Living in Alaska

Anchorage

Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska. Over half of the state's population live in Anchorage and the surrounding communities. Located in Southcentral Alaska, Anchorage residents have all the amenities of city life easy access to the true wilderness of Alaska only 10 minutes away. Located on the Knik Arm of Cook Inlet, Anchorage is a 3.5 flight from Seattle and 5.5 hours from Los Angeles. Anchorage has a network of 259 miles of hiking, biking, skiing and dog-mushing trails. Some of the recreational activities available in Anchorage include fishing, skiing (downhill, cross-country, heli-skiing), hiking, marathons, fun runs and softball, as well as the opera, professional theatre touring companies and the symphony. Anchorage is also the host of the start of the world-famous Iditarod Sled Dog race. Denali Park is just a few hours drive from Anchorage with much to see up close and personal: grizzly and black bear, moose, caribou, fox, and Mt. McKinley, too! Many hours of sun in the summer, and dancing Northern Lights in our skies in the winter, are just a couple of the phenomenal attractions Alaska has to offer.

The Anchorage School District serves nearly 49,000 students in 85 public pre-elementary, elementary and secondary schools, including 3 charter schools. Anchorage schools offer a variety of educational choices, including special and gifted education, foreign language immersion programs, ABC, Montessori, open optional schools, and charter schools. Anchorage School District students consistently score above average on nationally standardized tests, and the district's drop-out rate is among the lowest in the nation.

• Population: 254,269
• Precipitation (per year average): 15.91 inches
• Snowfall (per year average): 69.5 inches
• Temperature range (average): 8.4 ° F to 65.2° F

Fairbanks

The Golden Heart of Alaska is located in the Interior region with the Chena River running through it like a blue ribbon. Fairbanks has a rich heritage of native culture and gold rush history. In the summer, there are blue skies and 24 hours of sunshine with temperatures that regularly reach the 70's and 80's. Boating, fishing, camping, hiking, and golf are all favorite pastimes to b enjoyed in the Midnight Sun. Fairbanks is the ultimate in winter fun: shimmering Northern Lights, downhill and cross-country skiing as well as ski-joring, dog mushing, international ice sculpture contest, snow machining and a natural hot springs pool nearby. It's close to the Arctic Circle (200 miles to the north) and Denali National Park (120 miles south). Wildlife abound in the region: moose, caribou, grizzly and black bear, fox, wolves, and more. Several years ago it was named one of the best small cities in America. A low crime rate, a good student-to-teacher ratio in the schools, clean air, and no traffic jams make Fairbanks a wonderful place to raise a family and enjoy life!

• Population: 82,435
• Precipitation (per year average): 10.87 inches
• Snowfall (per Year average): 65.1 inches
• Temperature range (average): -18.5° F to 72.3° F

Valdez

A small, coastal community located at the head of the Valdez Arm in a natural fjord that reaches inland 12 miles from Prince William Sound. Valdez is surrounded by some of the tallest coastal mountains in the world rising from sea level to an elevation of 7,000 feet. Valdez is also the northern most ice free port in North America, which is the primary reason it houses the Marine Terminal of the trans-Alaska pipeline. Nearby attractions include Keystone Canyon, Thompson Pass, and the Columbia and Worthington Glaciers.

Valdez offers ideal conditions for summer and winter sports. Halibut and salmon fishing, hiking, kayaking, downhill skiing and snowboarding are among the activities that residents and visitors enjoy.

The city's population is comprised of 4,500 residents and the community is a mixture of oil industry, commercial fishing, tourism, United States Coast Guard and State of Alaska and City Agencies.

City facilities include the Valdez City Library that is a resource to residents and students alike. Prince William Sound Community College is a part of the University of Alaska Statewide System. Valdez City Schools consistently score in the top 1 percent of Alaska Schools. Valdez Community Hospital which maintains a 24-hour a day facility, staffed with 11 full time nurses and four on call physicians, and the Medical Arts Facility, which is office to four permanent doctors who practice family medicine.

The Valdez City motto "where the mountains meet the sea" reflects the rugged beauty of Valdez. The outstanding natural beauty combined with a small community setting, complete with modern facilities helps to make Valdez a place that people consider home.

• Population: 4,254
• Location: Prince William Sound, South East Alaska
• Snowfall, per year average: 248.9 inches
• Precipitation, per year average: 64.04 inches
• Temperature, average: 15° F to 62.3° F

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