SITKA (formerly New Archangel), historically the most nota ble settlement of Alaska, on the west coast of Baranof island, in Sitka sound, lat. 57° 03' N., 135° 19' W., about loom. S.S.W. of Juneau. Pop. (1890) 1,193 (300 white and 893 natives) ; (1930) 1,056. The city is prettily situated on an island-studded and mountain-locked harbour, with a background of forest and snow-capped mountain cones; an extinct volcano, Mt. Edgecumbe (3,467ft.), on Kruzof island, is a conspicuous landmark in the bay. Sitka's mean annual temperature is 2° higher than that of Ottawa, and its climate is more equable. The mean annual tem perature is about 43° F ; the monthly means range from 33° (January) to 56° (August), and the extreme recorded tempera ture from —4° to 87° F. Two-thirds of the days of the year are cloudy; on about 208 days in the year it rains or snows; the normal rainfall is 88.1in., the extreme recorded rainfall (in 1886) is 140.26 inches. The city includes an American settlement and an adjoining Indian village. In addition to United States Govern ment buildings (naval coaling station, agricultural experiment station, wireless telegraph station and magnetic observatory), there are two public schools (one for whites and one for Thlin kets), the Sheldon Jackson (ethnological) museum, which is con nected with the Presbyterian Industrial Training school, a paro chial school of the Orthodox Greek (Russian) Church, a Russian Greek church, built in 1816, and St. Peter's-by-the-Sea, a Protes tant Episcopal mission built in 1899. Sitka is the see of a Greek Catholic and of a Protestant Episcopal bishop. In its early history
it was the leading trading post of Alaska. After the discoveries of gold on the mainland, at the end of the 19th century, it lost its commercial primacy, but business improved after the discovery of gold in 1905 on Chicagoff island, about 50m. distant. There is a growing lumber industry; salmon fisheries are of greater im portance. In the surrounding region there are gold and silver mines. Old Sitka or Ft. Archangel Gabriel, about 6m. from the present town, was founded in May 1799. The fort was overwhelmed by the Thlinkets in 1802, but was recaptured by the Russians in Sept. 1804. The settlement was removed at this time by Alex ander Baranof to the present site. Thereafter until 1867 it was the chief port and (succeeding Kodiak) the seat of government of Russian America. During the latter days of Russian occupa tion, Sitka presented a scene of splendour and activity. Here was located the Russian orthodox church of St. Michael with its spired dome and chime of bells, the courtly Baranof Castle, which was the residence of the Russian governor and the centre of social life, and the solidly built log warehouse of the Russian-American Fur company. It also had a shipyard and a foundry, which, it is said, made bells for half the mission churches in California.
The formal transfer of Alaska from Russian to American posses sion took place at Sitka on Oct. 18, 1867. It continued to be the seat of government of Alaska until 1906, when Juneau became the capital.