Wasilla, Alaska

For the Sarmatian god of the same name, see Wasilla (god).

Wasilla, Alaska
City
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Borough	Matanuska-Susitna
Government
• Mayor	Dianne Keller
Area
• Total	12.4 sq mi (32.2 km2)
• Land	11.7 sq mi (30.3 km2)
• Water	0.7 sq mi (1.8 km2)
Elevation	341 ft (104 m)
Population  (2000)
• Total	5,469
• Density	466.8/sq mi (180.2/km2)
Time zone	UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-8 (AKDT)
ZIP codes	99600-99699
Area code	907
FIPS code	02-83080
GNIS feature ID	1411788

Wasilla is a city in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. Its former mayor, Sarah Palin, is the current Governor of Alaska and the presumptive 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate.

Wasilla is part of the Anchorage, Alaska Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, its population was 5,470. The 2005 estimate gives it a population of 8,471, although the city website lists the population as 6,715.

Geography

Wasilla is located at 61°34′54″N 149°27′9″W (61.581732, -149.452539).Template:GR

The town has a total area of about 12.4 square miles (32.2 km²). 11.7 square miles (30.4 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it is water. The total area is 6% water.

Wasilla is located midway between the Matanuska Valley and the Susitna Valley, on the George Parks Highway. It lies between Wasilla Lake and Lake Lucille, 43 highway miles (69 km) northeast of Anchorage, about one hour's drive, and about 10 miles (16 km) west of Palmer. About one third of the people of Wasilla commute to work into Anchorage every day.

Climate

January temperatures range from 4 °F (−16 °C) to 29 °F (−2 °C); July temperatures vary from 47 °F (8 °C) to 78 °F (26 °C). The average annual precipitation is 17 inches (430 mm), with 50 inches (130 cm) of snowfall.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,470 people, 1,980 households, and 1,360 families residing in the city. The population density was 180/km² (470/sq mi). There were 2,120 housing units at an average density of 181/sq mi (70/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85% White, 0.6% black or African American, 5% Native American, 1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1% from other races, and 6% from two or more races. 4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,980 households out of which 44% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50% were married couples living together, 14% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31% were non-families. 24% of all households were made up of individuals and 7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.8 and the average family size was 3.3 people.

In the city the population was spread out with 34% under the age of 18, 10% from 18 to 24, 31% from 25 to 44, 19% from 45 to 64, and 7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 100 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $48,200 and the median income for a family was $53,800. Males had a median income of $41,300 versus $29,100 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,100. 10% of the population and 67% of families were below the poverty line. 13% of those under the age of 18 and 10% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

File:Iditarod Hq table Wasilla Alaska.jpg

Population of Wasilla

Year	Population
1940	100
1960	100
1970	300
1980	1,600
1990	4,000
2000	5,470

Description

Approximately 35 percent of the Wasilla workforce commutes to Anchorage, Alaska.The local economy is diverse, and residents are employed in a variety of city, borough, state, federal, retail and professional service positions. Tourism, agriculture, wood products, steel, and concrete products are part of the economy. One hundred and twenty area residents hold commercial fishing permits. Wasilla is home to the Iditarod Trail Committee.

The George Parks Highway, Glenn Highway and other roads connect the city to Anchorage, the remainder of the state and Canada. The Alaska Railroad serves Wasilla. A town airport, with a paved 3,700-foot (1,130 m) airstrip, provides scheduled commuter and air taxi services. Floatplanes land at Wasilla Lake, Jacobsen Lake and Lake Lucille. There are 10 additional private airstrips in the vicinity.

History

The history of Wasilla begins with the history of Knik, the first boom town in the Mat-Su Valley, which by 1915 boasted a population of 500. The town served the early fur trappers and miners working the gold fields at Cache Creek and Willow Creek.

Wasilla was established in 1917 with the construction of the Alaska Railroad. The origin of the town's name is disputed, and it is claimed that the place-name derives from a local Dena'ina Indian named Chief Wasilla, whose name means "breath of air", or that it derives from the Russian name "Vasili" (Basil). Wasilla’s proximity to the gold fields and railroad service lured Knik residents to relocate in the new town-—some of them even dragging their homes and businesses with them. In a few short years, Knik became a ghost town. The current townsite was established in 1917 at the intersection of the Knik-Willow mining trail and the newly constructed Alaska Railroad. It was a supply base for gold, notably at Hatcher Pass, and coal mining in the region through World War II.

The town of Wasilla was incorporated in 1974.

In 1994 a statewide ballot initiative to move the capital of Alaska to Wasilla was defeated by about 116,000 to 96,000.

In January 2006 a new hospital, Mat-su Regional Medical Center, opened. It is the second largest hospital in the entire state, situated outside the city limits, halfway between Wasilla and its twin city of Palmer.

Culture

Museum of Alaska Transportation & Industry was established to give a home to the Transportation and Industrial remnants and tell the stories of the people and machines that opened Alaska to exploration and growth.

Notable residents

• Vic Kohring, a Wasilla legislator who was tried in the wide ranging federal VECO corruption probe, and found guilty of bribery, conspiracy, and attempted extortion. He gained notoriety for his lack of verifiable residency, sleeping in his legislative office, and wearing a bulletproof vest. Kohring typically won his elections by a 2-1 margin.

File:Sarah-Palin-Miss-Wasilla-1984.jpg

Photo of Miss Wasilla 1984, Sarah Palin, Gov. Alaska, Republican VP candidate 2008

• Alaska Governor and 2008 Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, a former mayor of Wasilla, was elected by defeating two prior governors. She first won the 2006 Republican primary race, defeating incumbent governor Frank Murkowski. Then she defeated the Democratic candidate, former governor Tony Knowles, and independent candidate Andrew Halcro. She became the first female governor and youngest governor in the history of the state. On August 29, 2008, presumptive Republican Presidential nominee John McCain announced his selection of her to be his running mate, the Republican candidate for Vice President.
• April Flowers, female porn star and adult model, grew up in Wasilla. [1]
• Chad Carpenter, cartoonist and creator of the comic strip Tundra, which is self-syndicated to 150 newspapers within the United States and, since 2007, has been syndicated internationally by King Features Syndicate.

Name

The Dena'ina (Tanaina) Indians called the area Benteh, meaning 'among the lakes'. Wasilla is surrounded by many lakes including Lake Lucille and Wasilla Lake.

Wasilla was named after a respected local Dena'ina Indian, Chief Wasilla. In the Dena'ina language, "Wasilla" is said to mean 'breath of air'. Other sources claim the chief derived his name from the Russian language and that 'Vasili' is a variation of the Russian name 'William'.

Wasilla backwards spells out "All I Saw", which some fallaciously believe is the reason for the name.

References

• United States Census Bureau
• Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development

External links

• City of Wasilla