Welcome to Alaska

Alaska is the northernmost US state, located nearly 600 miles northwest of the Washington state.  The center of the state’s population is about 700 miles further northwest.  It’s the only non contiguous state in North America.  Alaska is the largest state by area of any in the country, sprawling over 663,000 square miles.   In fact, Alaska is bigger than all but 18 countries.  Because of how far out the Aleutian Islands stretch into the Pacific, you could overlay the state on top of the lower 48 and it would be able to stretch from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic.  Only 627,000 people live in Alaska, making it the least densely populated state, and 47th in terms of total population.   Alaska is bordered by the Canadian Yukon Territory to the east.  South of the State is the Gulf of Alaska and North Pacific Ocean, southwest is the Bering Sea, northwest is the Chukchi Sea, and north is the Beaufort Sea.  Russia is about 40 miles west of Alaska across the Bering Sea.  Mt. McKinley, the United State’s highest peak at 20,320 ft, is found in Alaska.  Most of the population and industry takes place in south central Alaska and the Alaska panhandle, which contains Juneau, the state capital.  Interestingly, there are no direct roads to Juneau; it can only be reached by plane or boat.  Further north, population thins out and there is the Arctic Wildlife Refuge and the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.  The state has more shoreline than the rest of the US combined.    The first inhabitants of Alaska crossed the Bering Land Bridge from what is modern day Russia.  Alaska was populated by native tribes, such as the Inuit and Aleuts.  The first European contact was made by the Russians, who colonized it in 1744.  The United States purchased Alaska from a debt-ridden Russia in 1867 (which, due to calendar differences between the two countries, resulted in the state going from October 6th to October 18th in one day!).  This purchase is celebrated on the last Monday of each March in Alaska.   The discovery of gold in the panhandle brought thousands of prospectors to the state.  Alaska became a territory in 1912 and then a state finally on January 3, 1959.  During World War II, the state was used as a base for Pacific operations, and two of the outer Aleutian Islands were occupied by Japanese troops.  Since then, oil discoveries have brought in new companies and residents.   Alaska’s economy is based on petroleum; more than 80 percent of its revenue comes from this activity.  After oil, seafood is the next largest sector of the economy.  There is almost no manufacturing, and most goods must be imported from elsewhere.  For this reason, along with high fuel costs, goods in most parts of the state are significantly more expensive than in the lower 48.  This is offset somewhat by the state’s much higher than average income, $55,000.   Alaska doesn’t levy either a state sales tax or an income tax, although individual municipalities or boroughs may levy sales tax.  Property taxes are also low.  The state mainly derives its revenue from petroleum.   Alaska’s climate is cold, though it varies considerably given the state’s size.  Juneau and the panhandle are the warmest and wettest parts of the state.  Anchorage and the southern region of the state are fairly mild still because of the proximity to the water.  In Fairbanks, in the interior, summers can reach 80 degrees but then it can drop to -60 during winters.  Once you get to the northern parts of the states, even the summers have lows dipping below freezing.

Fast Facts State Sales Tax Rate:  0% Motto:  North to the Future Nickname:  The Last Frontier State Seal:  The state seal features mountains towering over water and a forest.  It has the northern lights, and symbols of Alaska’s industries of mining, transportation, and fishing. 2000 Population:  626,932 Area:  663,267 sq mi Borders: Canada, Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea, Chukchi Sea, Beaufort Sea Highest Point:  Mt. McKinley 20,320 ft Lowest Point:  Pacific Ocean 0 ft State Parks:  41 state parks Largest Cities by Population:    Anchorage- 275,043    Fairbanks- 31,324    Juneau- 30,987 Climate:    Record high: 100 degrees Fahrenheit June 27, 1915 at Centerville    Record Low- -80 degrees Fahrenheit January 23, 1971 at Prospect Creek Average Yearly Precipitation:  42 inches