Cordova, Alaska

Cordova is a picturesque community of roughly 2,200 residents. Perched along Orca Inlet, in the southeastern Prince William Sound, Cordova is best known for its commercial fishing, abundant recreation, and wonderful people. Cordova is rich in culture, from early pioneers to the Eyak Athabascan heritage.

The town of Cordova, formed in 1909, has a rich history. Katalla, 47 miles southeast, was one of the first producing oilfields in Alaska (1902.) The townsite itself became the railroad terminus and ocean shipping port for copper ore from the Kennecott Mine up the Copper River (1911). The Bonanza-Kennecott Mines operated until 1938 and yielded over $200 million in copper, silver, and gold. The Katalla oil field produced until 1933, when it was destroyed by fire. Fishing became the economic base in the early 1940s. At present, over 300 residents hold commercial fishing permits, and nearly half of every household has someone working in the fishing industry.