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Anchorage, Alaska 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 is administrated 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, the office of Anchorage mayor is non-partisan.
Geography
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.
Anchorage is a major port, receiving over 95% of all freight entering Alaska passes, as well as a major hub of the
famous Alaska Railroad. Major industries include government and military, Petroleum, and tourism. There are
two strategically important 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.
Climate
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 put 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.
Notable neighborhood communities
Abbott Loop - Airport Heights - Basher - Bayshore/Klatt - Bear Valley - Birchwood - Campbell Park -
Chugiak - Downtown - Eagle River - Eagle River Valley - Eklutna Valley - Fairview - Girdwood -
Glen Alps - Government Hill/Ship Creek - Hillside East - Huffman/O'Malley - Mid-Hillside - Midtown -
Mountain View - Northeast - North Star - Old Seward/Oceanview - Portage Valley - Rabbit Creek -
Rogers Park - Russian Jack - Sand Lake - Scenic Foothills - South Addition - South Fork -
Spenard - Taku/Campbell - Tudor Area - Turnagain - Turnagain Arm - University Area
People and culture
Performing arts
Located next to Town Square Park in downtown Anchorage, the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts 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 also hosts the world famous International Ice Carving Competition as part of the Fur Rendezvous festival
in February.
The Anchorage Concert Association brings 15 to 20 world-class performing arts events to the community each winter.
In addition, the Sitka Summer Music Festival presents an "Autumn Classics" festival for two weeks each September
in Grant Hall on the campus of Alaska Pacific University; top-quality international performing artists gather in
Anchorage to present six concerts of chamber music at this event.
Venues
The city of Anchorage currently provides 3 municipal facilities large enough to hold major events such as concerts,
trade shows and conventions. The Downtown facilities: Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, William A. Egan Civic
& Convention Center and the soon to be completed Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center 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 important
sports venues.
Museums
Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum
Alaska Naturally
Anchorage Fire Department (Fire Department Museum - Fire Memorabilia)
Anchorage Museum of History & Art
Heritage Library Museum v
Imaginarium: Science Discovery Center
Oscar Anderson House Museum
Russian Orthodox Museum
Wolf Song of Alaska
Cultural parks
Alaska Native Heritage Center, inc.
Fraternal Order of Alaska State Troopers
Botanical gardens
The Alaska Botanical Garden contains over 900 species of hardy perennials and 150 native plant species
Indoor waterparks
H2Oasis Indoor Waterpark
Zoological Parks and Conservation Centers
Alaska Zoo
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Media
Anchorage's leading newspapers are the Anchorage Daily News [13], the Alaska Star [14] and the Anchorage Press.
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(My Network TV) and KDMD
33(i: Independent Television). 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.
Citywide cable TV and Internet service is provided by General Communication, Inc. (GCI) There is no competing
cable service, but satellite and broadcast TV is widely available. There are also numerous local and national
Internet service providers serving the community.
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. 2006 saw the official forming of
the Alaska Wild, an arena football team.
Infrastructure
Transportation
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
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.
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'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
Anchorage long-range transportion plan
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 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 Eskimos 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.
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 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: [16] 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 has four higher-education facilities. The University of Alaska Anchorage[17] and Alaska Pacific University
are within walking distance of each other, and Charter College[18] 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.
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.
Nightlife
Al's Alaskan Inn has a local motel and nightclub with 5 bars, karaoke. Over 36,000 songs, three levels, plexiglass
dance floor, mezzanine overlooks first floor, abstract iron, diamond-plated decor, lots of bling bling.
Bitoz, all-ages musical venue and pizzeria located downtown
Bruins-Hilton Anchorage Hotel, join the locals for sports on the big screen!
Chilkoot Charlie's, live music in world famous rustic Alaska saloon.
Club Millenium, a nightclub for young adults. Hot music and dancing in downtown Anchorage.
Crazy Horse Saloon/ Crazy Horse Too
Darwin's Theory
F Street Station
Great Alaskan Bush Company 2, come join the party and enjoy the classy entertainment at our world famous club.
Casual atmosphere uniquely done in the Alaska saloon tradition.
Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse has 43 brews on tap, full bar, live music nightly.
Rumrunner's Old Towne Bar & Grill has microbrews, cocktails, music and great food!
Snow Goose Restaurant & Sleeping Lady Brewing Co. has great beer, great burger, great pizza, great view. Two
great decks with stunning views, live music, and award-winning beers. Our theatre will host meetings, plays,
concerts, and large dining events.
The Alley has live music, full bar, great service and NTN.
The Shed
Skiing and heli skiing
Alpenglow at Arctic Valley/ Anchorage Ski Club
Alyeska Resort
Hilltop Ski Area
Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage, Inc.
Heli skiing
Chugach Adventure Guides
Anchorage, Alaska
Points of interest
The largest branch of the University of Alaska is located in east-central Anchorage. Despite the relative remoteness
of the location, the city sports a lively arts community. The city boasts a symphony orchestra, an opera company
and concert association, and numerous independent performance groups. There are also weekly sessions of
Irish traditional music, Jazz, and other musical scenes.
There are other features of Anchorage that make it unique: the large tidal range; multiple, beautiful cross-country
ski trails; the Fur Rendezvous festival, held each February; 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 a number of Sister Cities, according to the University of
Alaska, Anchorage:
Camiling, Philippines
Chiayi Township, 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
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What is the most special thing in Anchorage, Alaska?
It is a big and BEAUTIFUL City!! - Dylan Johnson
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