Thane, Juneau

Thane is a neighborhood in the City and Borough of Juneau in the U.S. state of Alaska. Located along Gastineau Channel, it begins one mile (1.6 km) south of downtown Juneau and consists of approximately five dozen houses spread over five miles (8 km). All the houses are located on Thane Road, which comes to a dead end about six miles (10 km) from downtown; there are no side streets. It was named for Bartlett L. Thane, Manager and Director of the Alaska-Gastineau Mining Company.[2]

Thane, Alaska
Thane, Alaska Location of Thane in the U.S. state of Alaska
Coordinates (USGS GNIS 1410784): 58°15′51″N 134°19′49″W
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Borough	Juneau
Named for	Bartlett L. Thane
Elevation [1]	141 ft (43 m)
Time zone	UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-8 (AKDT)
Area code	907
FIPS code	02-76700
GNIS feature ID	1410784

Sheep Creek Hatchery, seen from beneath the bridge carrying Thane Road over Sheep Creek.

The only electric link to Snettisham hydroelectric dam - Juneau’s primary electric power plant - travels through Thane. Avalanches knock out this power line somewhat routinely,[3] forcing the local power company, Alaska Electric Light & Power, to keep a series of reserve diesel generators on standby.

History

Thane was founded in 1881 as a result of mining operations in the vicinity. Since World War II the population has steadily declined with the curtailment of mining activities. It is now a residential area (DeArmond, 1957, p43-44).[1]

Etymology

The community was named in 1914 for Bartlett L. Thane, 1878–1927, general manager of the Alaska Gastineau Mining Co. which had its mill here. Thane was born in California and went to Alaska in 1897. The name Sheep Creek, which was the original miners' name for the town, was published by United States Coast and Geodetic Survey in the 1901 Coast Pilot, but was later changed to Thane by the United States Board on Geographic Names.[1]

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1920	421		—
1930	68		−83.8%
1940	66		−2.9%
1950	81		22.7%
1960	82		1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]

Thane first appeared on the 1920 U.S. Census as an unincorporated village. It continued to appear until the 1960 census. It was annexed into Juneau soon after.

Geography

Thane lies on the eastern shore of Gastineau Channel, 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of Juneau and 6 miles (9.7 km) northwest of Point Salisbury, Coast Mountains.

Government

Juneau assesses personal property and real estate taxes, and distributes a portion of collections to settlements within the Borough. Tax rates are generally low.

Media

Radio and television broadcast are available either via satellite or from local broadcasts in Juneau, Alaska.

References

1. "Thane". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
2. Copper curb and mining outlook: the truth regarding mining and investments throughout the world. O.F. Jonassen & Co. 1916. p. 26. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
4. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.