Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska, United States. With a population of 291,247 residents (as of 2020),[5] it makes up nearly two-fifths of the state's population.
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 Location of Anchorage within Alaska | |
| Coordinates: 61°13′00″N 149°53′37″W / 61.21667°N 149.89361°WCoordinates: 61°13′00″N 149°53′37″W / 61.21667°N 149.89361°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Anchorage |
| Settled | 1914 |
| Incorporated |
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| Named for | The anchorage at the mouth of Ship Creek |
| Area | |
| • City and Borough | 1,946.69 sq mi (5,041.89 km2) |
| • Land | 1,706.89 sq mi (4,420.81 km2) |
| • Water | 239.80 sq mi (621.08 km2) |
| • Urban | 78.8 sq mi (204 km2) |
| Elevation | 102 ft (31 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • City and Borough | 291,247 |
| • Rank | |
| • Density | 170.6/sq mi (65.88/km2) |
| • Urban | 249,252 (US: 163rd)[4] |
| • Urban density | 2,718.4/sq mi (1,049.6/km2) |
| • Metro | 398,328 (US: 136th) |
| Time zone | UTC-9 (AKST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-8 (AKDT) |
| ZIP code | 99501–99524, 99529–99530, 99599 |
| Geocode | 1398242 |
| FIPS code | 02-03000 |
| Climate | Subarctic |
| Website | www |
History
Anchorage was originally a construction camp during the building of the Alaska Railroad. By 1920, it had grown to the point where it was decided to officially make it a city. Being at the head of Cook Inlet it became an important place for shipping in Alaska because ships could load and unload cargo to and from the new railroad.
In the 1940, an both the army and the air force built bases near Anchorage, and it got even bigger. In 1964, Anchorage was hit by the Good Friday Earthquake, the second strongest earthquake ever recorded. Over a hundred people died and a lot of buildings in and around Anchorage were destroyed.
Over the next few years, a lot of work went into rebuilding the city and making the buildings better in case there was another earthquake. In 1968, oil was discovered up in the Arctic region of Alaska, and Anchorage again got bigger quickly and merged with other towns in the area. Today it is a modern city with a very large international airport, a large sea port that is very busy, and all the other things you would expect to find in a big city.
Utilities
Water for the city comes from Eklutna Lake.
The city's electricity comes from power plants in the city and from a dam also fed by Eklutna Lake.
Heat for homes comes from natural gas provided by Enstar Natural Gas Company.
Climate
Anchorage has a subarctic climate (Dfc in the Köppen climate classification).
Anchorage, Alaska Media
The tent city (called "The White City" in the handwritten caption) in Ship Creek, photographed by Alberta Pyatt on July 1, 1915.
Fourth Avenue in 1953, looking east from near I Street. Just ten years before, the retail area shown in the foreground was mostly an industrial area, housing lumber yards and similar uses.
Fourth Avenue after the Good Friday or Great Alaskan earthquake on March 27, 1964
USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection. Anchorage (Alaska), 1979
Moose and calf outside a church in Anchorage
An early summer day at Jewel Lake Park in western Anchorage, Alaska
Map of racial/ethnic distribution in Anchorage, 2010 U.S. Census. Each dot is 25 people: Non-Hispanic White, Black, Asian, Hispanic or Alaska Native and Other (yellow)
The "Anchorage Welcomes You" sign outside Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. The city is known for showcasing abundant flowers during the summer months.
View from the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail near the mouth of Chester Creek. From foreground to background: Westchester Lagoon, the southern reaches of the Bootleggers Cove neighborhood, and the downtown skyline.
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References
- ↑ Cochran, Jessica. Alaska Cultural Connections: Los Anchorage. http://www.alaskapublic.org/2013/04/29/alaska-cultural-connections-los-anchorage/. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
- ↑ Cole, Dermot (September 25, 2011). 'Los Anchorage' may seem a world apart, but it's not alien territory. http://www.newsminer.com/los-anchorage-may-seem-a-world-apart-but-it-s/article_8bf0e675-84e9-5057-8268-db19638f222b.html. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
- ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
- ↑ "List of 2020 Census Urban Areas". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "QuickFacts: Anchorage municipality, Alaska". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
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