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Whittier, Alaska

Whittier, Alaska

Whittier is a small city located in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area of Alaska. As of the 2000 census, the population of the town is 182.

Geography

2000 Whittier is located at 60°46'27" North, 148°40'40" West (60.774174, -148.677649), near the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. Whittier is on the northeast shore of the Kenai Peninsula, at the head of Passage Canal, on the west side of Prince William Sound. Whittier is 120 km (75 miles) southeast of Anchorage. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 51.0 km² (19.7 mi²). 32.5 km² (12.5 mi²) of it is land and 18.5 km² (7.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 36.36% water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 182 people, 86 households, and 46 families residing in the city. The population density is 5.6/km² (14.5/mi²). There are 213 housing units at an average density of 6.6/km² (17.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 79.12% White, 7.14% Asian, 5.49% Native American, and 8.24% from two or more races. Two people (1.10% of the population) are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are no African Americans, Pacific Islanders, or people from other races. There are 86 households out of which 29.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.9% are married couples living together, 4.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 46.5% are non-families. 39.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.12 and the average family size is 2.80. In the city the population is spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 2.7% from 18 to 24, 36.8% from 25 to 44, 31.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 111.6 males. For every ten females age 18 and over, there are 12.9 males. The median income for a household in the city is $47,500, and the median income for a family is $51,875. Males have a median income of $53,500 versus $26,875 for females. The per capita income for the city is $25,700. 7.1% of the population and 4.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 14.6% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

History

The Whittier Glacier near Whittier was named for the American poet John Greenleaf Whittier in 1915. During World War II the United States Army constructed a port and railroad terminus near the glacier and named the port Whittier. The spur of the Alaska Railroad to Whittier was completed in 1943 and the port became the entrance for United States soldiers into Alaska. The large The port remained an active army facility until 1960. The two huge buildings that dominate Whittier were built after World War II. The Hodge Building (now Begich Towers) was built for housing soldiers and the Buckner Building, completed in 1953, was called the "city under one roof". It was once the largest building in Alaska. The port remained an active Army facility until 1960. Whittier was incorporated in 1969. The Begich Building is now a condominium, and houses nearly all of Whittier's residents. Whittier is a popular port of call for cruise ships, as it has connections to Anchorage and the interior of Alaska by both highway and rail. Whittier is also popular with tourists and sport fishermen.

External link


- [http://www.ci.whittier.ak.us/ City website]

External links

Category:Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska Category:Cities in Alaska

Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska

Valdez-Cordova Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska. As of 2000, the population is 10,195. It is part of the unorganized borough and therefore has no borough seat.

Geography

The census area has a total area of 104,115 km² (40,199 mi²). 88,886 km² (34,319 mi²) of it is land and 15,229 km² (5,880 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 14.63% water.

Adjacent boroughs and census areas


- Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska - north
- Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska - southeast
- Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska - west
- Anchorage Municipality, Alaska - west
- Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska - west Also shares eastern border with the Yukon Territory, Canada.

Demographics

As of the census2 of 2000, there are 10,195 people, 3,884 households, and 2,559 families residing in the census area. The population density is 0/km² (0/mi²). There are 5,148 housing units at an average density of 0/km² (0/mi²). The racial makeup of the census area is 75.90% White, 0.32% Black or African American, 13.25% Native American, 3.55% Asian, 0.26% Pacific Islander, 1.13% from other races, and 5.58% from two or more races. 2.81% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 3,884 households out of which 37.30% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.10% are married couples living together, 8.50% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% are non-families. 27.00% of all households are made up of individuals and 4.90% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.58 and the average family size is 3.18. In the census area the population is spread out with 29.60% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 30.90% from 25 to 44, 26.50% from 45 to 64, and 6.00% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 113.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 115.90 males.

Cities and towns


- Chenega
- Chisana
- Chistochina
- Chitina
- Copper Center
- Copperville
- Cordova
- Gakona
- Glennallen
- Gulkana
- Kenny Lake
- McCarthy
- Mendeltna
- Mentasta Lake
- Nelchina
- Paxson
- Silver Springs
- Slana
- Tatitlek
- Tazlina
- Tolsona
- Tonsina
- Valdez
- Whittier
- Willow Creek Category:Alaska census areas

Alaska

:This article is about the U.S. state; for other meanings, see Alaska (disambiguation). For information about the history of Alaska, see History of Alaska. Alaska (IPA: ) is the 49th state of the United States. It was admitted on January 3, 1959. The population of the state is 626,932, as of 2000, according to the census. The name "Alaska" is most likely derived from the Aleut word Alyeska, meaning greater land as opposed to the Aleut word Aleutia, meaning lesser land. To the Aleuts, this distinction was a linguistic variation distinguishing the mainland from an island. It is bordered by Yukon Territory and British Columbia, Canada to the east, the Gulf of Alaska and the Pacific Ocean to the south, the Bering Sea, Bering Strait, and Chukchi Sea to the west, and the Beaufort Sea and the Arctic Ocean to the north. Alaska is the largest state by area in the United States. It is larger in area than all but 18 of the world's nations.

History

Main article: History of Alaska Alaska was first inhabited by humans who came across the Bering Land Bridge. Eventually, Alaska became populated by the Inupiaq, Inuit and Yupik Eskimos, Aleuts, and a variety of American Indian groups. Most, if not all, of the pre-Columbian population of the Americas probably took this route and continued further south and east. The first written accounts indicate that the first Europeans to reach Alaska came from Russia. Vitus Bering sailed east and saw Mt. St. Elias. The Russian-American Company hunted sea otters for their fur. The colony was never very profitable, because of the costs of transportation. At the instigation of U.S. Secretary of State William Seward, the United States Senate approved the purchase of Alaska from Russia for $7,200,000 (approximately $90,750,000 in 2005 dollars, adjusted for inflation) on 9 April 1867, and the United States flag was raised on 18 October of that same year (now called Alaska Day). Coincident with the ownership change, the de facto International Date Line was moved westward, and Alaska changed from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. Therefore, for residents, Friday, October 6, 1867 was followed by Friday, October 18, 1867; two Fridays in a row because of the date line shift. The first American administrator of Alaska was Polish immigrant Włodzimierz Krzyżanowski. The purchase was not popular in the contiguous United States, where Alaska became known as "Seward's Folly" or "Seward's Icebox." Alaska celebrates the purchase each year on the last Monday of March, calling it Seward's Day. After the purchase of Alaska between 1867 and 1884 the name was changed to the Department of Alaska. Between 1884 and 1912 it was called the district of Alaska. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Alaska Statehood Act into United States law on 7 July 1958 which paved the way for Alaska's admission into the Union on January 3, 1959. Alaska suffered one of the worst earthquakes in recorded North American history on Good Friday 1964 (see Good Friday Earthquake). In 1976, the people of Alaska amended the state's constitution, establishing the Alaska Permanent Fund. The fund invests a portion of the state's mineral revenue, including revenue from the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline System, "to benefit all generations of Alaskans." In March 2005, the fund's value was over $30 billion. Prior to 1983, the state lay across four different time zones—Pacific Standard Time (UTC -8 hours) in the southeast panhandle, a small area of Yukon Standard Time (UTC -9 hours) around Yakutat, Alaska–Hawaii Standard Time (UTC -10 hours) in the Anchorage and Fairbanks vicinity, with the Nome area and most of the Aleutian Islands observing Bering Standard Time (UTC -11 hours). In 1983 the number of time zones was reduced to two, with the entire mainland plus the inner Aleutian Islands going to UTC -9 hours (and this zone then being renamed Alaska Standard Time as the Yukon Territory had several years earlier (circa 1975) adopted a single time zone identical to Pacific Standard Time), and the remaining Aleutian Islands were slotted into the UTC −10 hours zone, which was then renamed Hawaii–Aleutian Standard Time. Over the years various vessels have been named USS Alaska, in honor of the state. During World War II three of the outer Aleutian Islands—Attu, Agattu and Kiska—were occupied by Japanese troops. It was the only territory within the current borders of the United States to have land occupied during the war.

