The words epic and adventurous best describe Alaska well. Although it is the most sparsely populated state, it is the largest state in area, much larger, even, than Texas. Alaska is home to North America's highest mountain peak, Denali (formerly Mount McKinley). Aptly called the Last Frontier State, diverse terrain and open spaces abound.
Alaska is unofficially divided into six regions. The South Central Region is the most populous and includes Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula, and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. The Prince William Sound area is found here, as well as the communities of Cordova and Valdez. Alaska is bordered by Canada to the east, the Bering Sea, Bering Strait, and Chukchi Sea to the west. The Gulf of Alaska and the Pacific Ocean lie to the south west, and the Arctic Ocean borders Alaska to the north. But the most fascinating border fact about Alaska is that it actually shares a maritime border with Russia.
The United States purchased Alaska for 2 cents an acre back in 1867. It turned out to be a great investment. Oil, gas, seafood, and tourism have given the state a booming economy. Some think of Alaska as always being cold, but that isn't true. Although the climate of the interior is subarctic and can get as low as 60 degrees below zero, residents often bask in temperatures in the 90s on summer days. Regions closest to the coast have the mildest temperatures.
Southeast Alaska is sometimes called the Panhandle. It is the region of the state that is closest to the Lower 48. Juneau, the state capital, is in this region. The Interior region is in the middle of the state. It has lots of uninhabited land, and Fairbanks is the only city of size. Denali, and the Denali National Park are located here. The Southwest region is sparsely populated with most residents of the region living along the coastline. This region is the home of Kodiak Island and the Aleutian Islands. The Far North region is mostly tundra and small villages. Barrow is listed as the United State's most northern city. This region has huge reserves of crude oil.
The cost of living in Alaska is, on average, higher than other states. However, there is no sales tax in Alaska which does help level the playing field. The average price of a home in Alaska is around $270,000 compared to the national average home price of $196,000.
Anchorage is one of the best places to live in Alaska if you like large cities. Its 300,000 residents make up about 40 percent of the state's population. This Alaskan city is probably the most culturally diverse. It is the starting point of the Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Dog Race. Juneau is another great city to call home. As the capital city, its economy depends largely on government but tourism and fishing are also important.
Alaska has many great cities and neighborhoods to live in. If you are thinking of relocating to Alaska in the near future, let us help you customize a list of the best places to live in Alaska. Our search tools will help you customize your search for the best places in Alaska. Search by radius, population, home/rent budget, amenities, cost of living, education, and much more. Simply use the key elements of most importance to you.