Soldotna, Alaska

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Soldotna, Alaska
City
Location of Soldotna, Alaska
Location of Soldotna, Alaska
CountryUnited States
StateAlaska
BoroughKenai Peninsula
Area
 • Total7.4 sq mi (19.2 km2)
 • Land6.9 sq mi (18.0 km2)
 • Water0.5 sq mi (1.2 km2)
Elevation
105 ft (32 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total3,759
 • Density541.9/sq mi (209.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-8 (AKDT)
ZIP code
99669
Area code907
FIPS code02-71640
GNIS feature ID1414025
Websitehttp://ci.soldotna.ak.us/

Soldotna is a city in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 3,759. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the city had a population of 4,087.[1] It is the seat of the Kenai Peninsula Borough.

History

In 1947, after World War II, 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 city with a population of 332.

Sport fishing and tourism are currently the mainstays of the economy in Soldotna. It also receives some economic advantage from being the seat of the Kenai Peninsula Borough.

Geography

Soldotna is located at 60°29′12″N 151°4′31″W / 60.48667°N 151.07528°W / 60.48667; -151.07528Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (60.486617, -151.075373) Template:GR.

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 three explanations of the origin of the word Soldotna, the Athabaskan name of an herb.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19.2 km²), of which, 6.9 square miles (18.0 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.2 km²) of it (6.34%) is water.

Climate

Climate data for Soldotna, AK
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 47
(8) 		52
(11) 		52
(11) 		69
(21) 		82
(28) 		93
(34) 		85
(29) 		86
(30) 		70
(21) 		63
(17) 		54
(12) 		48
(9) 		93
(34)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 21
(−6) 		26
(−3) 		33
(1) 		43
(6) 		53
(12) 		59
(15) 		62
(17) 		62
(17) 		55
(13) 		41
(5) 		29
(−2) 		24
(−4) 		42.33
(5.74)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 5
(−15) 		7
(−14) 		14
(−10) 		27
(−3) 		36
(2) 		43
(6) 		48
(9) 		46
(8) 		39
(4) 		27
(−3) 		14
(−10) 		9
(−13) 		26.25
(−3.19)
Record low °F (°C) −47
(−44) 		−44
(−42) 		−41
(−41) 		−17
(−27) 		−3
(−19) 		26
(−3) 		32
(0) 		24
(−4) 		−3
(−19) 		−11
(−24) 		−27
(−33) 		−40
(−40) 		−47
(−44)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.07
(27) 		0.91
(23) 		0.81
(21) 		0.64
(16) 		0.95
(24) 		1.09
(28) 		1.75
(44) 		2.62
(67) 		3.31
(84) 		2.66
(68) 		1.69
(43) 		1.45
(37) 		18.95
(481)
Source: The Weather Channel[2]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1960332—
19701,202262.0%
19802,32093.0%
19903,48250.1%
20003,7598.0%
source:[3]

As of the censusTemplate:GR 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 Sohi are the local high schools. Cook Inlet Academy is a private Christian K-12 school.

Fishing

Les Anderson holds the record for the largest king salmon, caught on May 17, 1985 and weighing in at 97 lb 4 oz. Most local taxidermy businesses will stuff and mount a salmon for free if it is over 70 lb (32 kg) for the business exposure. Fish counts are determined by sonar fish counters [1]. They are rough estimates based on averages over a prolonged period.

In 2004:

Notable people

Brock Lindow, lead singer of the post-metal-core band 36 Crazyfists was born in Soldotna. Travis Hall of the Atlanta Falcons was born and raised in the Soldotna area

References

  1. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Population for All Incorporated Places in Alaska" (CSV). 2005 Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. June 21, 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-09. [dead link]
  2. ^ "Monthly Averages for Soldotna, AK". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2010-04-16.
  3. ^ "Census Of Population And Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-07.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Soldotna,_Alaska&oldid=439637268"