Politics

Alaska is often characterized as a Republican-leaning state with strong Libertarian tendencies. Local political communities often work on issues related to land use development, fishing, tourism, and individual rights as many residents are proud of their rough Alaskan heritage. Alaska Natives, while organized in and around their communities, are often active within the Native corporations which have been given ownership over large tracts of land, and thus need to deliberate resource conservation and development issues. In presidential elections, the state's Electoral College votes have been most often won by a Republican nominee. Only once has Alaska supported a Democrat nominee (Lyndon B. Johnson in the landslide year of 1964), although the 1960 and 1968 elections were close. No state has voted for a Democratic presidential candidate fewer times. President George W. Bush won the state's electoral votes in 2004 by a margin of 25 percentage points with 61.1% of the vote. Juneau stands out as an area that supports Democratic candidates. When Congress, in 1957 and 1958, debated the wisdom of admitting it as the 49th state, much of the political debate centered on whether Alaska would become a Democratic or Republican-leaning state. Conventional wisdom had it that, with its rugged individualism, penchant for new ideas, and dependence on the Federal Government largess for basic needs, it would become a Democratic stronghold, about which Republicans (and the, then, Republican Administration of Dwight Eisenhower) had reservations. Given time, those fears proved roundly unfounded. After an early flirtatious period with liberal politics, the political climate of Alaska changed quickly once oil was discovered and the federal government came to be seen as 'meddling' in local affairs. Still, despite its libertarian rhetoric, the state regularly takes in more federal money than it gives out, a fact that can be attributed at least partially to its equal representation in the U.S. Senate. In recent years, the Alaska Legislature (20-member Senate serving 4-year terms and 40-member House serving 2-year terms) has been dominated by conservatives, generally Republicans. Likewise, recent state governors have been mostly conservatives, although not always elected under the official 'Party' banner. Republican Wally Hickel was elected to the office for a second term in 1990 after jumping the Republican ship and briefly joining the Alaskan Independence Party ticket just long enough to be reelected. He subsequently officially 'rejoined' the Republican fold in 1994. Alaska's members of the U.S. Congress are all Republican. U.S. Senator Ted Stevens was appointed to the position following the death of U.S. Senator Bob Bartlett in December of 1968, and has never lost a re-election campaign since. As the longest-serving Republican in the Senate (some political wits call him Senator-For-Life), Stevens has been a crucial force in gaining Federal money for his state. Until his resignation from the U.S. Senate to run for Governor, Republican Frank Murkowski held the state's other Senatorial position and, as Governor, was allowed to appoint his daughter, Lisa Murkowski as his successor. She won a full six-year term on her own in 2004. Alaska's sole U.S. House Representative, Don Young won re-election to his 17th-straight term, also in 2004. His seniority in House ranks him as one of the most influential Republican House members. His position on the House Transportation Committee allowed him to parlay some $450 million to two bridge projects in Alaska, for which he gained national notoriety following the devastation in the State of Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina and his insistence that those monies not be returned to aid in rebuilding the Gulf Coast.

Geography

Alaska is the only state that is both in North America and not part of the 48 contiguous states; about 500 miles (800 kilometers) of Canadian territory separate Alaska from Washington. (It is thus an exclave.) It is also the only state in which the majority of citizenry must pass through a foreign country when driving to its Capital City. NOTE: Alaska's Capital City, Juneau, is accessible ONLY via ship or air. There are no roads leading in or out of Juneau. Alaska is the largest state in the United States in terms of land area, 570,374 square miles (1,477,261 km²). If a map of Alaska were superimposed upon a map of the lower 48 states, Alaska would overlap Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico and Colorado. One scheme for describing the state's geography is by labeling the regions:
- South Central Alaska is the southern coastal region and is the population center for the state. The Municipality of Anchorage and many small but growing towns (Palmer, Wasilla, etc.) lie within this area. Petroleum industrial plants, transportation, tourism, and two military bases form the core of the economy here.
- The Alaska Panhandle, also known as Southeast Alaska, is home to Juneau, many small towns, tidewater glaciers and extensive forests. Tourism, fishing, forestry and state government anchor the economy.
- The Alaska Interior is home to Fairbanks. The geography is marked by large braided rivers, such as the Yukon River and the Kuskokwim River, as well as Arctic tundra lands and shorelines.
- The Alaskan Bush is the remote, less crowded part of the state, encompassing 380 native villages and small towns such as Nome, Bethel, Kotzebue and, most famously, Barrow, the northernmost point on the North American continent. With its numerous islands, Alaska has nearly 34,000 miles (54,700 km) of tidal shoreline. The island chain extending west from the southern tip of the Alaska Peninsula is called the Aleutian Islands. Many active volcanoes are found in the Aleutians. For example, Unimak Island is home to Mount Shishaldin, a moderately active volcano that rises to 9,980 ft (3,042 m) above sea level. The chain of volcanoes extends to Mount Spurr, west of Anchorage on the mainland. North America's second largest tides occur in Turnagain Arm just south of Anchorage, which often sees tidal differences of more than 35 feet. Alaska is also wet in other ways. While Minnesota may be famous for its ten-thousand lakes, Alaska is home to three-and-a-half million such lakes, just counting those 20-acres in size or larger. Marshlands and wetland permafrost comprise another sizable chunk of the state, collectively covering 188,320 square miles, mostly in northern, western and southwest flatlands. Frozen water, in the form of glacier ice, covers still more: some 16-thousand square miles of land and 1200 square miles of tidal zone. One, the Bering Glacier complex near the southeastern border with Yukon, Canada, covers 2250 square miles alone. Alaska is the westernmost state in the union. The Aleutian Islands actually cross longitude 180°, also making it the easternmost state, although the International Date Line doglegs around them to keep the whole state in the same day. (see: Extreme points of the United States) According to the October 1998 report of the United States Bureau of Land Management, approximately 65% of Alaska is owned and managed by the U.S. Federal Government as national forests, national parks, and national wildlife refuges. Of these, the Bureau of Land Management manages 87 million acres (350,000 km²), or 23.8% of the state. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Of the remaining land area, the State of Alaska owns 24.5%; another 10% is managed by thirteen regional and dozens of local Native corporations created under ANCSA. Various private interests own the remaining land, totaling less than 1%. See:
- List of Alaska rivers
- Alaska Peninsula
- Bristol Bay

Boroughs and census areas

Alaska has no counties in the sense used in the rest of the country. Instead, the state is divided into 27 census areas and boroughs. The difference between boroughs and census areas is that boroughs have an organized area-wide government, while census areas are artificial divisions defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. Areas of the state not in organized boroughs compose what the government of Alaska calls the unorganized borough. Borough-level government services in the unorganized borough are provided by the state itself.

Economy

The state's 2003 total gross state product was $31 billion. Its per-capita income for 2003 was $33,213, 14th in the nation. Alaska's main export is seafood. Agriculture represents only a fraction of the Alaska economy. Agricultural production is primarily for consumption within the state and includes nursery stock, dairy products, vegetables, and livestock. Manufacturing is limited, with most foodstuffs and general goods imported from elsewhere. Employment is primarily in government and industries such as natural resource extraction, shipping, and transportation. Military bases are a significant component of the economy in both Fairbanks and Anchorage. Its industrial outputs are crude petroleum, natural gas, coal, gold, precious metals, zinc and other mining, seafood processing, timber and wood products. There is also a growing service and tourism sector. Tourists have contributed to the economy by supporting local lodging. The cost of goods in Alaska has long been higher than in the contiguous 48 states. This has changed for the most part in Anchorage and Fairbanks, where the cost of living is actually less than some major cities in the Lower 48, thanks to lower housing and transportation costs. The introduction of big-box stores in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau also did much to lower prices. However, rural Alaska suffers from extremely high prices for food and consumer goods, compared to the rest of the country due to the relatively limited transportation infrastructure. Many rural residents come in to these cities and purchase food and goods in bulk from warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam's Club. Some have embraced the free shipping offers of some online retailers to purchase items much more cheaply than they could in their own communities, if they are available at all.

Transportation

Alaska is arguably the least-connected state in terms of road transportation. The state's road system covers a relatively small area of the state, linking the central population centers and the Alaska Highway, the principal route out of the state through Canada. The state capital, Juneau, is not accessible by road, which has spurred several debates over the decades about moving the capital to a city on the road system. One unique feature of the road system is the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, which links the Seward Highway south of Anchorage with the relatively isolated community of Whittier. The tunnel is the longest road tunnel in North America at nearly 2.5 miles and combines a one-lane roadway and train tracks in the same housing. Consequently, eastbound traffic, westbound traffic, and the Alaska Railroad must share the tunnel, resulting in waits of 20 minutes or more to enter. The Alaska Railroad runs from Seward through Anchorage, Denali, and Fairbanks to North Pole, with spurs to Whittier and Palmer. The railroad is famous for its summertime passenger services but also plays a vital part in moving Alaska's natural resources, such as coal and gravel, to ports in Anchorage, Whittier and Seward. The Alaska Railroad is the only remaining railroad in North America to use cabooses on its freight trains. A stretch of the track along an area inaccessible by road serves as the only transportation to cabins in the area. Most cities and villages in the state are accessible only by sea or air. Alaska has a well-developed ferry system, known as the Alaska Marine Highway, which serves the cities of Southeast and the Alaska Peninsula. The system also operates a ferry service from Bellingham, Washington up the Inside Passage to Haines (several cruise companies offer cruises up the Inside Passage as well, with service all the way to Seward and Whittier). Cities not served by road or sea can only be reached by air, accounting for Alaska's extremely well-developed Bush air services—an Alaskan novelty. Anchorage itself, and to a lesser extent Fairbanks, are serviced by many major airlines. Air travel is the cheapest and most efficient form of transportation in and out of the state. Anchorage recently completed extensive remodeling and construction at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport to help accommodate the upsurge in tourism (unofficial sources have estimated the numbers for 2004 at some four million tourists arriving in Alaska between May and September). However, regular flights to most villages and towns within the state are commercially challenging to provide. Alaska Airlines is the only major airline offering in-state travel with jet service (sometimes in combination cargo and passenger Boeing 737-200s) from Anchorage and Fairbanks to regional hubs like Bethel, Nome, Kotzebue, Dillingham, Kodiak, and other larger communities as well as to major Southeast and Alaska Peninsula communities. The bulk of remaining commercial flight offerings come from small regional commuter airlines like: Era Aviation, PenAir, and Frontier Flying Service. The smallest towns and villages must rely on scheduled or chartered Bush flying services using general aviation aircraft such as the Cessna Caravan, the most popular aircraft in use in the state. Much of this service can be attributed to the Alaska bypass mail program which subsidizes bulk mail delivery to Alaskan rural communities. The program requires 70% of that subsidy to go to carriers who offer passenger service to the communities. But perhaps the most quintessentially Alaskan plane is the Bush seaplane. The world's busiest seaplane base is Lake Hood, located next to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, where flights bound for remote villages without an airstrip carry passengers, cargo, and lots of items from stores and warehouse clubs. Another Alaskan transportation method is the dogsled. In modern times, dog mushing is more of a sport than a true means of transportation. Various races are held around the state, but the most well known is the Iditarod, a 1,150-mile trail from Anchorage to Nome. The race commemorates the famous 1925 serum run to Nome in which mushers and dogs like Balto took much-needed medicine to the diphtheria-stricken community of Nome when all other means of transportation had failed. Mushers from all over the world come to Anchorage each March to compete for cash prizes and prestige.

Demographics

As of 2004, the population of Alaska was 655,435.

Race and ancestry

The racial breakdown of the state is:
- 67.6% White (Non-Hispanic)
- 15.6% Native American or Alaska Native
- 4.1% Hispanic
- 4% Asian
- 3.5% Black
- 5.4% Mixed race The largest ancestry groups in the state are: German (16.6%), Alaska Native/American Indian (15.6%), Irish (10.8%), English (9.6%), American (5.7%), and Norwegian (4.2%). Alaska has the largest percentage of American Indians (16%) of any state. The vast, sparsely populated bush regions of northern and western Alaska are primarily inhabited by Alaska Natives, and they also have a large presence in the southeast. Anchorage, Fairbanks, and other parts of south-central and southeast Alaska have many whites of northern and western European ancestry. The Wrangell-Petersburg area has many residents of Scandinavian ancestry and the Aleutians have many Filipinos. Most of the state's black population lives in Anchorage. As of 2000, 85.7% of Alaska residents age 5 and older speak English at home and 5.2% speak Native American languages. Spanish speakers make up 2.9% of the population, followed by Tagalog speakers at 1.5% and Korean at 0.8%.

Religion


- Christian – 81%
  - Protestant – 68%
    - Baptist – 11%
    - Lutheran – 8%
    - Methodist – 6%
    - Pentecostal – 2%
    - Episcopal – 1%
    - Quaker – 1%
  - Orthodox – 8%
  - Catholic – 7%
  - Mormon – 1%
- Other religions – 1%
- Not religious/agnostic – 17% Notable is Alaska's relatively large Eastern Orthodox Christian population, a result of early Russian colonization and missionary work among indigenous Alaskans.

Social issues

Alaska has long had a problem with alcohol use and abuse. Many rural communities in Alaska have outlawed its import. "Dry", "wet", and "damp" are terms describing a community's laws on liquor consumption. This problem directly relates to Alaska's high rate of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) as well as contributing to the high rate of suicides. This is a controversial topic for many residents. Alaska has long had a problem with "brain drain" as many of its young people, including most of the highest academic achievers, leave the state upon graduating high school. The state has been successfully combating this by offering 4 year scholarships to the top 10 percent of Alaska high school graduates.

