Alaska is unique among all 50 U.S. states in several ways. It is separated from the continental 48 states but is not an island. Until 1867, Alaska was owned by Russia, and the United States purchased it following an initiative by the Secretary of State at the time. Some Americans were initially displeased with the acquisition. What else makes Alaska fascinating?
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Table of Contents
- The United States Purchased Alaska From Russia in 1867
- 80% of Whittier’s Residents Live in a Single Building
- The First Foreigner Landed in Alaska in 1741
- Utqiaġvik Is the Northernmost City in the United States
- Japanese Forces Occupied Alaskan Islands During World War II
- Alaska Is the Largest State in the U.S.
- The Largest Earthquake in U.S. History Struck Alaska
- Alaska Became the 49th U.S. State in 1959
- Alaska Has a Longer Coastline Than the Other 49 States Combined
- Denali in Alaska Is the Tallest Mountain in the U.S.
- Juneau Was Not Always the Capital of Alaska
- The Name “Alaska” Comes from the Aleut Language
- Record-Breaking Temperatures in Alaska
- Alaska’s Flag Was Designed by 13-Year-Old Benny Benson
- Santa Claus House Is Located in North Pole, Alaska
- The Alaska Highway Was Built in Just Eight Months
- Oil Production Plays a Major Role in Alaska’s Economy
- Anchorage Is the Largest City in Alaska
- Juneau Has No Road Connection to the Rest of North America
- 30% of Alaska Lies Above the Arctic Circle
- A Town Was Named “Chicken” Due to a Spelling Dispute
The United States Purchased Alaska From Russia in 1867
The United States of America purchased the territory of Alaska from Russia at the initiative of Secretary of State William H. Seward. The Senate approved the treaty on April 9, 1867, and President Andrew Johnson signed it on May 28, 1867.
Americans paid $7.2 million dollars at the time, which equates to approximately 1.9 cents per acre. Many people criticized the purchase and called it “Seward’s Folly”, believing Alaska was nothing more than a barren wasteland.
Alaska was officially transferred to the United States on October 18, 1867, in Sitka. The later discovery of gold and oil in the region proved the acquisition to be highly beneficial for Americans. Today, Alaska’s rich natural resources significantly contribute to the U.S. economy.
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80% of Whittier’s Residents Live in a Single Building
The town of Whittier, located southeast of Anchorage, had a population of 272 in 2020. Approximately 75% to 80% of its residents live in the 14-story Begich Towers, which was originally constructed for military purposes.
The building houses much of the town’s infrastructure, including a general store, a post office, a laundromat, and a small Baptist church. Due to the harsh climate, it is more convenient for Whittier’s residents to have everything concentrated in one location.
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The First Foreigner Landed in Alaska in 1741
During the Bering Expedition on July 20, 1741, German naturalist Georg Steller became the first recorded foreigner to set foot on Kayak Island, making him the first known visitor to Alaskan soil.
While there, he conducted the first scientific documentation of Alaska’s flora and fauna. His research laid the foundation for future scientific studies in the region. Georg Steller was a member of an expedition led by Danish explorer Vitus Jonassen Bering, for whom the Bering Sea, Bering Strait, and Bering Island are named.
Today, Kayak Island is designated as a National Historic Landmark.
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Utqiaġvik Is the Northernmost City in the United States
Utqiaġvik is the northernmost city in the United States. The entire city lies above the Arctic Circle, where the sun does not rise for two months in winter (polar night) and remains visible 24 hours a day for several weeks in summer (midnight sun).
Until December 1, 2016, the city was known as Barrow. The name was changed to Utqiaġvik after a local referendum to promote the use of the Iñupiaq language.
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Japanese Forces Occupied Alaskan Islands During World War II
In 1942, during World War II, the Japanese army occupied the Aleutian Islands of Attu and Kiska. This was one of the few instances in history when a foreign military occupied U.S. territory.
The objective was to divert American forces from the Battle of Midway. After intense combat in extreme weather conditions, American troops successfully reclaimed the Aleutian Islands. The Japanese occupation highlighted Alaska’s strategic importance in Pacific defense.
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Alaska Is the Largest State in the U.S.
With an area of 665,380 mi², Alaska is the largest U.S. state.
Alaska is bigger than the next three largest states (Texas, California, and Montana) combined. The smallest U.S. state, Rhode Island, is 430 times smaller than Alaska.
Despite its vast size, Alaska has a relatively small population. With 733,374 residents in 2023, it ranked 48th among U.S. states in population. Alaska also has the lowest population density of any state.
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The Largest Earthquake in U.S. History Struck Alaska
On Good Friday, March 27, 1964, at 5:36 PM local time, Alaska experienced the largest earthquake ever recorded in the United States.
The earthquake measured 9.2 on the Richter scale, with an epicenter located approximately 78 mi east of Anchorage. As a result of the quake and the subsequent tsunami, 131 people lost their lives. The tsunami reached a height of 220 ft.
Today, the earthquake is commemorated at the publicly accessible Earthquake Park in Anchorage.
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Alaska Became the 49th U.S. State in 1959
Alaska officially became the 49th U.S. state on January 3, 1959, with only Hawaii joining the Union later.
The first U.S. flag featuring 49 stars was raised at Castle Hill in Sitka on Independence Day, July 4, 1959. The ceremony symbolized both Alaska’s statehood and the country’s expansion. Today, Castle Hill is a historically significant site open to visitors.
