Anchorage, Alaska

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Anchorage, Alaska
Flag
Nickname: "The City of Lights and Flowers"
Motto: BIG WILD LIFE
Location in the state of Alaska
Coordinates: 61°13′06″N, 149°53′57″W
Borough	Municipality of Anchorage
Government
- Mayor	Mark Begich (D)
Area
- City	5,079.2 km²  (1,961.1 sq mi)
- Land	4,395.8 km² (1,697.2 sq mi)
- Water	683.4 km² (263.9 sq mi)
Elevation	115 m (377.3 ft)
Population (2005)
- City	275,043
- Density	62.6/km² (162.1/sq mi)
- Metro	339,286
Time zone	AKST (UTC-9)
- Summer (DST)	AKDT (UTC-8)
Website: www.ci.anchorage.ak.us/

Anchorage, Alaska is a consolidated city-borough (officially called the Municipality of Anchorage) in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the largest city in the state of Alaska, with 275,043 residents, comprising more than two-fifths (with its metropolitan area, over 50%) of the state's total population.

Contents 1 Geography and climate 1.1 Geography 1.2 Climate 2 History and government 2.1 Government 2.2 Demographics 3 Infrastructure 3.1 Economy 3.2 Transportation 3.3 Media 3.3.1 Newspapers 3.3.2 Television 3.3.3 Radio 3.4 Venues 3.5 Medical centers and hospitals 3.6 Safety 3.7 Education 3.8 Colleges and universities 3.9 Utilities 4 Culture and recreation 4.1 Arts 4.1.1 Museums 4.2 Sports 4.3 Recreational facilities 4.4 Parks and gardens 5 Notable Residents 6 Sister Cities 7 Notes and References 8 External links

[edit] Geography and climate

[edit] Geography

Anchorage is located in South Central Alaska, at 61 °13'06" North latitude (slightly farther north than Oslo, Helsinki and St. Petersburg), 149 °53'57" West longitude, 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 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.

The area of Anchorage is larger than that of Rhode Island. The center of population of Alaska is located approximately 40 miles east of Anchorage. [1].

[edit] Climate

Anchorage has a subarctic climate (Koppen climate classification Dfc) due to its short, cool summers. Average daytime summer temperatures range from approximately 55 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit (13 to 27 degrees Celsius); average daytime winter temperatures are about 5 to 30 degrees (-15 to -1 degrees Celsius), which is in fact warmer than many places in the continental United States.

Average January low and high temperatures at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (PANC) are 9°F/22°F (-13°C/-5°C) with an average winter snowfall of 70.60 inches (179.3 cm).

The weather on any given day and indeed for entire seasons can be very unpredictable. Some winters feature several feet of snow and 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 (St. Patrick's Day) snow storm dumped 28.6 inches (72.6 cm) of snow on the Anchorage area in 24 hours, closing schools for the next two days. The storm broke the city record for a 24-hour snowfall and the most snowfall in a single day.

The storm, which started the evening of March 16, easily surpassed the old record of 15.6 inches (39.6 cm) recorded on 28 December and 29 December 1955. On March 17, 24.6 inches (62.5 cm) were measured by the National Weather Service, topping the old record of 15.6 inches (39.6 cm) set on 29 December 1955.The 1954-1955 winter had 132.8 inches (337.3 cm), 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 mild (although cool compared to the continental US and even interior Alaska), 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. Average July low and high temperatures are 52°F/66°F (11°C/19°C) and the hottest reading ever recorded was 86°F (30°C) on June 25, 1953. The average annual precipitation at the airport is 16.07 inches (408 mm).

Aside from the winter cold, 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, very long nights and extremely 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. In addition, Anchorage averages only 27% of possible sunshine in December.^[1]

[edit] History and government

Main article: History of Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage was laid out by city planners in 1914, originally as a railroad construction port for the Alaska Railroad, and in 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. A popular hardware and clothing store, "The Anchorage," was actually an old dry-docked steamship named "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. Growth began in the 1940s, with the construction of Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson, which made Anchorage a defense center. After Alaska became a state, Anchorage faced a housing shortage, eased partially by suburban expansion.

On March 27, 1964, Anchorage was hit by the Good Friday Earthquake, which registered 9.2 moment magnitude and caused tremendous destruction. It killed 131 people across southcentral Alaska and damage was estimated at over $300 million (1964 dollars). The continued threat of earthquakes has prompted a limit on the height of buildings in the city; the tallest buildings are 22 stories high. In 1975, Anchorage merged with Eagle River, Girdwood, Glen Alps, and several other communities. The merger expanded the city, known officially as Anchorage Municipality. The city grew substantially during the 1980s, largely due to a flood of North Slope oil revenue into state coffers.[2]

[edit] Government

Anchorage is governed by an elected mayor and assembly, and a city manager. The city's current mayor is Mark Begich. Although Begich's party affiliation is Democratic,[3] the office of Anchorage mayor is non-partisan. Anchorage is a designated census area.