Notable Alaskans

The National Statuary Hall of the United States of America is part of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. Each state has selected one or two distinguished citizens and provided statues. Alaska's are of its first two senators:
- Edward Lewis "Bob" Bartlett (1904–1968) was the territorial delegate to the US Congress from 1944 to 1958, and was elected as the first senior U.S. Senator in 1958 and re-elected in 1964. There are streets, buildings, and even the first state ferry, named for him.
- Ernest Gruening (1886–1974) was appointed Governor of the Territory of Alaska in 1939, and served in that position for fourteen years. He was elected to the United States Senate in 1958 and re-elected in 1962.
- Jay Hammond (1922–2005) was Governor during the building of the Alaska Pipeline and established the Alaska Permanent Fund, providing Alaskans with essentially free money. He is regarded as somewhat of a hero because of this. He also governor during passage of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act and effectively served to moderate associated issues within the state among disparate interest groups ranging from conservationists to natives to pro-development interests.
- Fran Ulmer was the first woman elected to statewide office—she became Lieutenant Governor in 1994.
- Republican Lisa Murkowski was appointed as a U.S. Senator, by her father, Governor Frank Murkowski, a long time U.S. Senator, to fill his Senate term, vacated in 2002. She won her first election to the Senate in 2004 in a close and expensive race with former Governor Tony Knowles, a Democrat, who had served 8 years as Governor and many years as the mayor of Anchorage prior.
- George Sharrock (1910–2005) moved to the territory before statehood, eventually elected as the mayor of Anchorage and served during the Good Friday Earthquake in March 1964. This was the most devastating earthquake to hit Alaska and it sunk beach property, damaged roads and destroyed buildings all over the south central area. Sharrock, sometimes called the "earthquake mayor," led the city's rebuilding effort over six months.

Important cities and towns

Alaska's most populous city is Anchorage, home of 260,283 people, 225,744 of whom live in the urbanized area. It ranks third in the List of U.S. cities by area, behind two other Alaskan cities. Sitka ranks as America's largest city by area, followed closely by Juneau.

25 richest places in Alaska

Ranked by per capita income: See also: Richest Places in Alaska

Colleges and universities


- University of Alaska System
  - University of Alaska Anchorage
  - University of Alaska Fairbanks
  - University of Alaska Southeast
- Alaska Bible College
- Alaska Pacific University
- Charter College
- Ilisagvik College
- Sheldon Jackson College

External links


-
- [http://www.alaska.gov/ State of Alaska website]
- [http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/02000.html US Census Bureau]
- [http://www.alaska.com/ Alaska.com Information]
- [http://www.travelalaska.com/ Alaska Travel Industry Association]
- [http://www.adn.com/ Anchorage Daily News]
- [http://www.apfc.org/ Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation]
- [http://www.usnewspapers.org/state/alaska Alaska Newspapers]

Political parties


- [http://www.akrepublicans.org/ Alaska Republican Party]
- [http://www.akdemocrats.org/ Alaska Democratic Party]
- [http://www.republicanmoderates.com/ Alaska Republican Moderate Party]
- [http://www.akip.org/ Alaskan Independence Party]
- [http://www.ak.lp.org/ Alaska Libertarian Party]
- [http://www.alaska.greens.org/ Alaska Green Party]
- Category:Exclaves Category:Russian people in the United States Category:States of the United States zh-min-nan:Alaska ko:알래스카 주 ms:Alaska ja:アラスカ州 simple:Alaska th:มลรัฐอะแลสกา

Kenai Peninsula

The Kenai Peninsula is a large peninsula jutting from the southern coast of Alaska in the United States. It extends approximately 150 miles (240 km) southwest from the Chugach Mountains, south of Anchorage. It is separated from the mainland on the west by the Cook Inlet and on the east by Prince William Sound. Administratively the peninsula is part of the Kenai Peninsula Borough. The glacier-covered Kenai Mountains (7,000 ft/2,130 m) run along the southeast spine of the peninsula along the coast of the Gulf of Alaska. Much of the range is within Kenai Fjords National Park. The northwest coast along the Cook Inlet is flatter and marshy, dotted with numerous small lakes. Several larger lakes extend through the interior of the peninsula, including Skilak Lake and Tustumena Lake. Rivers include the Kenai River, famous for its salmon population, as well as the Russian River, the Kasilof River, and Anchor River. Kachemak Bay, a small inlet off the larger Cook Inlet, extends into the peninsula's southwest end. The peninsula includes several of the larger towns in southern Alaska, including Seward on the Gulf of Alaska Coast, Kenai along the Cook Inlet, and Homer, along Kachemak Bay in the south. Homer famously marks a terminus of the paved highway system of North America and is a popular destination for automobile travelers who have driven to Alaska from the lower 48 states. Seward is the southern terminus of the Alaska Railroad. The peninsula has a coastal climate that is mild, with abundant rainfall. It is one of the few areas in Alaska that allows for agriculture, with a growing season adequate for many crops. The peninsula also has natural gas, petroleum, coal deposits, and abundant commercial and personal use fisheries. Tourism is a major industry. The name Kenai is probably derived from Kenayskaya, the Russian name for the Cook Inlet. Category:Geography of Alaska Category:Peninsulas

Prince William Sound

Prince William Sound is a sound of the Gulf of Alaska on the south coast of Alaska in the United States. It is located on the east side of the Kenai Peninsula. The port of Valdez, at the southern terminus of the Alaska Pipeline, is the major port, located at the northern end of the sound. The sound has numerous small islands within it. Alaska Pipeline] In 1964, a tsunami killed a number of Chugach villagers living on the shores of the Sound in Chenega, as well as destroying the town of Valdez. The tsunami was a result of the Good Friday Earthquake. In 1989, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef after leaving Valdez, resulting in the Exxon Valdez oil spill. The spill resulted in massive damage to the environment.

See also


- Cook Inlet
- Prince William Prince William Category:Geography of Alaska ja:プリンス・ウィリアム湾

Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage is a consolidated city-borough (officially called the Municipality of Anchorage) in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is also a census area. With 260,283 residents according to the 2000 census, Anchorage is the largest city in the state of Alaska, composing more than two-fifths of the state's population. The Census Bureau's official population estimate as of 2004 was 272,687. Anchorage was founded in 1915 and named after a place where a ship lies at anchor. It is sometimes referred to as "Air Crossroads of the World". Its official nickname is "City of Lights". Anchorage is administrated by an elected mayor and assembly, and a city manager. The city's current mayor is Mark Begich.

