIA records are essential for tracing Native Alaskan ancestry. These include census rolls (such as the 1910 Indian Census), school records, and health information. Many of these records for Alaska are held at the National Archives at Seattle.
  • Tribal and Corporate Records:
    • ANCSA Corporations: For those with Tlingit ancestry, the village corporations (Huna Totem Corporation, Kootznoowoo, Inc.) and the regional corporation (Sealaska) are crucial. They maintain shareholder records that can confirm family relationships and community ties. The Sealaska Heritage Institute is a premier research center for Tlingit culture and history.
    • Tribal Governments: Federally recognized tribes like the Hoonah Indian Association and the Angoon Community Association maintain tribal enrollment records and are vital cultural resources.
  • Local Records:
    • City Clerk’s Offices: The city offices in Hoonah, Angoon, Tenakee Springs, and Pelican may have local records such as city council minutes, cemetery information, and lists of residents.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • City and Borough of Juneau (east)
    • City and Borough of Sitka (west/south)
    • Petersburg Borough (south)
    • City and Borough of Yakutat (northwest)

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks