Anchorage, Alaska
The Municipality of Anchorage (Tanaina: Dgheyay Kaq'; Dgheyaytnu) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Alaska. With a population of 291,247 at the 2020 census,[5][9] it contains nearly 40 percent of the state's population, and has more people than all of Northern Canada and Greenland combined. The Anchorage metropolitan area, which includes Anchorage and the neighboring Matanuska-Susitna Borough, had a population of 398,328 in 2020,[10] accounting for more than half the state's population. At 1,706 sq mi (4,420 km2) of land area, the city is the fourth-largest by area in the United States and larger than the smallest state, Rhode Island, which has 1,212 sq mi (3,140 km2).[11]
"Anchorage" redirects here. For other uses, see Anchorage (disambiguation).
Anchorage
Dgheyay Kaq' (Tanaina)
Anchorage
1914
- November 23, 1920 (city)
- January 1, 1964 (borough)
- September 15, 1975
(unified municipality)
The anchorage at the mouth of Ship Creek
- Matt Claman (D)
- Forrest Dunbar (D)
- Cathy Giessel (R)
- Elvi Gray-Jackson (D)
- James Kaufman (R)
- Kelly Merrick (R)
- Löki Tobin (D)
- Bill Wielechowski (D)
- Jamie Allard (R)
- Jennie Armstrong (D)
- Julie Coulombe (R)
- Zack Fields (D)
- Alyse Galvin (I)
- Andrew Gray (D)
- Cliff Groh (D)
- Craig Johnson (R)
- Andy Josephson (D)
- Tom McKay (R)
- Donna Mears (D)
- Genevieve Mina (D)
- Dan Saddler (R)
- Calvin Schrage (I)
- Laddie Shaw (R)
- Stanley Wright (R)
1,946.69 sq mi (5,041.89 km2)
1,706.89 sq mi (4,420.81 km2)
239.80 sq mi (621.08 km2)
78.8 sq mi (204 km2)
102 ft (31 m)
291,247
287,145
170.6/sq mi (65.88/km2)
2,718.4/sq mi (1,049.6/km2)
398,807 (US: 137th)
- Anchoragite
- Anchoriginal (informal)
$27.809 billion (2022)
$31.569 billion (2022)
02-03000
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.[12] First settled as a tent city near the mouth of Ship Creek in 1915 when construction on the Alaska Railroad began, Anchorage was incorporated as a city in November 1920.[13][14] In September 1975, the City of Anchorage merged with the Greater Anchorage Area Borough, creating the Municipality of Anchorage.[15] The municipal city limits span 1,961.1 sq mi (5,079.2 km2), encompassing the urban core, a joint military base,[16] several outlying communities, and almost all of Chugach State Park.[17] Because of this, less than 10% of the Municipality (or Muni) is populated, with the highest concentration of people in the 100 square-mile area that makes up the city proper, on a promontory at the headwaters of the inlet, commonly called Anchorage, the City of Anchorage, or the Anchorage Bowl.[18]
Due to its location, almost equidistant from New York City, Tokyo, and Murmansk, Russia (straight over the North Pole), Anchorage lies within 10 hours by air of nearly 90% of the global north.[19][20] For this reason, Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is a common refueling stop for international cargo flights and home to a major FedEx hub, which the company calls a "critical part" of its global network of services.[21][22]
Anchorage has won the All-America City Award four times: in 1956, 1965, 1984–85, and 2002, from the National Civic League.[23] Kiplinger has named it the United States' most tax-friendly city.[24]
Located next to Town Square Park in downtown Anchorage, the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts is a three-part complex that hosts numerous performing arts events each year. The facility can accommodate more than 3,000 people. In 2000, nearly 245,000 people visited 678 public performances. It is home to eight resident performing arts companies and has featured mega-musicals performed by visiting companies. The center also hosts the International Ice Carving Competition as part of the Fur Rendezvous festival in February.
The Anchorage Concert Association brings 20 to 30 events to the community each year, including Broadway shows like Disney's The Lion King, Les Misérables, Mamma Mia!, The Phantom of The Opera, West Side Story, and others. The Anchorage Chamber Music Festival draws international guest artists and faculty to perform a summer concert series, and teach a Chamber Intensive program for young musicians. The Sitka Summer Music Festival presents an "Autumn Classics" festival of chamber music for two weeks each September on the campus of Alaska Pacific University. Orchestras include the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra and the Anchorage Youth Symphony.
Annually in January, the Anchorage Folk Festival takes place at the University of Alaska Anchorage, featuring concerts, dances, and workshops with featured guest artists and over 130 performances by volunteer singers, dancers, musicians, and storytellers.
The city of Anchorage provides three municipal facilities large enough to hold major events such as concerts, trade shows and conventions. Downtown facilities include the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center and the recently completed Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center, which will be connected via skybridge to form the Anchorage Civic & Convention District. The Sullivan Arena hosts sporting events as well as concerts and annual trade shows.
Anchorage has seven sister cities.[151]