Soldotna, Alaska

Soldotna, Alaska
—  City  —
Motto: "In the very heart of the beautiful Kenai Peninsula!"
Location of Soldotna, Alaska
Coordinates: 60°29′12″N 151°4′31″W
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Borough	Kenai Peninsula
Government
• Mayor	Nels Anderson
Area
• Total	7.4 sq mi (19.2 km2)
• Land	6.9 sq mi (18.0 km2)
• Water	0.5 sq mi (1.2 km2)
Elevation	105 ft (32 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	4,163
• Density	603.3/sq mi (231.3/km2)
Time zone	Alaska (AKST) (UTC-9)
• Summer (DST)	AKDT (UTC-8)
ZIP code	99669
Area code	907
FIPS code	02-71640
GNIS feature ID	1414025
Website	http://ci.soldotna.ak.us/

Soldotna is a city in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 4,163. It is the seat of the Kenai Peninsula Borough.

History

In 1947, after World War II, the United States government allowed settling of land on parts of the Kenal Peninsula under the Homestead Act. Veterans of the United States armed services were given a 90-day preference over non-veterans in selecting land and filing for property. Also in that year, the Sterling Highway right-of-way was cleared of trees from Cooper Landing to Kenai. The location of present-day Soldotna was selected as the site for the highway's bridge crossing the Kenai River.

The construction of the Sterling Highway provided a link from the Soldotna area to the outside world. More homesteads were taken and visitors came to fish in the area. The Soldotna post office opened in 1949 and other businesses opened in the next few years.

Oil was discovered in the Swanson River region in 1957, bringing some new economic development to the area. In 1960, Soldotna was incorporated as a fourth class city with a population of 332 and an area of 7.4 square miles(4,723.4 acres). Then four years later, in 1964, Soldotna was recognized as a first class city.

Sport fishing, tourism, retail and the healthcare industry are currently the mainstays of the economy in Soldotna. It also receives some economic advantage from being the seat of the Kenai Peninsula Borough, as many of the borough's jobs are based in Soldotna.

Geography

Soldotna is located at 60°29′12″N 151°4′31″W (60.486617, −151.075373) .

Soldotna is located on the banks of the Kenai River on the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska. It is named after nearby Soldotna Creek. There are multiple theories explaining the origin of the word Soldotna.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19 km²), of which 6.9 square miles (18 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (6.34%) is water.

Climate

As with much of South Central Alaska, Soldotna has a moderate subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc) due to the cool summers, though the diurnal temperature variation is larger than most locations in the region. Winters are snowy, long but not particularly cold, especially considering the latitude, with January featuring a daily average temperature of 13.4 °F (−10.3 °C). There are 46 nights of sub-0 °F (−18 °C) lows annually, and the area lies in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 4, indicating an average annual minimum in the −20 to −30 °F (−29 to −34 °C) range. Summers are cool due to the marine influence, with 12 days of 70 °F (21 °C)+ highs annually.

Climate data for Soldotna, Alaska
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °F (°C)	22.4 (−5.3)	27.3 (−2.6)	35.3 (1.8)	45.3 (7.4)	55.9 (13.3)	62.1 (16.7)	65.5 (18.6)	63.7 (17.6)	55.2 (12.9)	41.7 (5.4)	27.4 (−2.6)	25.0 (−3.9)	44.0 (6.7)
Average low °F (°C)	4.3 (−15.4)	7.4 (−13.7)	14.2 (−9.9)	23.8 (−4.6)	32.8 (0.4)	40.2 (4.6)	44.9 (7.2)	42.9 (6.1)	36.0 (2.2)	24.8 (−4)	10.9 (−11.7)	7.3 (−13.7)	24.2 (−4.3)
Precipitation inches (mm)	2.64 (67.1)	1.42 (36.1)	1.51 (38.4)	0.85 (21.6)	1.09 (27.7)	1.44 (36.6)	2.07 (52.6)	3.52 (89.4)	4.41 (112)	2.48 (63)	2.41 (61.2)	2.12 (53.8)	25.96 (659.5)
Source: NOAA (1981–2010 normals)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1960	332		—
1970	1,202		262.0%
1980	2,320		93.0%
1990	3,482		50.1%
2000	3,759		8.0%
2010	4,163		10.7%
source:

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,759 people, 1,465 households, and 969 families residing in the city. As of 2008, the population was close to 4,200. The population density was 541.9 people per square mile (209.1/km²). There were 1,670 housing units at an average density of 240.7 per square mile (92.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.06% White, 0.29% Black or African American, 4.97% Native American, 1.73% Asian, 0.37% Pacific Islander, 1.28% from other races, and 3.30% from two or more races. 3.22% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,465 households out of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city the age distribution of the population shows 31.5% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $48,420, and the median income for a family was $52,372. Males had a median income of $43,162 versus $24,598 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,740. About 5.8% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 2.6% of those age 65 or over.