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Alaska Has a Longer Coastline Than the Other 49 States Combined
According to measurements by the Congressional Research Service, Alaska’s coastline spans a total of 6,640 mi. In comparison, the combined coastline of the other 49 U.S. states measures 5,837 mi.
Although exact coastline measurements can be complex due to varying calculation methods, under this standard, Alaska’s coastline is longer than all other states combined.
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Denali in Alaska Is the Tallest Mountain in the U.S.
The tallest mountain in the United States and all of North America is Denali, which was known as Mount McKinley until 2015. Standing at 20,308 ft, it is located in Denali National Park. The name “Denali” means “The High One” in the language of the indigenous Alaskan Athabaskans.
Seventeen of the 20 tallest mountains in the United States are located in Alaska, with the top 10 highest peaks all found within the state.
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Juneau Was Not Always the Capital of Alaska
Before the United States purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867, the capital of Russian America was Sitka, then known as Novoarkhangelsk or New Archangel. The settlement was the center of Russian and American fur trading companies.
Sitka remained the territorial capital even after Alaska was transferred to American hands. It was not until 1906 that the capital moved to Juneau. Today, Sitka preserves many examples of Russian architecture and cultural landmarks.
Since 1962, the Sitka spruce has been Alaska’s official state tree.
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The Name “Alaska” Comes from the Aleut Language
The name “Alaska” originates from the Aleut word “Alyeska”, which translates to “The Great Land”. This name reflects the vastness and size of the region. The indigenous Aleut people lived in what is now Alaska for thousands of years before Russian and American settlers arrived. Their culture continues to survive in local traditions and languages.
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Record-Breaking Temperatures in Alaska
The lowest recorded temperature in Alaska was -80.0°F on January 23, 1971, in the small inland settlement of Prospect Creek.
The highest recorded temperature in Alaska occurred on June 27, 1915, when the town of Fort Yukon reached 100.0°F.
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Alaska’s Flag Was Designed by 13-Year-Old Benny Benson
Alaska’s state flag was officially adopted in 1927. Its main design features the gold Big Dipper constellation and the North Star on a dark blue background.
The flag was designed by Benny Benson, a 13-year-old boy from the Alaskan village of Chignik. The Big Dipper represents strength, while the North Star symbolizes Alaska’s northern location and future statehood.
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Santa Claus House Is Located in North Pole, Alaska
Near Fairbanks lies the small town of North Pole, home to 2,427 residents in 2023. The town features Christmas decorations year-round, and many streets have festive names such as Kris Kringle Drive, Donner Drive, and Blitzen Drive.
A major attraction in the town is the Santa Claus House, which draws visitors looking to experience the holiday spirit. The local post office receives countless letters from children worldwide before Christmas.
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The Alaska Highway Was Built in Just Eight Months
The Alaska Highway stretches from Dawson Creek, British Columbia, through Whitehorse, Yukon, and ends at Delta Junction, Alaska. It was constructed during World War II in 1942 and completed in just eight months. Originally built for military supply transport from the U.S. mainland to Alaska, the highway’s original length was approximately 1,700 mi.
Over the years, the highway’s route was modified and shortened. As of 2012, its total length is now 1,387 mi. Today, the Alaska Highway is a popular route for tourists.
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Oil Production Plays a Major Role in Alaska’s Economy
Oil production is a key pillar of Alaska’s economy, employing around 100,000 people. In some way, 1 in 7 Alaskans is involved in the oil industry. In 2023, Alaska produced an average of 426,000 barrels of oil per day, the lowest production level since the 1970s.
Alaska’s significance in the U.S. oil industry has declined. In 1988, the state accounted for a quarter of all U.S. oil production, but by 2022, that figure had dropped to just under 4%.
The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) plays a crucial role in oil transport, spanning 800 mi from Prudhoe Bay in the north to Valdez in the south.
Completed in 1977, the pipeline was one of the largest and most complex construction projects of its time. Certain sections are elevated to prevent the hot oil from melting Alaska’s permafrost. The pipeline’s construction had a significant positive impact on Alaska’s economy.
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Anchorage Is the Largest City in Alaska
Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska, home to 286,075 residents in 2023, making up nearly 40% of the state’s population. The second-largest city is Fairbanks, with 31,856 residents, followed by Juneau, which has a population of 31,555.
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Juneau Has No Road Connection to the Rest of North America
Alaska’s capital, Juneau, is not connected to the North American road network. Due to the rugged terrain and surrounding glaciers, road construction has been extremely challenging. As a result, most people and goods reach Juneau by boat or plane.
Despite this isolation, Juneau remains a bustling cultural hub in southeastern Alaska.
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30% of Alaska Lies Above the Arctic Circle
About 30% of Alaska’s land area lies above the Arctic Circle, leading to extreme daylight variations. For example, in Fairbanks on June 21, daylight lasts for nearly 22 hours, while the shortest winter day lasts only 3 hours and 41 minutes.
From late September to early April, the northern lights can be seen under favorable conditions.
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A Town Was Named “Chicken” Due to a Spelling Dispute
The settlement of Chicken, near the Canadian border, has only about ten year-round residents. It is famous for the unusual way it got its name. Founded by gold miners in the late 19th century, the town was supposed to be named after the ptarmigan, a bird common in the area.
According to legend, the settlers could not agree on the correct spelling of “ptarmigan”, so they simply named the town “Chicken”.
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