History

Mark Begich serum run.]] Anchorage was carefully laid out by city planners in 1914, originally as a railroad construction port for the Alaska Railroad, and on July 9, 1915, the first sales of town lots were held. In 1915 President Woodrow Wilson authorized funds for the construction of the Alaska Railroad. Ship Creek Landing in Anchorage was selected as the headquarters of this effort. Soon a "Tent City" sprang up at the mouth of Ship Creek and the population quickly swelled to more than 2,000. Would-be entrepreneurs flocked to this bustling frontier town, and brought with them everything necessary to build a city. A popular hardware and clothing store, "The Anchorage," was actually an old dry-docked steamship name "Berth." Although the area had been known by various names, the U.S. Post Office Department formalized the use of the name "Anchorage," and despite some protests the name stuck. In 1920, the United States government relinquished its direct control over the city, and elections were held. Anchorage was incorporated on November 23, 1920. The 1930s was a time that Anchorage rebounded from a loss of population and industry it had suffered during World War I. Air transportation became increasingly important to Anchorage. In 1930, the original "Park Strip" landing field was replaced by a new facility, Merrill Field, which had a beacon and a landing tower and in a few short years, it became one of the busiest centers of civilian aircraft activity in the United States. United States The arrival of troops in 1940 marked a decade of growth based on military expansion for Anchorage. Growth began in the 1940s, with the construction of Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson, which made Anchorage a major defense center. By the outbreak of World War II the threat of Japanese invasion prompted continued expansion of military personnel and aircraft, and the pressures of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union ensured continued heavy military investment in the Anchorage area after World War II. Between 1939 and 1950, Anchorage's population doubled from 4,229 to 30,060, and so did the cost of living. Anchorage also experienced a unfortunate rise in crime during this tumultuous growth period, a problem the city would fight for decades. The decade of the 1960s began on a bright note for Anchorage after Alaska's attaining statehood in 1959. After Alaska became a state, Anchorage faced a severe housing shortage, which was solved partially by suburban expansion. On March 27, 1964, Anchorage was hit by the Good Friday Earthquake, which registered 9.2 moment magnitude on the richter scale and caused tremendous destruction. This earthquake was the largest ever recorded in North America and United States history and, Anchorage lay only 75 miles (120 km²) from the epicenter. It killed 131 people across South Central Alaska and damage was estimated at over $300 million (1964 dollars). Anchorage's remarkable recovery from this disaster dominated life in the late 1960s. The continued threat of earthquakes has prompted a limit on the heigh of buildings in the city; the tallest buildings are 21 stories high. The decade of the 1970s was a important time of growth for the Anchorage economy. The growth of Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport would make Anchorage's unique geographical location between the two northern continents earned the sobriquet "Air Crossroads of the World." On March 3, 1973, the first 1049-mile-long (1690 km²) Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race starts from downtown Anchorage with 34 mushers. Twenty-two mushers finished the race with the last one arriving in Nome one-month after he left the starting line. In recent years, winners have finished the race in less than 10-days. In 1974, construction begain on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. The oil discovery and pipline construction fueled a modern-day boon when oil and construction companies set up headquarters in Anchorage. The pipeline was completed in 1977 at a cost of more than $8 billion. On September 15, 1975, the city and borough consolidated forming a unified government. Also included in this unification were Eagle River, Eklutna, Girdwood, Glen Alps, and several other communities. The unified area became officially known as the Municipality of Anchorage. By 1980, the population of Anchorage had increased to 174,431. The decade of the 1980s was a time of growth, thanks to a flood of North Slope oil revenue into the state treasury. Capital projects and an aggressive beautification program, combined with far-sighted community planning, greatly increased infrastructure and quality of life. These included a new library, civic center, sports arena and performing arts center. By the beginning of the 1990s Anchorage could boast of 259 miles of maintained trails. Hilltop Ski Area was established in 1984, which along with the Alyeska Ski Resort in Girdwood and Alpenglow Ski Area gave residents three fully operational skiing areas, Tourism and recreational activities. Alpenglow Ski Area) in background.]] The city has an attractive skyline nonetheless, particularly with the Chugach Mountains, Cook Inlet, or the oft-visible Mount McKinley (also known as Denali) as a backdrop. From Government Hill, one can have the best view of Mount McKinley. Though space is limited in the "Anchorage bowl," as locals call the peninsula on which the city is located, many parks, greenbelts, and other undeveloped areas can be found within the city itself, making it particularly attractive to nature lovers (to say nothing of the attractions available just a short distance outside the city). Over the past thirty years, however, many of these undeveloped areas have filled in with houses, strip malls, and other development. Nonetheless, there is an enormous amount of land under the Anchorage Municipal control: some 1,955 square miles (5063 km²) about the size of Delaware. The vast majority of this land is located within the Chugach Mountains to the east of the city, which also comprises Chugach State Park.

Geography and climate

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the municipality has a total area of 5,079.2 km² (1,961.1 mi²), 4,395.8 km² (1,697.2 mi²) of it is land and 683.4 km² (263.9 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 13.46% water. mi² Anchorage is located in South Central Alaska, at 61 °13'06"North latitude (about the same as Stockholm and St. Petersburg), -149 °53'57"West longitude (about the same as Hawaii), northeast of the Alaska Peninsula, Kodiak Island, and Cook Inlet, due north of the Kenai Peninsula, northwest of Prince William Sound and Alaska Panhandle, and nearly due south of Mount McKinley/Denali. The city is situated on a triangular peninsula bordered on the east by the rugged, scenic, and eminently hike-worthy Chugach Mountains, on the northwest by the Knik Arm, and on the southwest by the Turnagain Arm, upper branches of the Cook Inlet, which itself is the northernmost reach of the Pacific Ocean. Despite this, the city lacks coastal beaches, instead having wide, treacherous mudflats. Adjacent to the north is Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. To the south is Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, and to the east is Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska.

Climate

Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska Average daytime summer temperatures are approximately 55 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (13 to 23 degrees Celsius); average daytime winter temperatures are about 5 to 20 degrees (-15 to -7 degrees Celsius) (warmer than many places in "The Lower 48"). Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (PANC) average January low and high temperatures are 9 °F/ 22 °F with an average winter snowfall of 70.60 inches. The weather on any given day and indeed for entire seasons can be very unpredictable. Some winters feature several feet of snow and bitterly cold temperatures, while others, just a foot or two of snow and frequent thaws, which puts dangerous ice on the streets. On March 17, 2002, a record 24 hour (St. Patrick's Day) snow storm dumped 25.7 inches of snow on the Anchorage area, causing the airport and schools to close on that day. The 1954-1955 winter had 132.8 inches, which made it the snowiest winter on record. The coldest temperature ever recorded at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport was -38 °F (-38.8 °C) on February 3, 1948. Summers are typically very mild and pleasant, though it can rain frequently. There isn't any beach-bathing in Anchorage, except at a few local lakes on the warmest summer days, when those lakeside beaches can be extremely popular. Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport average July low and high temperatures are 52 °F/ 66 °F and the hottest reading ever recorded was 86 °F (30 °C) on June 25, 1953. The average annual precipitation at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is 16.07 inches. Aside from the winter cold, which most Alaskans don't mind, there are two primary nuisances associated with the seasons: in the summer, mosquitoes (which are much worse out in the Bush than in the city itself); in the winter, long nights and very short days. Since Anchorage is at such a high latitude, for months in mid-winter, residents go to work in the dark and return home in the dark. Those who don't study or work next to a window can go all week long without seeing the sun.

People and culture

Demographics

As of the U.S. Census of 2000, Anchorage had a population of 260,283 and in all the Anchorage Municipality is home to almost two-fifths of Alaska's population. The population today is approximately 72.23% White (Caucasian), 5.55% are Asian Americans, 5.84% are African Americans, 7.28% are American Indians or Alaska Natives, 0.93% are Pacific Islanders, 5.69% are Hispanic Americans or Latinos of any race, 5.98% are from two or more races, and 2.19% are from other non-white backgrounds. There are 94,822 households out of which 38.9% have children under the age 18 living with them, 51.1% are married couples living together, 11.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% are non-families. 23.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 3.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.67 and the average family size is 3.19. In the city the population is spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 33.9% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 5.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years. For every 100 females there are 101.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 102.4 males. The median income for a household in the city is $55,546, and the median income for a family is $63,682. Males have a median income of $41,267 versus $63,682 for females. The per capita income for the city is $25,287. 7.3% of the population and 5.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 8.8% of those under the age of 18 and 6.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. Anchoragites exemplify many of the qualities to be found among Alaskans generally: independence, friendliness, practical-mindedness, and a love of the outdoors. There is, even among businesspeople in Anchorage, a tendency to "dress down" (there is no dress code in any Anchorage restaurant). This, and a sort of frontier spirit that still lives on in Alaska generally, gives Anchorage a relatively casual, relaxed atmosphere compared to some other American cities. (These cultural characteristics are only more exaggerated the farther one moves out of the city into the rest of Alaska.) The city has traditionally served as a destination for immigrants, and there are active Asian, Eastern European, and Hispanic populations, along with communities of African Americans and various groups of aboriginal Alaskans. Over 95 languages are spoken by students in the Anchorage School District.