There are three public elementary schools: Soldotna Elementary, Redoubt Elementary, and a charter school, Soldotna Montessori Charter School. Soldotna Middle School (7-8) and River City Academy (7-12) cover middle school. Skyview and Soldotna High School (So-Hi) are the local high schools. Cook Inlet Academy is a private Christian K-12 school.

Transportation

Road

The Sterling Highway runs through and connects the eastern and central portions of the city. Its intersection with the Kenai Spur Highway, known as the "Soldotna Y" due to its former configuration as a Y-shaped intersection, is a local landmark. The Kenai Spur Highway connects neighborhoods in the north-central portion of the city to other parts of Soldotna, adjoining Ridgeway and beyond to Kenai. The western portions of Soldotna are connected by local roads (east of the Kenai River) and Kalifornsky Beach Road (west of the river). "K-Beach" Road, as it is often known, also provides access to the southernmost portions of the city (including Kenai Peninsula College and the Soldotna Sports Center), and an alternate access to Kenai via the Warren Ames Memorial Bridge. K-Beach continues east beyond the Sterling Highway to access Soldotna Airport (see below) and Funny River.

Air

Soldotna Airport
IATA: SXQ – ICAO: PASX – FAA LID: SXQ
Summary
Airport type		Public
Owner		City of Soldotna
Serves		Soldotna, Alaska
Elevation AMSL		113 ft / 34 m
Coordinates		60°28′30″N 151°02′18″W
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	ft	m
7/25	5,000	1,524	Asphalt
Statistics (2006)
Aircraft operations			15,050
Based aircraft			47
Source: Federal Aviation Administration

Soldotna Airport (IATA: SXQ, ICAO: PASX, FAA LID: SXQ) is a city-owned, public use airport located one nautical mile (1.85 km) southeast of the central business district of Soldotna.

The airport covers an area of 426 acres (172 ha) at an elevation of 113 feet (34 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 7/25 with an asphalt surface measuring 5,000 by 132 feet (1,524 x 40 m).

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2006, the airport had 15,050 aircraft operations, an average of 41 per day: 80% general aviation, 20% air taxi, and <1% military. At that time there were 47 aircraft based at this airport: 92% single-engine, 2% multi-engine and 6% ultralight.

Notable accidents and incidents

• On February 4, 1985, North Pacific Airlines Flight 1802, a Beechcraft BE65-A-80 Queen Air N50NP, on a regularly scheduled flight from Anchorage to Soldotna, crashed 1.5 miles (2.4 km) southwest of the airport while on approach to land. All nine on board (seven passengers and two flight crew) were killed.

Sports

Les Anderson of Soldotna holds the record for the largest king salmon, caught here on May 17, 1985 and weighing in at 97 lb 4 oz. The record-setting fish is on display at the Soldotna Visitor Center.

Fish counts are determined by sonar fish counters. They are rough estimates based on averages over a prolonged period.

In 2004:

• King Salmon - 68,649
• Red Salmon - 1,384,587

Soldotna also is the home of the Kenai River Brown Bears, a Junior A hockey team who play in the West Division of the North American Hockey League.

Attractions

Some of the visitor attractions in and around Soldotna include: Camping, Fishing, Rodeo Grounds, Baseball Games, Golf Courses, Hiking/Berry Piking, Soldotna Historical Society Museum, and the Soldotna Sports center for ice skating, volleyball, and racket ball.

Notable people

• Brock Lindow, lead singer of the post-metal-core band 36 Crazyfists was born in Soldotna.
• NFL Football player Travis Hall was born in Soldotna and raised nearby in Kenai, Alaska.
• MLB Baseball player Chris Mabeus grew up in Soldotna and played Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers

External links

• Official website of the City of Soldotna
• Soldotna Chamber Of Commerce