The History of Coffman Cove

Coffman Cove is on the northeast coast of Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska. It lies at approximately 56° 01' N Latitude, 132° 50' W Longitude (Sec. 28, T068S, R082E, Copper River Meridian). The community is located in the Ketchikan Recording District. The area encompasses 12 sq. miles of land and 4 sq. miles of water.

The site was named in 1886 by Lt. Comdr. A.S. Snow, USN, for Lt. Dewitt Coffman, a member of his party. Coffman Cove was first settled as a logging camp in the 1950s. Land was made available for private ownership through selection under the Alaska Statehood Act, and the city incorporated in 1989.

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History and map graphic used with permission from the Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development