[edit] Demographics

As of the 2000 census, Anchorage had a population of 260,283, and in all, the Anchorage Municipality is home to almost two-fifths of Alaska's population. Anchorage is also the most ethnically diverse city in Alaska. The population today is approximately 72.23% White, 7.28% (apx. 19,000) are Alaska Natives and American Indians, 5.55% (approximately 14,500 people) are Asian Americans, 5.84% (apx. 15,200) are African Americans, 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-Caucasian backgrounds. 4.00% reported speaking Spanish at home, while 1.49% speak Tagalog and 1.44% Korean [4].

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 and females have a median income of $31,747. 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.

As of September 7, 2006, 94 languages were spoken by students in the Anchorage School District.[5]

[edit] Infrastructure

[edit] Economy

Anchorage is a major port, receiving over 95% of all freight entering Alaska, as well as a hub of the Alaska Railroad. Major industries include government and military, Petroleum, and tourism. There are two U.S. military bases bordering Anchorage on the north: Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson. 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.

[edit] Transportation

The Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, six miles from downtown Anchorage, is the airline hub for the state, served by many national airlines, including Seattle-based Alaska Airlines and 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. The Ship Creek Shuttle connects downtown with the Ship Creek area, including stops at the Alaska Railroad Depot.

Anchorage also has a bus system called 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 is 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, approximately 10 miles long, (known as the New Seward Highway) is built to freeway standards. The six-lane Glenn Highway largely carries commuter traffic to and from Eagle River, Chugiak, and the Matanuska Valley towns of Palmer and Wasilla. The highway becomes four lanes from Eagle River to the junction with the Parks Highway (Alaska State Highway 3) near Wasilla. A majority of Anchorage's roads and the state's highways are asphalt; one notable exception is the Dalton Highway between Fairbanks and Deadhorse. This route is primarily for oil-field support transportation. Highway construction is generally limited to the warmer months of May to September, where drivers can expect occasional delays.

The 2005 Highway to Highway Connection is a $575 million plan for a limited-access highway link between the Glenn and Seward highways, to pass through the Fairview, Mountain View and Midtown neighborhoods.

Anchorage traffic department websites

• Anchorage long-range transportion plan
• Anchorage traffic department, transportation plan

[edit] Media

[edit] Newspapers

Anchorage's leading newspapers are the Anchorage Daily News [6], the Alaska Star [7], and the Anchorage Press [8]. Anchorage is largely represented on the Alaska Craigslist [9].

[edit] Television

Anchorage is also well served by television. Anchorage's major network television affiliates are:

• KTUU 2 (NBC)
• KTBY 4 (FOX)
• KYES 5 (My Network TV)
• KAKM 7 (PBS)
• KTVA 11(CBS)
• KIMO 13 (ABC)
• KDMD 33 (i: Independent Television)

The Alaska Rural Communications Service 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.

Citywide cable TV and Internet service is provided by General Communication, Inc. (GCI) There is no competing cable service; however, satellite and broadcast TV are widely available. Numerous local and national Internet service providers serve the community.

[edit] Radio

See List of radio stations in Alaska.

[edit] Venues

The city of Anchorage currently provides three municipal facilities large enough to hold major events such as concerts, trade shows and conventions. Downtown facilities include the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center and the soon to be completed Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center, which will be connected via skybridge to form the Anchorage Civic & Convention District. The Sullivan Arena hosts sporting events as well concerts and annual trade shows. The Anchorage Football Stadium and Mulcahy Stadium are also noteworthy sports venues.

[edit] 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 opened 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 its 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 Alaska natives - 229 tribes of Inuit and others - 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.

[edit] Safety

Anchorage is a very safe city for it's size. The murder rate is very low. That's not to say that crime doesn't occur though. In the major tourist areas such as downtown, you should keep close eye on your posessions. Pickpockets exist everywhere. Certain areas of the East side such as Mountain View have higher crime than other spots. Also areas around the airport like Spenard are known for increased drug activity and prostitution.

[edit] Education

Public education in Anchorage, Eagle River, Fort Richardson and Elmendorf Air Force Base is managed by the Anchorage School District, the 81st largest district in the United States, with nearly 50,000 students attending 88 schools. There are also a number of choices in private education, including Anchorage Christian Schools, and Grace Christian School, a K-12 community Christian school in south Anchorage.

[edit] Colleges and universities

Ninety 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 has four higher-education facilities. The University of Alaska Anchorage[10] and Alaska Pacific University are within walking distance of each other, and Charter College[11] 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.

[edit] Utilities

Two electric companies provide service within the Municipality of Anchorage: Municipal Light & Power (ML&P) and Chugach Electric Association. A municipally owned utility since 1932, ML&P supplies 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.

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.

[edit] Culture and recreation

[edit] Arts

Located next to Town Square Park in downtown Anchorage, the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts is a three-part complex, hosting numerous performing arts events each year. 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-musical performed by visiting companiess. The center also hosts the International Ice Carving Competition as part of the Fur Rendezvous festival in February.

