Kasilof Alaska

Location and Climate
Kasilof is located on the east shore of Cook Inlet on the Kenai Peninsula. It lies on the Sterling Highway, 12 miles south of the City of Kenai. Kasilof is located in the Kenai Recording District. The area encompasses 11.4 sq. miles of land and .6 sq. miles of water. Winter temperatures range from 14 to 27; summer temperatures vary from 45 to 65. Average annual precipitation is 24 inches.

History, Culture and Demographics
Kasilof was an agricultural settlement of Kenaitze Indians, which grew around a stockade built by the Russian Kolomin of the Lebedef-Lastochkin Company. A partial excavation of the area in 1937 found 31 well-preserved houses.

Alaska Natives represent 2.9% of the population. Kasilof is a geographic location on the Kenai Peninsula, rather than a community. Most residents are non-Native.

During the April 1990 U.S. Census, there were 151 total housing units, and 26 of these were vacant. The official unemployment rate at that time was 18.4%, with 155 jobs estimated to be in the community and 40.8% of all adults not in the work force. The median household income was $51,439, and 2.5% of residents were living below the poverty level.

Economy and Transportation
The economy of the Kenai area is diverse: oil and gas processing, timber, commercial and sport fishing, government, retail businesses and tourism-related services provide employment. 159 residents hold commercial fishing permits.

The Sterling Highway provides a route to Anchorage. The State owns and operates the 2,165' gravel airstrip, and there are three additional private airstrips in the vicinity. Kenai offers an airport and docking facilities. There is a boat launch at the Kasilof River.


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Source: Department of Community & Economic Development