Anchorage Borough, Alaska is situated in the south-central part of the state and is bordered by Matanuska-Susitna Borough to the north, Kenai Peninsula Borough to the south, and Chugach National Forest to the east. See Countryaah – Counties in Alaska. Anchorage is located on an inlet of Cook Inlet and encompasses 2,700 square miles of land with a population of nearly 300,000 people.
The city of Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska and serves as its economic hub. It has a bustling economy that includes banking, transportation, tourism, oil and gas production, military bases, and more.
Anchorage has two major highways that run through it: Seward Highway and Glenn Highway. The Seward Highway runs along the coast of Cook Inlet while Glenn Highway runs from Anchorage to Palmer up north.
The borough is home to several national parks including Denali National Park & Preserve (the highest peak in North America), Chugach State Park (a popular spot for hiking), and Lake Clark National Park & Preserve (a great spot for fishing).
Anchorage also borders several other boroughs including Matanuska-Susitna Borough to the north; Kenai Peninsula Borough to the south; Kodiak Island Borough to the southwest; Aleutians East Borough to the west; Bethel Census Area to the northwest; Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area to the northeast; Nome Census Area to northwest; Northwest Arctic Borough towards far northwest; Dillingham Census Area towards far west; Kusilvak Census Area towards far west; Wade Hampton Census Area towards far northwest; Southeast Fairbanks Census Area towards far northeast; Valdez–Cordova Census Area towards far east.
Demographics of Anchorage Borough, Alaska
Anchorage Borough is the most populous borough in the state of Alaska and has a population of nearly 300,000 people. The population is spread out over 2,700 square miles of land and includes both urban and rural areas.
The racial makeup of Anchorage is diverse, with White (66.2%), Native American (14.4%), Asian (6.3%), Black or African American (4.1%), and other races (13%) making up the population. Additionally, there are many different ethnic groups present in Anchorage including German, Irish, English, Scottish, French Canadian, Italian, Polish, Dutch, Russian/Ukrainian/Slavic ancestries as well as many other ethnicities from around the world.
The median age of Anchorage residents is 37 years old; however there are also plenty of young people who call this city home with nearly 20% of its population being under 18 years old. The median household income for Anchorage is $76k per year which is higher than the national average.
Anchorage has a high rate of college graduates which adds to its educated workforce; almost 40% of adults over 25 have a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to 33% nationally. Additionally, many residents speak more than one language with Spanish being the second most spoken language behind English at 14%.
Overall, Anchorage has a diverse population that consists of many different ethnicities and backgrounds that come together to make this borough unique and vibrant.
Places of Interest in Anchorage Borough, Alaska
Anchorage Borough, Alaska has many places of interest for locals and visitors alike. For those looking to experience nature, the Chugach State Park offers over 500,000 acres of wilderness to explore. Within the park are numerous trails for hiking, biking and backpacking, as well as opportunities for fishing and wildlife viewing.
For those looking to learn more about Alaska’s history and culture, Anchorage has several museums such as the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center which offers a variety of exhibits on Alaska’s history, art and culture. The Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum provides a unique window into aviation history with over 20 restored aircraft on display.
The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail runs through downtown Anchorage offering 11 miles of paved paths perfect for biking or running. In addition to the trail there is also a boardwalk that connects downtown to the Westchester Lagoon offering beautiful views of the city skyline.
Anchorage also has plenty of other activities such as shopping at local boutiques or browsing art galleries in downtown Anchorage; visiting one of its many parks such as Earthquake Park or Kincaid Park; or simply taking in all that this city has to offer by walking down 4th Avenue.
No matter what you’re looking for in terms of activities or places to visit, Anchorage Borough will surely provide something that appeals to you.
Notable People of Anchorage Borough, Alaska
Anchorage Borough, Alaska has produced some of the most notable and influential people in the United States. The late Senator Ted Stevens was born in Anchorage and served as a U.S. senator for over 40 years from 1968 to 2009. He was highly respected for his advocacy of Alaska’s interests and was known as “Alaska’s senior statesman”.
Former Vice President of the United States, Sarah Palin, was also born in Anchorage and served as Governor of Alaska from 2006 to 2009. She is remembered for her strong stance on energy reform and environmental protection during her time in office.
Other notable people from Anchorage include Olympic athletes such as Kikkan Randall, who won gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics in cross-country skiing; alpine skier Tommy Moe who won two Olympic medals at the 1994 Winter Olympics; and snowboarder Chloe Kim who won gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
In addition to athletes, Anchorage has produced several talented musicians such as alternative rock band Portugal The Man whose hit single “Feel It Still” topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2017; singer/songwriter Jewel Kilcher who is best known for her hit single “You Were Meant For Me”; rapper G-Eazy whose debut album “These Things Happen” reached number 3 on the Billboard 200 chart; indie rock band Portugal The Man whose hit single “Feel It Still” topped charts worldwide; and singer/songwriter Ne-Yo whose debut album “In My Own Words” reached number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Anchorage Borough has certainly made its mark on American culture with its notable people.