Performing arts

aboriginal Despite the relative remoteness of the location, the city sports a lively arts community. Located next to Town Square Park in downtown Anchorage, the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts [http://www.alaskapac.org] is a three-part complex host to many performing arts events. The facility can accommodate more than 3,000 patrons. In 2000, nearly 245,000 people visited 678 public performances. It is home to eight resident performing arts companies and has featured mega-musicals such as CATS, Grease, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera and Big River. The center hosts the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra which is a semi professional symphony orchestra. The center also hosts the world famous International Ice Carving Competition as part of the Fur Rendezvous festival in February. There are also weekly sessions of Irish traditional music, Jazz, and other musical scenes. The Anchorage Concert Association brings 15 to 20 world-class performing arts events to the community each winter, and numerous independent perforance groups.

Museums


- Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum
- Alaska Naturally [http://www.thealakacollection.com]
- Anchorage Fire Department (Fire Department Museum - Fire Memorabilia)
- Anchorage Museum of History & Art [http://www.anchoragemuseum.org]
- Heritage Library Museum
- Imaginarium: Science Discovery Center [http://www.imaginarium.org]
- Oscar Anderson House Museum [http://www.anchoragehistoric.org]
- Russian Orthodox Museum [http://dioceseofalaska.org/html/grand_opening_2005.html]
- Wolf Song of Alaska [http://www.wolfsongalaska.org]

Cultural parks and botanical gardens

winter
- Alaska Native Heritage Center, inc. [http://alaskanative.net]
- Fraternal Order of Alaska State Troopers [http://www.alaska.net/~foast]
- The Alaska Botanical Garden contains over 900 species of hardy perennials and 150 native plant species [http://www.alaskabg.org]

Indoor waterparks, zoos, and conservation centers


- H2Oasis Indoor Waterpark is literally and figuratively the hottest spot in Alaska for fun and adventure. [http://www.h2oasiswaterpark.com]
- The Alaska Zoo is home to just under 100 birds and mammals. [http://www.alaskazoo.org]
- The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a refuge for orphaned, injured wildlife, a non-profit organization. [http://www.alaskawildlife.org]

Skiing and heli skiing


- Alpenglow at Arctic Valley/ Anchorage Ski Club [http://www.skialpenglow.com]
- Alyeska Resort
- Hilltop Ski Area
- Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage, Inc. [http://www.anchoragenordicski.com]
- Chugach Powder Guides [http://www.chugachpowderguides.com]

Media

Anchorage's leading newspapers are the Anchorage Daily News [http://www.adn.com/], the Alaska Star [http://www.alaskastar.com], the Insurgent49 [http://www.insurgent49.com] and the Anchorage Press [http://www.anchoragepress.com]. Anchorage is also well served by television and radio. Anchorage's major network television affiliates are KIMO 13(ABC), KTVA 11(CBS), KAKM 7(PBS), KTBY 4(FOX), KTUU 2(NBC), KYES 5(UPN) and KDMD 33(PAX/Shopping). ARCS: The Alaska Rural Communications Service, which provides some original programming and also "cherry-picks" retransmissions from among the broadcast stations in Anchorage, though usually not KIMO except in very rare occasions (such as Iditarod coverage), to provide television service to remote areas. Leading radio stations include AM Stations KTZN 550-Clear Channel Communications, KHAR 590, KENI 650-Clear Channel Communications, KBYR 700, KFQD 750 and KUDO 1080. FM Stations (KRUA) 88.1-University of Alaska, Anchorage, KAKL 88.5-"Positive, Encouraging K-Love", Christian Music, K-Love, EMF Broadcasting, KATB 89.3, KNBA 90.3, KSKA 91.1, KFAT 92.9-New Northwest Broadcasters, KAFC 93.7, KEAG 97.3, KLEF 98.1, KYMG 98.9-Clear Channel Communications, KBFX 100.5- Clear Channel Communications, KGOT 101.3-Clear Channel Communications, KDBZ 102.1-New Northwest Broadcasters, KMXS 103.1, KBRJ 104.1, KNIK 105.7, KWHL 106.5 and KASH 107.5-Clear Channel Communications.

Sports

Anchorage is home to the Alaska Aces of the ECHL hockey league. The Anchorage Bucs Baseball Club is a summer collegiate baseball team, attracting players from universities throughout the world. The Anchorage Glacier Pilots is a member of the National Baseball Congress. Anchorage is also home to the "Great Alaska Shootout" an annual college basketball tournament that features colleges from all over the U.S. The best skijumper from the US the past 15 years is from Anchorage, Alan Alborn. He has finished 4th in a stage of the worldcup in Engelberg, Switzerland and has a 16th place from the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Economy

Anchorage is the center of commerce for Alaska and a major port, receiving over 95% of all freight entering Alaska passes, as well as a major hub of the famous Alaska Railroad. Several oil and gas industries like: BP Exploration (Alaska), Inc., ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc., Doyon Universal Services, Enstar Natural Gas Co., ExxonMobil Production, Flint Hills Resources, Norcoast Mechanical, Tesoro Alaska Petroleum Co., Udelhoven Oilfield System Services, Inc., Union Oil Company of California, and VECO Alaska, Inc. are all headquartered in Anchorage. Anchorage is home to two major corporations which provide communication services to Alaska: Alaska Communications Systems and General Communication, Inc., both of which offer local and long distance telephone service, dial up and broadband internet access and wireless service. Many corporations, such as large banks, real estate, transportation, other communications, and government agencies are all headquartered in Anchorage. There are two strategically important U.S. military bases bordering Anchorage on the north: Elmendorf AFB and Fort Richardson. Both military bases together station over 9,000 military personnels. Numerous visitor and tourist facilities and services are available throughout the Municipality of Anchorage. Nearly all Alaska Interior-bound tourists pass through Anchorage at some stage of their journeys in Alaska. Not surprisingly, summer is tourist season, and downtown Anchorage, as well as the highways leading north and south of town, are typically teeming with tourists. Anchorage has seasonal factors contribute to a fluctuating, though low, unemployment rate.

