Nineteen percent of community residents are of Tlingit, Haida and/or Tsimshian descent.
Several streets consist of wooden walkways, so no vehicles are allowed. Most famous is Creek Street, which was once Ketchikan’s red light district.
Ketchikan International Airport is located on an island separated from the town by water, requiring a five-minute ferry ride.
Float planes are called “air taxis” because they provide transportation to and from Ketchikan to outlying communities.
On May 18, 2013, Ketchikan broke the Guinness World Record for the largest “rain boot race.” (The Brits at Guinness may say “Wellies,” but we all know that in Alaska rubber boots mean Xtra Tufs). One-thousand nine-hundred and seventy-six participants wearing rain boots participated. The record is now held by Killarney, Ireland.