The Anchorage Concert Association brings 15 to 20 events to the community each winter. The Sitka Summer Music Festival presents an "Autumn Classics" festival of chamber music for two weeks each September on the campus of Alaska Pacific University.

[edit] Museums

• Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum [12]
• Anchorage Museum of History and Art [13]
• Imaginarium: Science Discovery Center [14]
• Oscar Anderson House Museum [15]
• Wells Fargo Alaska Heritage Library & Museum [16]

[edit] Sports

The Sullivan Arena is home to the Alaska Aces of the ECHL (formerly East Coast Hockey League). The city's only other professional franchise, the Alaska Wild, an arena football team, is scheduled to begin playing with the Intense Football League in April 2007.

The Anchorage Bucs Baseball Club is a summer collegiate baseball team, attracting players from universities throughout the world. The Anchorage Glacier Pilots are a member of the National Baseball Congress. Both baseball clubs play at Mulcahy Stadium.

The University of Alaska Anchorage sponsors the annual Great Alaska Shootout, an annual NCAA Division I basketball tournament featuring colleges and universities from across the United States. The University of Alaska Anchorage also has a Men's Division I hockey team that plays within the WCHA (Western Collegiate Hockey Association).

Anchorage is the finish line for a wheelchair race known as Sadler's Ultra Challenge. Divisions include Men's Handcycle (with A, B, and C classes), Men's Wheelchair, and Women's Handcycle. The 267-mile-long race is run in eight stages and takes six days to complete. The annual competition began in 2001 and occurs in July of each year.

[edit] Recreational facilities

• Alpenglow Ski Area [17]
• Alyeska Resort [18]
• Hilltop Ski Area [19]
• H2Oasis Indoor Waterpark [20]

[edit] Parks and gardens

• Alaska Native Heritage Center [21]
• Fraternal Order of Alaska State Troopers [22]
• The Alaska Botanical Garden contains over 900 species of hardy perennials and 150 native plant species [23]
• Alaska Zoo [24]
• Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center [25]
• Delaney Park Strip
• Kincaid Park
• Point Woronzof Park

[edit] Notable Residents

• Matt Carle, NHL hockey player for the San Jose Sharks
• Scott Gomez, NHL hockey player for the New Jersey Devils
• Trajan Langdon, American basketball player for CSKA Moscow
• Josh Phelps, MLB baseball player for the New York Yankees

• Mark Schlereth, Former NFL guard and current ESPN football analyst
• Dave Williams (baseball player), MLB pitcher for the New York Mets
• Ty Conklin, NHL goalie for the Buffalo Sabres
• Curt Schilling, starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox
• Jordan Pearce, Alaska's Greatest Sportsman

[edit] Sister Cities

Today, Anchorage has a number of Sister Cities, according to the University of Alaska, Anchorage[26]:

• Camiling, Philippines
• Chiayi, Taiwan
• Chitose, Nemuro, Noshiro, Obihiro, Saroma, Teshio, Japan
• Darwin, Australia
• Hammerfest, Norway
• Harbin, People's Republic of China
• Incheon, Korea
• Khabarovsk, Magadan, Mirnyy, Noglicki, Okha, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski, Providenya, Yakutsk, Yelisovo, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Vladivostok, Russia
• Mo i Rana, Norway
• Tromsø, Norway
• Whitby, England

[edit] Notes and References

[edit] External links

• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 61.1919° -149.762097°
  • Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
  • Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
  • Topographic map from TopoZone
  • Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
• The Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau
• The Alaska Visitors Center
• The Municipality of Anchorage
• Visit Anchorage
• Anchorage Real Estate
• Anchorage Craigslist
• Anchorage Tourist Review
• Photographic virtual tour of Anchorage

	State of Alaska Juneau (capital)
Regions	Aleutian Islands | Arctic Alaska | Bush Alaska | Interior | Kenai Peninsula | Mat‑Su Valley | North Slope | Panhandle | Seward Peninsula | Southcentral | Southwest | Tanana Valley | Yukon‑Kuskokwim Delta
Largest cities	Anchorage | Barrow | Bethel | Fairbanks | Homer | Juneau | Kenai | Ketchikan | Kodiak | Kotzebue | Nome | Palmer | Petersburg | Seward | Sitka | Unalaska | Valdez | Wasilla
Boroughs	Aleutians East | Anchorage | Bristol Bay | Denali | Fairbanks North Star | Haines | Juneau | Kenai Peninsula | Ketchikan Gateway | Kodiak Island | Lake and Peninsula | Matanuska‑Susitna | North Slope | Northwest Arctic | Sitka | Yakutat
Census areas	Aleutians West | Bethel | Dillingham | Nome | Prince of Wales‑Outer Ketchikan | Skagway‑Hoonah‑Angoon | Southeast Fairbanks | Valdez‑Cordova | Wade Hampton | Wrangell‑Petersburg | Yukon‑Koyukuk | (see also) Unorganized Borough