Alaska Geography and Historical Information

Despite being the largest of the 50 states geographically, with a land area of 571,951 square miles, Alaska's population is one of the smallest. With just 626,000 residents (as of 2000), only Vermont and Wyoming are less inhabited. In some respects Alaska remains true to its nickname, the "Last Frontier." Boasting more miles of coastline than the 48 contiguous states combined, Alaska is a transportation challenge. The capital of Juneau, like many other Alaskan towns, is only accessible by air or water, and the state has been described as the least connected (by roads) of any in the country.

Alaska became the 49th state in 1959 after it was originally purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million. The acquisition of Alaska was ridiculed at the time as "Seward's Folly" (after Secretary of State William Seward), but ultimately Alaska proved valuable to the U.S economy. Today, Alaska's major industry (representing 80% of state revenues) is petroleum products, and the state accounts for 20% of the nation's oil and natural gas production. Alaskan oil is pumped out of the enormous oilfield at Prudhoe Bay in the north to the Port of Valdez through the 800-mile long Alaska Pipeline, itself an engineering feat that required two years and $7.7 billion to construct in the 1970s.

Alaska Economic and Demographic Information

The importance of oil industry jobs in Alaska helps explain why the state has the highest ratio of males to females in the U.S. as well as a relatively high gross state product and per capita income. While incomes are relatively high in Alaska, so are living expenses, due largely to the cost of transporting consumer goods to distant Alaska from the contiguous U.S. However, Alaska is one of the few states that has neither a state income tax nor a state sales tax (though many cities impose their own sales taxes), and the state government is largely funded through oil revenues.

Bountiful in natural resources, Alaska's other important industries include fishing and seafood processing, mining, and forestry and wood products. Its rugged topography, vast areas of untouched natural beauty, and impressive native wildlife also make Alaska popular with tourists. Approximately 65% percent of the land area of Alaska is owned and managed by the federal government as national forest, national parks and wildlife refuges. Mount McKinley, the highest peak in North America at 20,320 feet, and Denali National Park attract mountain climbers, campers and kayakers. The Alaska National Wildlife refuge, established in 1960, protects large mammal species such as polar bears, grey wolves, and musk oxen.

Alaska's population is 15% native Alaskan or American Indian, the highest proportion of any state. The native culture of the native Eskimos, Indians and Aleuts is still strong in Alaska. Reflective of this heritage is the most popular sporting event in Alaska, the Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race, a 1,150-mile trek from Anchorage to Nome that attracts more than 50 team entrants every March.