Infrastructure

Transportation

tourist season Anchorage is usually the starting or ending point of most visitors' Alaska vacations, and it serves as the airline hub for the state. Anchorage is served by many national airlines (primarily Seattle-based Alaska Airlines), as well as a number of international and interstate airlines. The Alaska Railroad offers daily summer service to Seward, Talkeetna, Denali National Park and Fairbanks. These communities are also served by bus line from Anchorage, and rental cars are available from several companies at or near Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, which is just six miles from downtown Anchorage. Transportation to downtown Anchorage is convenient by taxicab, airport shuttle or hotel courtesy shuttles. Upon arrival, visitors can stop by the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau Visitor Information Center or the Alaska Visitors Center for direction. Diamond Airport Parking offers long-term parking with free 24-hour shuttle service to the airport. Cruise passengers with a few hours or a full day to explore Anchorage can store their luggage (and fish) at the airport. The Ship Creek Shuttle connects key downtown Anchorage locations with the Ship Creek area, including stops at the Alaska Railroad Depot. Cruise Anchorage also has a bus system called [http://www.muni.org/transit People Mover], with a central hub in downtown Anchorage and satellite hubs at Dimond Center and Muldoon Mall. People Mover also provides point-to-point van services to seniors and those with disabilities, as well as carpool organization services. There's only one officially designated Interstate Highway in Anchorage. Unlike the Interstate routes in Hawaii, it is unsigned as such. The route, officially Interstate A-1 runs along the Seward and Glenn Highways. The highway is numbered Alaska State Highway 1. A portion of the Seward Highway, about 10 miles of it (known as the New Seward Highway) is built to freeway standards. The Glenn Highway also built to freeway standards goes northeast from Anchorage, six lanes carrying commuter traffic to and from Eagle River, Chugiak and the Matanuska Valley towns of Palmer and Wasilla. The highway is four lanes from Eagle River to the junction with the Parks Highway (Alaska State Highway 3) near Wasilla. Anchorage's roads and the state's highways are asphalt. They're plowed when necessary in the winter. Highway construction is limited to the warm months, so expect some delays, especially on the highways. As of 2005, Anchorage has a long-range transportation plan. Building the Highway to Highway Connection is a limited-access highway link between the Glenn and Seward highways could be the backbone that efficiently delivers traffic to many destinations throughout the city. Today, traffic is heavy all day long 5th-6th Avenues, Ingra and Gambell, and spills into East Anchorage neighborhoods to avoid congestion. In the Fairview, Mountain View and Midtown neighborhoods, the new road link would be dug down, out of sight and covered in some areas to allow easy pedestrian and vehicle access across Neighborhoods currently divided and isolated would be reconnected with each other and downtown Once complete, the Gambell and Ingra couplet and other surface streets could be returned to pedestrian friendly main streets.
- Reduces traffic on city arterial streets by 100,000 vehicles per day.
- Removes traffic on Mt. View Drive, Bragaw, Lake Otis, 15th, Northern Lights, Tudor, and others.
- Reduces neighborhood traffic intrusion, air pollution, crashes and noise.
- Allows easier and safer pedestrian travel in the Fairview, Mt. View and Midtown neighborhoods.
- Encourages neighborhood investment and development opportunities.
- Requires phased investment and political/ public commitment.
- Improves efficiency of freigh and goods movement.
- Capital Cost: $575 million Anchorage traffic department websites
- [http://www.muni.org/iceimages/transplan/acf538.pdf Anchorage long-range transportion plan]
- [http://www.muni.org/transplan/ Anchorage traffic department, transportation plan]

Medical centers and hospitals

Providence Alaska Medical Center on Providence Drive in Anchorage is the largest hospital in Alaska and is part of Providence Health System in Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California. It features the state's most comprehensive range of services. Providence Health System has a history of serving Alaska, beginning when the Sisters of Providence first brought health care to Nome in 1902. As the territory grew during the following decades, so did efforts to provide care. Hospitals were opened in Fairbanks in 1910 and Anchorage in 1937. Alaska Regional Hospital on DeBarr Road in Anchorage was born in 1963 as Anchorage Presbyterian Hospital, located at 8th and L Street downtown. This predecessor to Alaska Regional was a joint venture between local physicians and the Presbyterian Church. In 1976 the hospital moved to it's present location on DeBarr Road, and is now a 254-bed licensed and accredited facility. Alaska Regional has expanded services and in 1994, Alaska Regional joined with HCA, one of the nation's largest healthcare providers. Alaska Native Medical Center located on Tudor Road, provides medical care and therapeutic health care to Native Alaskans - 229 tribes of Eskimos and Indians - at the Anchorage site and at 15 satellite facilities throughout the state. ANMC specialists also travel to clinics in the bush to provide care. The 150-bed hospital is also a teaching center for the University of Washington's regional medical education program. ANMC houses an office of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and Southcentral Foundation jointly own and manage ANMC.

Education

Education in Anchorage, Eagle River, Fort Richardson and Elmendorf AFB is managed by the Anchorage School District. Anchorage has an excellent public school system that is ranked among the finest in the nation. The Anchorage School District is the 81st largest district in the United States, with nearly 50,000 students attending 88 schools. The district's average SAT and ACT college entrance exam scores are consistently above the national average and Advanced Placement courses are offered at each of the district's high schools. The International Baccalaureate diplome program is also offered in one of the local high schools. The average teacher/student ratio in the district's elementary schools is one teacher to approximately every 25 students. The district offers a comprehensive curriculum that emphasizes the basic communication skills of reading, writing, and arithmetic. The standard program also includes social studies, health, science, and physical education. All students receive a quality education enriched with technology, foreign language, visual and performing arts, and social sciences. A variety of programs and alternative learning environments meet the needs of the diverse student population. Some examples include ABC (back-to-basics curriculum) and Montessori schools, open-optional programs, foreign-language immersion, vocational/technical training and charter schools. Comprehensive services for bilingual students and students with special needs are also available. Private schooling offers choice in private education. Grace Christian School, a K-12 grade community Christian school, offers a rigorous college-preparatory program that emphasizes critical thinking, skill building and character development-within a traditional classroom format. Visit their Web Site at: [http://www.gcsk12.net] for more information.

Colleges and universities

Ninty percent of Anchorage's adults have high-school diplomas, 65 percent have attended one to three years of college, and 17 percent hold advanced degrees, placing Anchorage among the top metropolitan cities in educational attainment. Anchorage boasts four excellent higher-education facilities that offer affordable, quality higher education. The University of Alaska Anchorage[http://www.uaa.alaska.edu] and Alaska Pacific University are within walking distance of each other, and Charter College[http://www.chartercollege.org] and Wayland Baptist University are also located in city limits. Anchorage also has other higher education facilities:
- Grainger Leadership Institute, LLC
- Nine Star Enterprises
- CLE International
- Nana Worksafe, Inc.
- PackBear DBA Barr & Co.

Utilities

A full complement of utilities is available within the Anchorage area. Two electric companies provide service, depending on where you live within the Municipality of Anchorage. They are: Municipal Light & Power (ML&P) and Chugach Electric Association. A municipally owned utility since 1932, ML&P supplies high-quality and reliable electric power to more than 30,000 residential and commercial customers in the Anchorage area. Chugach Electric Association is a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative that was formed in 1948. Most homes have natural gas-fueled heat. ENSTAR Natural Gas Company is the sole provider for Anchorage, servicing some 90-percent of the city's population. While some homes in Anchorage use private wells and septic systems, the Municipality of Anchorage owns and operates the Water and Wastewater Utility serving an approximate population base of 214,000. Anchorage Municipal Solid Waste Services and Anchorage Refuse conduct trash removal in the city depending on location.

Shopping and entertainment

Anchorage has restaurants and places to shop. Anchorage 5th Avenue Mall, located in the heart of downtown Anchorage, has 110 stores including Nordstrom, JCPenny and Gap. There is a full-size family-owned shopping mall in Anchorage: Dimond Center located at the intersection of East Dimond Boulevard and Old Seward Highway is the largest shopping center in Alaska, at 728,000 square feet, with 120,000 square feet of professional office space. The mall is home to over 200 stores and offices and 17 eating establishments, with an ice skating rink, bowling alley, athletic club, library, and Dimond 9 Cinemas. The anchor stores are: Best Buy, Gottschalks, and Old Navy. Lodging is offered by the 109-room Dimond Center Hotel. [http://www.dimondcenter.com] The Mall at Sears located on East Northern Lights Boulevard has great shopping and food court in the center of town. The Northway Mall is located on Penland Parkway near Airport Heights and the Glenn Highway. Ship Creek Center is a place that has Alaska, Russian gifts, dining, groceries and dancing. Sears

Points of interest

There are features of Anchorage that make it unique: the large tidal range; multiple, beautiful cross-country ski trails; America's highest percentage of licensed airplane pilots (with several airports and landing strips in the city or nearby); a very low population density for a city its size; frequent small earthquakes; spring windstorms ("Chinook winds"); active volcanoes nearby (to the southwest, in the Alaska Range, volcanoes such as Mount Spurr, Augustine Volcano, Mount Redoubt, and others have coated the city with ash in recent years); its extreme youth (it was founded in 1915 but didn't grow much until the 1940s); and much else. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, Anchorage is definitely an American city, replete with a vibrant business climate, large shopping malls, traffic congestion (one can't easily move about by foot and public transportation in the middle of winter), suburban-style subdivisions and two suburbs, Eagle River and Chugiak, unless one counts the massive numbers of commuters who drive from as far away as the Matanuska Valley communities of Wasilla and Palmer. Anchorage has been named an All America City in the years 1956, 1965, 1984-85 and most recently in 2002. The city won its latest award based on civic activities like the 2001 Special Olympics Winter Games, the Anchorage Youth Court, and Bridge Builders.

Sister cities

Today, Anchorage has six Sister Cities (twin towns), as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc.:
- Chitose, Japan
- Darwin, Australia
- Incheon, Korea
- Magadan, Russia
- Tromso, Norway
- Whitby, England

External links


- [http://www.muni.org/ Municipality of Anchorage] official website
- [http://www.anchorage.net/ Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau]
- [http://www.alaskavisitorscenter.com Alaska Visitors Center]
- [http://www.alaska.com Alaska.com information]
- [http://lexicon.ci.anchorage.ak.us/ Anchorage Municipal Libraries]
- [http://www.muni.org/mayor/allamericacity.cfm Anchorage All-America City 2002 Information]
- [http://www.Untraveledroad.com/USA/Alaska/Anchorage/Anchorage.htm Photographic virtual tour of Anchorage.]
- [http://www.anchoragecam.com Anchorage Cam (includes camera links)]
- [http://pafc.arh.noaa.gov National Weather Service Anchorage office]
- [http://anchorage.ak.house.info/ Anchorage real estate listings]
- [http://anchorage.craigslist.org/ Craigslist for Anchorage] Category:All-America City Category:Cities in Alaska Category:Independent cities in the United States Category:Coastal cities ko:앵커리지 ja:アンカレッジ

Square kilometer

Square metre

Square mile

:This article is about the unit of measure. The Square Mile is a traditional name for the City of London in the United Kingdom. A square mile is the area equal to a square with sides each 1 mile long. It is not an SI unit. The SI unit of area is the square metre.

Symbol

There is no universally agreed symbol but the following are used:
- square mile
- sq mile
- sq mi
- sq m (this can be confused with square metre)
- mile²
- mi²

Conversions

1 square mile is equivalent to:
- 27 878 400 square feet
- 640 acres
- 2 589 988.11 square metres
- 2.589 988 11 square kilometres In the Public Land Survey System of the US and the Dominion Land Survey of Canada, the size of a standard section of land is one square mile.

See also


- Conversion of units Category:Units of area Category:Imperial units Category:Customary units in the United States ja:平方マイル

Census

A census is the process of obtaining information about every member of a population (not necessarily a human population). It can be contrasted with sampling in which information is only obtained from a subset of a population. As such it is a method used for accumulating statistical data, and it is also vital to democracy (voting).

Ancient and medieval censuses

Rome conducted censuses to determine taxes (see Censor). The Bible relates stories of several censuses. The Book of Numbers describes a divinely-mandated census that occurred when Moses led the Israelites from Egypt. A later census called by King David of Israel, referred to as the "numbering of the people," incited divine retribution (for being militarily motivated or perhaps displaying lack of faith in God). A Roman census is also mentioned in one of the best known passages of the Bible in the Gospel of Luke. The world's oldest extant census comes from China during the Han Dynasty. Taken in the fall of 2 AD, it is considered by scholars to be quite accurate. At that time there were 57.5 million living in Han China, the world's largest population. The second oldest preserved census is also from the Han, dating back to 140 AD, when only a bit more than 48 million people were recorded. Mass migrations into what is today southern China are believed to be behind this massive demographic decline. In the Middle Ages, the most famous census is the Domesday Book, undertaken in 1086 by William I of England "to find out ... what or how much each landholder had in land and livestock, and what it was worth," so that he could properly tax the land he had recently conquered. In 1183, a census was taken of the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, to ascertain the number of men and amount of money that could possibly be raised against an invasion by Saladin, sultan of Egypt and Syria.

Modern censuses

Australia

The Australian census is run by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It is carried out every five years, the last one being on August 7, 2001 and the next planned census is August 8, 2006.

Brazil

The Brazilian census is carried out by IBGE, the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, every 10 years. The last one was in 2000.

Canada

The Canadian census is run by Statistics Canada. The first census conducted in Canada was conducted in 1666, by French intendant Jean Talon, when he took a census to ascertain the number of people living in New France. In 1871, Canada's first formal census was conducted, which counted the population of Nova Scotia, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Quebec. In 1918, the Dominion Bureau of Statistics was formed. In 1971, Statistics Canada was formed to replace the Dominion Bureau of Statistics, and consequently, took over its census job. Censuses in Canada are conducted in five year intervals. The latest census was conducted in 2001 and the next planned census is 2006. Censuses taken in mid-decade (e.g. 1976, 1986, 1996, etc.) are referred to as quinquennial censuses. Others are referred to as decennial censuses. The first quinquennial census was conducted in 1956. See also: Canada 2001 Census

Costa Rica

Costa Rica carried out its 9th population census in 2000. INEC, National Institute of Statistics and Census is in charge of conduct these census. Past Costa Rican censuses were realized in 1864, 1883, 1892, 1927, 1950, 1963, 1973 and 1984.

Denmark

The first Danish census was in 1700-1701, and contained statistical information about adult men. Only about half of it still exists. A census of school children was taken during the 1730s. Following these early undertakings, the first census to attempt completely covering all citizens (including women and children who had previously been listed only as numbers) of Denmark-Norway was taken in 1769 [http://www.rhd.uit.no/census/ft1769.html]. At that point there were 797 584 citizens in the kingdom. Georg Christian Oeder took a statistical census in 1771 which covered Copenhagen, Sjælland, Møn, and Bornholm. After that, censuses followed somewhat regularly in 1787, 1801, and 1834, and between 1840 and 1860, the censuses were taken every five years, and then every ten years until 1890. Special censuses for Copenhagen were taken in 1885 and 1895. In the 20th century, censuses were taken every five years from 1901 to 1921, and then every ten years from 1930. The last census was taken in 1950. Currently, Det Centrale Personregister is doing the censuses using their register of Danish citizens. It is possible to search a portion of the Danish censuses online at [http://ddd.dda.dk/ Dansk Demografisk Database], and also view scanned versions at [http://www.arkivalieronline.dk/ Arkivalier Online].

France

Napoleon Bonaparte began the census in France as a means of determining the number of potential soldiers under his rule. Today, the census in France is carried out by INSEE. Since 2004, a partial census is carried out every year, and the results published as averages over 5 years.

Germany

The first large-scale census in the German Empire took place in 1895. Attempts at introducing a census in Germany sparked strong popular resentment in the 1980s since many quite personal questions were asked. Some campaigned for a boycott. In the end the Constitutional Court stopped the census in 1980 and 1983. The last census was in 1987. Germany has since used population samples in combination with statistical methods, in place of a full census.

Greece

Census takes place every 10 years and is carried out by the National Statistical Service of Greece [http://www.statistics.gr]. Last census was in 2001.

India

The decennial census of India is the primary source of information about the demographic characteristics of the population of India which is the second biggest country of the world in terms of population. The first census in India is dated