Moving to Alaska? More information about Alaska, AK
Alaska is the 1
st Largest among the United States, spanning an area of 570,374 sq mi and water area of 86,051 sq mi. It acquired statehood on January 3, 1959. Alaska is the 49
th state of the 50 United States of America. The name is probably derived from an Aleut word meaning "mainland," which originally referred to the Alaska Peninsula. Alaska is nicknamed as The Last Frontier. Alaska is called the Last Frontier because of its economic opportunities and sparsely settled regions.
Economy of Alaska
Personal income per Capita - $22,660 (Recent census - 1999)
Agriculture - Seafood, Nursery Stock, Dairy Products, Vegetables, Livestock.
Industry - Petroleum and Natural Gas, Gold and other Mining, Food Processing, Lumber and Wood Products, Tourism.
History of Alaska
In 1880, gold was discovered and the town Juneau established. Thousands of miners rushed to Alaska. In 1959, Alaska became the 49
th state and Juneau remained the state capital. In 1968, when oil was found in Prudhoe Bay, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline underwent construction. It carries oil 800 miles to Valdez in Alaska. Alaska is very wealthy in oil and natural resources.
Alaska adopted the flag for official state use in 1959. The blue field represents the sky, the sea, and mountain lakes, as well as Alaska's wildflowers. Emblazoned on the flag are eight gold stars: seven in the constellation Ursa Major, or the Big Dipper. The eighth being the North Star, representing the northern most state.
Famous people of Alaska
Carl Ben Eielson (1897-1929) This pilot made the first Alaska airmail flight in 1924.
Libby Riddles (1956-) The first woman to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 1985.
William Allen Egan (1914-1984) He was the first governor of Alaska, he was born in Valdez.
Susan Butcher (1956-) 4-time winner of Iditarod Trail race (1986-88,90), he lives near Eureka.
Interesting Facts about Alaska
- A 13-year-old boy, Bennie Benson, designed the Alaskan Flag in 1926.
- Alaska’s coastline, 6,640 miles, is longer than all the other states’ coastlines combined. It is the United State’s largest state, measuring 1,400 miles long and 2,700 miles wide; Rhode Island could fit into Alaska 425 times.
- Alaska has more inland water than any other state, 20,171 square miles.
- There are more than 100,000 glaciers in Alaska and about 75% of all the fresh water in the state is stored as glacial ice.
Alaska Moving Companies – Get Free Multiple Moving Quotes from Licensed Moving Companies in Alaska, AK. Right Place to find a Professional Moving Company in AK