Prince of Wales-Hyder Birth Records

Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area birth records are kept at the state level by the Alaska Health Analytics and Vital Records Section in Juneau. The census area has no borough government and no local office that issues a birth certificate. People in Craig, Klawock, Thorne Bay, Hyder, and the smaller villages must order through the state. This page shows how to search for and obtain Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area birth records, who can request them, what to send, and how long the wait runs from a remote island address.

About Prince of Wales-Hyder Birth Records

Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area covers Prince of Wales Island and the small town of Hyder on the mainland. The area has no borough government, just an unincorporated census area. Total population is about 5,600. The largest town is Craig, with Klawock and Thorne Bay close behind. Hyder, on the Canadian border, is reached only through Stewart, British Columbia. Craig birth, marriage, and death records from 1910 to 1991 are part of the state vital records collection.

No Prince of Wales-Hyder office issues a birth certificate. There is no borough clerk who keeps a vital records book. To order a Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area birth record, you must contact the Alaska Department of Health. The state office in Juneau holds every birth on file for the area. The state runs one central system for all of Alaska. You can read about the system on the Alaska State Archives genealogy page.

Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area birth records list the full name of the child, the date and place of birth, and the names of the parents. They are used to get a passport, prove age for school, claim benefits, or trace family history through Tlingit and Haida Native lines. Note: Send a clear photo ID copy with every order, since the state will not fill any request without it.

How to Order Prince of Wales Birth Records

You have four ways to order Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area birth records. The state takes orders by mail, by fax, online through VitalChek, and in person at one of two state offices. Online is the fastest for island residents. Mail orders are the cheapest but take two to three months. The state office in Juneau is a short floatplane ride from Craig or Klawock, but most residents pick the online or mail route.

Online orders go through the VitalChek Alaska page. You upload your ID, fill in the form, and pay by card. Orders ship in two to three weeks. Mail orders go to Health Analytics and Vital Records, P.O. Box 110675, Juneau, AK 99811-0675. Fax to (907) 465-3618. Walk-in service is at 5441 Commercial Boulevard in Juneau or 3901 Old Seward Highway, Suite 101 in Anchorage. The phone is (907) 465-3391.

Lead-in for the genealogy hub where many Prince of Wales-Hyder residents start their search for old vital records. The Alaska State Archives genealogy page lists open record dates and links to FamilySearch. See the Alaska State Archives genealogy page for the full list.

The archives page links to FamilySearch for old Craig and Klawock birth records. Note: Pick one ordering method per request, since the state will not refund duplicate charges.

Who Can Order Prince of Wales-Hyder Birth Records

Alaska is a closed-record state. Only people on a short list set by Alaska Statute 18.50.310 can order recent Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area birth records. The state checks ID for every order to make sure the rule is met.

You may order a Prince of Wales-Hyder birth record if you fit one of these:

• The person named on the record, age 14 or older with a school or photo ID
• A parent listed on the certificate
• A legal guardian with court papers
• A third party with a notarized letter from the person named
• An attorney or government agency on letterhead

You must send a clear photo ID copy with your order. A driver's license, state ID, passport, military ID, or Tribal/BIA card with a photo all count. Expired IDs are OK if they are less than one year out of date. School IDs work for minors. Note: The state office returns any order that does not include an ID, so check yours twice before you mail it.

Fees for Prince of Wales Birth Records

The fee for a certified copy of a Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area birth record is $30. Each extra copy ordered at the same time costs $25. Heirloom birth certificates are $55 for the first copy and $50 for each extra. Make checks payable to the Alaska Vital Records Office. The state takes credit cards in person but not by mail.

Other fees may apply. Name changes and amendments cost $60. An apostille for a foreign country costs $42 plus the cost of the record. Special research is $75 per hour. The full fee list is on the Alaska vital records orders page.

Historical Prince of Wales Birth Records

Older Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area birth records are kept by the Alaska State Archives. Some Craig records date from 1910. Under Alaska Statute Title 18, Chapter 50, birth records become public 100 years after the date of birth. So records from 1925 and earlier are now open to the public. AS 18.50.160 sets the rules for birth registration in the state.

FamilySearch worked with the Alaska State Archives to scan more than 1.1 million pages of vital records. Many old Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area birth records can now be viewed for free. See the FamilySearch Alaska Vital Records wiki for the full set. Russian Orthodox church books from Klawock also hold many of the early Tlingit and Haida births. Note: Many old village births before 1930 were never filed with the state, so church books may be the only source.

Local Resources in Prince of Wales-Hyder

The PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center is the closest large hospital for residents of Prince of Wales Island. The Alicia Roberts Medical Center in Klawock and the SEARHC clinic in Craig file local births with the state. Once a birth is on file, parents can order copies through the state by mail or VitalChek. Hyder residents may use the U.S. mail through Stewart, British Columbia.

For changes to a Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area birth record, call the Special Services Unit at (907) 465-1200. The unit handles all amendments and delayed filings. Note: All amendments must be sent by mail or hand-carried since the state needs the original signed forms.

Nearby Boroughs and Census Areas

Prince of Wales-Hyder borders Ketchikan Gateway Borough to the east and Wrangell City and Borough to the north. None of those areas have a local vital records office. All Alaska birth records flow to the state.

Local Resources for Prince of Wales Birth Records

The main health services for Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area residents are offered through the SEARHC clinic in Craig, which is the largest town on Prince of Wales Island. New births are filed at the clinic and sent to the state. Once the record is on file, parents can order a copy through the state by mail or online. The census area has no clerk that issues birth certificates. Craig, Klawock, Thorne Bay, and Hydaburg all share the same ordering process. Note: Prince of Wales Island is only reached by ferry or small plane, so mail delivery times can run longer than the state estimate.