History of Anchorage

Although Anchorage wasn’t established until the 20th century, it is believed the first humans to make use of the area were Inuit nomadic people in around 3000 BC. The Inuit people were displaced by Athabaskan Dena’ina people, who had contact with the first European explorers in the region.

Captain Cook actually skirted the area, but never set foot on land. Anchorage’s modern history was set in motion when US Secretary of State William Seward arranged for the US to purchase Alaska from Russia in 1867. Anchorage as a city was born in the 20th century, and it has seen a number of highs and lows as it has established itself as a modern, busy city.

Birth of a city

Soon after Alaska became a United States territory, plans for the city were drawn up, with the first lots of land being sold in July 1915. In the same year, construction of the Alaskan railroad began and the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce was established. The city’s population quickly grew and soon reached more than 2,000, with entrepreneurs flocking to the town. In 1920, the US government ended its direct control over the city and local elections were held. By 1923, Anchorage even had its own baseball league.

Growth of the city

The 1940s saw considerable growth in Anchorage, focused on military development. An air force base was constructed and with the threat of Japanese invasion, military investment in the area continued. In this period, the city’s population continued to grow, topping 30,000 in the 1950s.

The 1950s saw Anchorage International Airport open, mail delivery and television broadcasting begin, and three volcanic eruptions. One of the most significant happenings was the discovery of oil in 1957, and within two years, Alaska became the 49th state of the US. A huge earthquake in 1964 caused massive destruction in Anchorage, and as a result, the 1960s were dominated by rebuilding and recovery.

Recovery and oil boom

In the late 1960s, more oil stocks were discovered and the Anchorage economy began to grow considerably. In 1974, construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline began and this resulted in a boom of oil and construction companies establishing themselves in Anchorage. The pipeline took three years to finish at a cost of around eight billion US dollars. Infrastructure in the city improved, with a new public library and development of sports and arts facilities. However, a drop in oil prices in the mid-1980s caused a serious economic recession in the city, and recovery for many was slow.

Today Anchorage is a bustling and attractive city, with many parks and attractions.