34 Facts About Anchorage

Anchorage is the largest city in the U S state of Alaska by population.

Anchorage is in Southcentral Alaska, at the terminus of the Cook Inlet, on a peninsula formed by the Knik Arm to the north and the Turnagain Arm to the south.

Anchorage anchored his ship, HMS Resolution, at a place he called "Anchor Point", near a creek he dubbed "Ship Creek" nestled between two large arms .

Anchorage first sent William Bligh to scout the north arm, where he met with the Dena'ina Natives of the Eklutna area, who told him the name of the Knik Arm and that it was not the Northwest Passage, but rather an outlet for two rivers .

In 1888, gold was discovered along Turnagain Arm just south of modern-day Anchorage, leading to a new influx of prospectors, and small towns such as Spenard, Hope, Rainbow, Bird, Indian, and Girdwood began to spring up.

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Anchorage formed at a time when proponents of Prohibition were gaining traction, and as part of an effort to stem the flow of the alcohol trade, at the direction of President Woodrow Wilson and with the symmetry of the US Army, a town site was mapped out on higher ground to the south of the tent city, with the condition that a person's land could be repossessed if caught breaking the alcohol laws.

Anchorage has been noted in the years since for its order and rigidity compared with other Alaska town sites.

Aviation operations in Anchorage commenced along the firebreak south of town, which residents used as a golf course.

One of Anchorage's most affected residential areas, the Turnagain neighborhood, saw dozens of homes originally at 250 to 300 feet above sea level sink to sea level.

Boroughs and census areas next to the Municipality of Anchorage are Matanuska-Susitna Borough to the north, Kenai Peninsula Borough to the south and Chugach Census Area to the east.

Anchorage has a subarctic climate but with strong maritime influences that lead to a relatively moderate climate.

Anchorage has a frost-free growing season that averages slightly over 101 days.

Port of Anchorage receives 95 percent of all goods destined for Alaska.

Many companies who provide oilfield support services are likewise headquartered outside of Anchorage but maintain a substantial presence in the city, most notably Arctic Slope Regional Corporation and CH2M Hill.

City of Anchorage provides three municipal facilities large enough to hold major events such as concerts, trade shows and conventions.

Anchorage is home to the Fur Rendezvous Open World Championship Sled Dog Races, a three-day dog sled sprint event consisting of three timed races of 25.

Anchorage is the home of three teams in the Alaska Baseball League.

The Aces were very successful during their time in Anchorage, claiming three league titles, four conference championships, and eight division championship during their 29-year history .

University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves are a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Anchorage is the finish line for the Sadler's Ultra Challenge wheelchair race.

Anchorage is a premier cross-country skiing city, in terms of density of groomed trails within the urban core.

The Tour of Anchorage is an annual 50-kilometer ski race within the city.

Anchorage is home to Alaska's first WFTDA flat track women's roller derby league, the Rage City Rollergirls.

Since then, the area encompassing Downtown Anchorage and surrounding neighborhoods has served as the city's single-member section.

Anchorage generally leans toward Republican candidates in both state and presidential elections.

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In 2018, Anchorage began conducting municipal elections by mail and had the highest voter turnout in the city's history.

When compared with U S cities of similar size, Anchorage has a slightly higher rate of violent crime and a slightly lower rate of property crime.

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.

Anchorage has the most ethnically diverse schools in the United States, including the three most diverse high schools, the three most diverse middle schools, and the 19 most diverse elementary schools.

Anchorage's leading newspaper is the Anchorage Daily News, a citywide daily newspaper.

Anchorage is one hour behind the Pacific Time Zone, and receives the same network feed as the West Coast.

Electric power in the Anchorage area is provided by Chugach Electric Association, a nonprofit, member-owned cooperative founded in 1948.

Anchorage has a bus system called People Mover, with a hub downtown and satellite hubs at Dimond Center and Muldoon Mall.

Anchorage is conducting a feasibility study on a commuter rail and light rail system.