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Wasilla
(WAH-sill-ah)
For Photos of Wasilla click here
| Current Population: |
7,176
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
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| Incorporation Type: |
1st Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
Matanuska-Susitna Borough |
| Taxes: |
Sales: 2.5% (City),
Property: 11.886 mills (City and Borough), Special: 5% Bed Tax (Borough); 5.29% Tobacco Excise Tax (Borough)
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| National Flood Insurance Program Participant: |
Yes |
| Coastal Management District: |
Matanuska-Susitna Borough |
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| Location
and Climate |
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Wasilla is located midway between the Matanuska and Susitna Valleys, on the George Parks Highway. It lies between Wasilla and Lucille Lakes, 43 miles north of Anchorage, about one hour's drive. The community
lies at approximately 61.581390° North Latitude
and -149.439440° West Longitude.
(Sec. 10, T017N, R001W, Seward Meridian.)
Wasilla is located in the
Palmer Recording District.
The area encompasses 11.7
sq. miles of land and 0.7 sq. miles
of water.
January temperatures range from -33 to 33; July temperatures range from 42 to 83. The average annual precipitation is 17 inches, with 50 inches of snowfall. |
Topographic
map of
Wasilla
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| Wasilla was named after the respected local Dena'ina Indian, Chief Wasilla (also known as Chief Vasili). In the Dena'ina Athabascan Indian dialect, "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." The townsite was established in 1917 at the intersection of the Carle Wagon Road (now Wasilla-Fishhook Road) and the newly-constructed Alaska Railroad. It was a supply base for gold and coal mining in the region through World War II. The Matanuska-Susitna valley was settled by many Colony homesteaders in the 1930s. Construction of the George Parks Highway through Wasilla in the early 1970s provided direct access to Anchorage. This enabled families to live in Wasilla and commute to Anchorage for employment. The City was incorporated in 1974.
The population of the community consists of 9.1%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Residents are close to the urban amenities of Anchorage, yet enjoy a rural lifestyle.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 2,119, and vacant housing units numbered 140.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 34.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 2,451 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
11.16 percent,
although
37.04 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $48,226, per capita income was $21,127, and
9.59 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| The majority of homes use individual water wells and septic systems, although the City operates a piped water and sewer system. Water is provided by a well at Spruce Avenue and two at Iditarod School, with a 2.3 million gallon storage capacity. Refuse collection is provided by a private company, for disposal in the Borough landfill. Residents also drop refuse at the Borough landfill in Palmer. Matanuska Electric Assoc. is part owner of the Alaska Electric Generation & Transmission Cooperative, Inc., which operates a gas turbine plant in Soldotna and also purchases electricity from Chugach Electric and the Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Project. Piped natural gas, provided by Enstar, is used to heat homes.
Electricity is provided by Matanuska Electric Association.
There are 15 schools located in the community,
attended by 6,700
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Valley Hospital in Palmer (746-8600); Mat-Su Public Health Center (376-2437); Anchorage hospitals; numerous private.
Valley Hospital Association, Inc. is a qualified Emergency Care Center. Specialized Care: Alaska Addiction Rehabilitation Services/Nugen's Ranch (376-4534). Wasilla is classified as a highway town/Sub-Regional Center, it is found in EMS Region 2C in the Mat-Su Region. Emergency Services have limited highway, marine, coastal, floatplane, and helicopter access, and are within 30 minutes of a higher-level satellite health care facility. Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service and volunteers
Auxiliary health care is provided by Wasilla Ambulance Service (373-8800/745-4811); Valley Hospital in Palmer or Anchorage hospitals.
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| Economy
and Transportation |
Approximately 30% of the Wasilla workforce commutes to Anchorage. The local economy is diverse, and residents are employed in a variety of government, retail, and professional service positions. Tourism, agriculture, wood products, steel and concrete products are part of the economy. 166 area residents hold commercial fishing permits. Wasilla is the home of the Iditarod Trail Committee and Iron Dog Race.
The George Parks Highway, Glenn Highway, and other local roads connect the city to Anchorage, the remainder of the state and Canada. The Alaska Railroad serves Wasilla on the Fairbanks to Seward route. A City airport, with a paved 3,700' long by 75' wide airstrip, provides scheduled commuter and air taxi services. Float planes land at Wasilla Lake, Jacobsen Lake and Lake Lucille. There are ten additional private airstrips in the vicinity. Commercial jet flights are operated out of Anchorage International Airport. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
Chamber of Commerce -
Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce
415 E. Railroad Avenue
Wasilla, AK 99654
Phone 907-376-1299
Fax 907-373-2560
E-mail info@wasillachamber.org
Web http://www.wasillachamber.org
City -
City of Wasilla
290 East Herning Ave.
Wasilla, AK 99654
Phone 907-373-9050
Fax 907-373-9096
E-mail cityofwasilla@ci.wasilla.ak.us; clerk@ci.wasilla.ak.us
Web http://www.cityofwasilla.com
Media -
Frontiersman
5751 East Mayflower Court
Wasilla, AK 99645
Phone 907-352-2250
Fax 907-352-2277
E-mail editor@frontiersman.com
Web http://www.frontiersman.com
Regional Development -
Mat-Su Resource Conservation & Development, