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Current
Population: Location:
Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska, is located
in southcentral Alaska at the head of Cook Inlet.
It is 3 hours' flight time from Seattle. It lies at
approximately 61d 13m N Latitude, 149d 53m W
Longitude. (Sec. 28, T013N, R004W, Seward
Meridian.) Anchorage is located in the Anchorage
Recording District. The area encompasses 1697.2 sq.
miles of land and 263.9 sq. miles of water. The
average temperatures in January range from 6 to 20
degrees; in summer, temperatures range from 50 to
70. Annual precipitation is 15.9 inches, with 69
inches of snowfall. History:
In 1741 Russian sailors led by the Dane Vitus
Bering came upon Alaska's mainland. They were
followed by British, Spanish and American
explorers, including Captain James Cook in 1778. In
1867, Alaska was purchased by the U.S. from Russia.
The discovery of gold in 1887 and in the Interior
in 1922 sparked development in the area.
Construction began in 1914 on a federal railroad
from the port of Seward, 126 miles south of
Anchorage, through the coal fields of Interior
Alaska, to the gold claims near Fairbanks, 358
miles to the north. The midpoint construction
headquarters was Anchorage, and by July of 1915,
thousands of job seekers and opportunists had
poured into the area, living in a tent city on the
banks of Ship Creek near the edge of the present
downtown. That July produced the "Great Anchorage
Lot Sale," a land auction that shaped the future of
the city. Some 655 lots were sold for $148,000 or
an average of $225 each. A month later, the town
voted to call itself Alaska City, but the Federal
government refused to change its name from
Anchorage. The City of Anchorage was incorporated
in 1920. From 1939 to 1957, major military impacts
and government construction of roads, airports and
harbors throughout Alaska contributed to the growth
of Anchorage. The Port was completed by the early
1960s. The Good Friday earthquake in 1964 destroyed
a large part of the city. During the 1970s, the
development of the Prudhoe Bay oil fields and the
Trans-Alaska Pipeline brought rapid growth to
Anchorage; population, office space and housing
tripled within a ten-year period. In 1975, the City
and Borough governments were unified. Culture:
Anchorage is Alaska's largest city, with a history
of cultural diversity. Many residents participate
in nearby recreational and subsistence activities.
Anchorage has over 162 parks, including 10 large
reserves. Recreation facilities include downhill
and cross-country skiing, ice hockey rinks, golf,
swimming, and camping. The George Sullivan Sports
Arena, Alaska Performing Arts Center, Egan
Convention Center and many other facilities provide
entertainment opportunities. Economy:
Anchorage is the center of commerce for the
state. Oil and gas industries, finance and real
estate, transportation, communications, and
government agencies are headquartered in Anchorage.
Numerous visitor and tourist facilities and
services are available. Over 9,000 military
personnel are stationed at Fort Richardson and
Elmendorf AFB. Seasonal factors contribute to a
fluctuating, though low, unemployment rate. 912
residents hold commercial fishing permits. The
fishing industry is not serviced from Anchorage,
however. Most permit-owners fish elsewhere, such as
in Bristol Bay, Kodiak or Cordova. In 2000, the
estimated gross fishing earnings of residents
exceeded $21 million. Facilities:
Water is diverted from three primary sources. Lake
Eklutna supplies 35 million gallons per day; Ship
Creek Reservoir supplies 24 million gallons per
day; and deep wells supply another 20 million
gallons per day. Water is treated and piped
throughout the municipality -- the Anchorage Water
& Wastewater Utility maintains 670 miles of
transmission and distribution mains. Most homes are
served by the piped wastewater system. The John M.
Asplund Wastewater Treatment Facility, built in
1972, provides primary treatment of 35 million
gallons of wastewater each day. Effluent is
discharged into Cook Inlet. Approximately 15,000
homes use individual wells and septic systems.
Eagle River and Girdwood are served by tertiary
treatment facilities. Piped natural gas is
available from ENSTAR Natural Gas Company, and is
the most prevalent and cost-effective home heating
method. Electricity is provided to the core area by
Anchorage Municipal Light & Power and the
privately-owned Chugach Electric Association.
Matanuska Electric Association serves the Eagle
River and Chugiak area of Anchorage, as well as the
Matanuska-Susitna Valley. In October 1997, these
three utilities purchased the Eklutna Hydroelectric
Facility. Anchorage Municipal Light & Power
also owns 8 electrical generating facilities.
Chugach Electric owns power generating facilities
from the Kenai Peninsula to the Eklutna River. The
Municipality and privately-owned companies collect
refuse for deposit into the Anchorage Regional
Landfill. The municipality collects hazardous
wastes and waste oil. The privately-owned Anchorage
Recycling Center collects cans, metal, paper and
newspaper. Transportation:
Controlled airports include the State-owned
Anchorage International Airport and Lake Hood Float
Plane Base, the Municipality's Merrill Field, and
U.S. Army and Air Force facilities. The Port of
Anchorage handles 85% of the general cargo for the
Alaska Railbelt area. Several barge and trucking
companies are available. The Alaska Railroad
connects Anchorage to Seward, Whittier and
Fairbanks. Climate:
The average temperatures in January range from 6 to
20 degrees; in summer, temperatures range from 50
to 70. Annual precipitation is 15.9 inches, with 69
inches of snowfall. |
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 © 2001-2004 Chugach School District. Website by Sundog Media & Alaska Internet Services |
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Anchorage