Cordova: Copper River Salmon and No Roads Out
Cordova occupies the eastern shore of Prince William Sound with a population of roughly 2,196. The town has no road access to the outside world. The Copper River Highway runs about 50 miles eastward from town before ending abruptly at the Million Dollar Bridge, damaged in the 1964 earthquake and never fully reconnected to the highway system. Getting to Cordova means taking the Alaska Marine Highway ferry from Valdez or Whittier, or flying in.
The Copper River salmon fishery defines Cordova's economy and identity. Copper River reds and kings command premium prices at seafood markets and restaurants across the Lower 48, and the annual May opening of the fishery is a major event. Processing plants along the waterfront handle millions of pounds of fish each season. When the runs are strong, the town prospers. When they falter, the economic impact is immediate.
Cordova experienced the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 firsthand. Prince William Sound's herring fishery collapsed in the aftermath and never fully recovered. The spill's economic and psychological effects lingered for decades and shaped local attitudes toward resource extraction and environmental protection. The Cordova Center, a modern community building completed in 2015, houses the library, museum, and performance space.
Surrounding geography includes the Sheridan and Childs glaciers, accessible from the Copper River Highway. The Chugach National Forest wraps around the community, and brown bears, mountain goats, and sea otters are common in the area.
Cordova's isolation shapes nearly every aspect of daily life. Groceries, building materials, and fuel arrive by barge or air, and prices reflect the shipping costs. The small hospital handles routine care, but anything requiring specialized treatment means a flight out. Residents accept these trade-offs for the fishing lifestyle and the raw landscape that surrounds them.
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Cordova occupies the eastern shore of Prince William Sound with a population of roughly 2,196. The town has no road access to the outside world. The Copper River Highway runs about 50 miles eastward from town before ending abruptly at the Million Dollar Bridge, damaged in the 1964 earthquake and never fully reconnected to the highway system. Getting to Cordova means taking the Alaska Marine Highway ferry from Valdez or Whittier, or flying in.
The Copper River salmon fishery defines Cordova's economy and identity. Copper River reds and kings command premium prices at seafood markets and restaurants across the Lower 48, and the annual May opening of the fishery is a major event. Processing plants along the waterfront handle millions of pounds of fish each season. When the runs are strong, the town prospers. When they falter, the economic impact is immediate.
Cordova experienced the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 firsthand. Prince William Sound's herring fishery collapsed in the aftermath and never fully recovered. The spill's economic and psychological effects lingered for decades and shaped local attitudes toward resource extraction and environmental protection. The Cordova Center, a modern community building completed in 2015, houses the library, museum, and performance space.
Surrounding geography includes the Sheridan and Childs glaciers, accessible from the Copper River Highway. The Chugach National Forest wraps around the community, and brown bears, mountain goats, and sea otters are common in the area.
Cordova's isolation shapes nearly every aspect of daily life. Groceries, building materials, and fuel arrive by barge or air, and prices reflect the shipping costs. The small hospital handles routine care, but anything requiring specialized treatment means a flight out. Residents accept these trade-offs for the fishing lifestyle and the raw landscape that surrounds them.
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