Tok, Alaska

Unincorporated
Population: 1,144

Tok had its beginnings as a camp for the Alaska Road Commission during the construction of the Alcan and Glenn Highways between 1942 and 1946. In 1946 Tok was designated a presidential township and in that same year the Alcan was opened to civilians.

Tok is world renowned for the "Race of Champions" dog mushing event. Mushers come from all over the world to attend. The Tok Dog Mushers was formed in 1954, and that same year the U.S. Army began construction of the 8" diameter Haines to Fairbanks fuel pipeline with a pump station located in Tok. The pipeline shut down in 1979.

There are many recreational opportunities to explore including, gold panning, the Alaskan theme park, miniature golf, salmon bakes, and excellent fishing. The Tok area offers fishing opportunities for rainbow trout, arctic grayling, northern pike, and burbot. Winter activities include a snow machine poker run to Dawson, 187 miles each direction involving around 600 participants. Alaska Power & Telephone is one of the sponsors for this event.

The entire Upper Tanana Valley offers excellent waterfowl nesting habitat and is a main migration corridor for the birds each spring and fall. Trumpeter Swans, the "royalty" of local waterfowl can be seen nesting in the ponds near the Alaska Highway between Tanacross and Moon Lake. There is a highway turnout from which the swans and the other waterfowl can be viewed.

Alaska Power & Telephone started providing electric service primarily for Tok in 1960, expanding our services to surrounding communities. We now serve Tok with electricity, telephone, Internet, pagers, phone store and in the near future will be providing DSL. Tok area division also serves surrounding communities; Mentasta, Chistochina, Alcan border station, Northway, and Northway Village, with electric service, Tetlin, Eagle, Eagle Village, Dot Lake, Healy Lake, Bettles, Evansville, Allakaket, Alatna, with telephone and electric services, and Chisana, Dry Creek, and Jim River Camp, with telephone services. Currently Alaska Power & Telephone, Tok Area Division, serves 1594 electric customers and 1937 telephone access lines.