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- Cordova - Home of Copper River Salmon
Cordova - Home of Copper River Salmon
- By Collaborative INSIGHTS
- Published 16 April 2008
- Regional INSIGHTS
Seafood is not new to Cordova. In fact, the first known cannery was constructed in the late 1800's by the Alaska Commercial Company. Prior to that, the local Eyak and Alutiq people were well acquainted with the salmon as their principal food source and an integral part of their culture.
Commercial canneries at the turn of the century rapidly grew the community that harvested the healthy and abundant salmon runs. By way of the salmon and mining industry, Cordova became a transportation access point for other developing communities within Prince William Sound, as well as Chitina, Kennecott and destinations along the Chitina-Fairbanks trail.
The seafood industry flourished in Cordova in the early and mid-1900's with a commercial clam fishery that produced an average of 1 million pounds per year, as well as crab and herring becoming significant fisheries in addition to the precious salmon.
Today, Cordova's population of 2400 continues to rely heavily on commercial fishing as its economic base. While tourism doesn't have as much of a major economic impact, Cordova is linked into the Alaska State Ferry system with direct summer service from Whittier and Valdez, which are both on Alaska's road system. The community of Cordova is maximizing it's impact for visitors by tying together its rich heritage, scenic beauty and world famous Copper River Salmon harvests into a destination with a number of summer events of interest to the salmon aficionado or the visitor seeking an "off the grid" experience.
Links of Further Interest:
Cordova Chamber of Commerce
Cordova District Fishermen United
Cordova History/Museum
The Cordova Harbor Webcam
The Copper River Nouveau
June 21, 2008. Annual fundraiser sponsored by the Prince William Science Center. Features a spectacular 5 course meal matching Alaska's finest chefs with Copper River Red Salmon, Fine Wines and out of this world desserts.
First Copper River Salmon Harvest
May 12, 2008 - Witness the bustling activity as our fishing fleet gears up for the first opener on the Copper River Delta. See the first Copper River King and Red Salmon brought in for a frenzy of icing, packing, and shipping the first premium salmon of the season. visitcordova@ak.net
Commercial canneries at the turn of the century rapidly grew the community that harvested the healthy and abundant salmon runs. By way of the salmon and mining industry, Cordova became a transportation access point for other developing communities within Prince William Sound, as well as Chitina, Kennecott and destinations along the Chitina-Fairbanks trail.
The seafood industry flourished in Cordova in the early and mid-1900's with a commercial clam fishery that produced an average of 1 million pounds per year, as well as crab and herring becoming significant fisheries in addition to the precious salmon.
Today, Cordova's population of 2400 continues to rely heavily on commercial fishing as its economic base. While tourism doesn't have as much of a major economic impact, Cordova is linked into the Alaska State Ferry system with direct summer service from Whittier and Valdez, which are both on Alaska's road system. The community of Cordova is maximizing it's impact for visitors by tying together its rich heritage, scenic beauty and world famous Copper River Salmon harvests into a destination with a number of summer events of interest to the salmon aficionado or the visitor seeking an "off the grid" experience.
Links of Further Interest:
Cordova Chamber of Commerce
Cordova District Fishermen United
Cordova History/Museum
The Cordova Harbor Webcam
The Copper River Nouveau
June 21, 2008. Annual fundraiser sponsored by the Prince William Science Center. Features a spectacular 5 course meal matching Alaska's finest chefs with Copper River Red Salmon, Fine Wines and out of this world desserts.
First Copper River Salmon Harvest
May 12, 2008 - Witness the bustling activity as our fishing fleet gears up for the first opener on the Copper River Delta. See the first Copper River King and Red Salmon brought in for a frenzy of icing, packing, and shipping the first premium salmon of the season. visitcordova@ak.net