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Girdwood
(GURD-wood)
| Current Population: |
Not Available
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| Incorporation Type: |
Unincorporated, located within Municipality |
| Borough Located In: |
Municipality of Anchorage |
| Taxes: |
Sales: None,
Property: 15.50 mills (Municipality), Special: 12% Bed Tax (Municipality); 8% Car Rental Tax (Municipality); $.0726 per Cigarette (Municipality)
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| Coastal Management District: |
Anchorage |
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| Location
and Climate |
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Girdwood is located on Turnagain Arm, in the Municipality of Anchorage, 35 miles east southeast of downtown Anchorage. The area is accessed by the Seward Highway. Girdwood is bordered on three sides by the Chugach State Park and Chugach National Forest. For a detailed map, go to: http://www.muni.org/Services/Departments/Com/Research/maps/girdwood.gif. The community
lies at approximately 60.941670° North Latitude
and -149.166670° West Longitude.
(Sec. 19, T010N, R002E, Seward Meridian.)
Girdwood is located in the
Anchorage Recording District.
The average temperatures in January range from 8 to 21 degrees; in July, average temperatures range from 51 to 65. Annual precipitation is 80 inches, including 69 inches of snowfall. |
Topographic
map of
Girdwood
area
 |
| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| The community was named for James E. Girdwood, who staked a claim at Crow Creek in 1896. The Girdwood post office was established in 1907. In 1951, the Seward Highway was completed, linking Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula. The City of Girdwood was formed during the 1960s, but the community was unified with the City of Anchorage and the Greater Anchorage Area Borough in 1975.
Residents enjoy the rural lifestyle of Girdwood. Girdwood is home to the Alyeska Ski Resort. It is frequented by Anchorage and Kenai residents during winter months, and tourists during summer months.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| In 1991, the Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility acquired two privately-owned water systems that served the developed area east of Glacier Creek, and upgraded the quality of service in Girdwood. This included connecting the two systems, installing 37,000 feet of replacement and new water lines with fire hydrants, and the installation of control structures to provide uniform pressures throughout the system. Two production wells now supply the system and fill a one million gallon reservoir. Daily production is 94 million gallons of treated water. The Girdwood Wastewater Facility is a tertiary (three stage) treatment plant. In 1997 it was upgraded to handle 0.60 mgd and was equipped to expand and double treatment capacity in future years. It discharges an effluent nearing drinking water quality into Glacier Creek. A refuse transfer site is provided by the Municipality.
Electricity is provided by Chugach Electric Association.
There are no state operated schools located in the community.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Anchorage hospitals.
Girdwood is classified as a highway town/Sub-Regional Center, it is found in EMS Region 2D in the Anchorage Region. Emergency Services have highway access. Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service and volunteers
Auxiliary health care is provided by Girdwood Fire & Rescue (783-2511); Alyeska Ski Patrol (seasonal 754-2271/2131); Anchorage hospitals.
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| Economy
and Transportation |
Local employment includes the school, service businesses, the Alyeska Prince Hotel and the Alyeska Ski Resort. Several artists live in the area. Some residents commute to Anchorage. 33 Girdwood residents hold a commercial fishing permit. There are a number of seasonal-use homes in Girdwood. Because Girdwood is part of the Municipality of Anchorage, 2000 Economic Census Data may be incomplete, not applicable or significantly different from current data.
Girdwood has a gravel airstrip that measures 2,088' long by 73' wide. The Alaska Railroad provides daily train service in the summer. Nearby Anchorage provides a number of transportation options. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
Chamber of Commerce -
Girdwood Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 1313
Girdwood, AK 99587
Phone 907-222-7682
E-mail doug@girdwoodguru.com
Web http://www.girdwoodalaska.com
Community Non-Profit -
Girdwood Community Council
P.O. Box 870390
Girdwood, AK 99587
Phone 907-272-8401
Fax 907-274-3698
Media -
Turnagain Times
P.O. Box 1044
Girdwood, AK 99587
Phone 907-783-1135
Fax 907-783-1136
E-mail ttimes@chugach.net
Regional
Organizations
Borough - Municipality of Anchorage
P.O. Box 196650
Anchorage, AK 99519
Phone 907-343-7100
Fax 907-343-4499
E-mail mayor@muni.org;
Web http://www.muni.org
School District - Anchorage School District
5530 East Northern Lights Blvd
Anchorage, AK 99504
Phone 907-742-4312
Fax 907-742-4318
E-mail comeau_carol@asdk12.org
Web http://www.asdk12.org/
Regional Native Health Corporation - Southcentral Foundation
4501 Diplomacy
Anchorage, AK 99508
Phone 907-729-4955
Fax 907-729-4972
E-mail katherineg@scf.cc
Web http://www.southcentralfoundation.com
Native Housing Authority - Cook Inlet Housing Authority
3510 Spenard Rd., Suite 201
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone 907-793-3000
Fax 907-793-3075
E-mail cgore@cookinlethousing.org
Web http://www.cookinlethousing.org
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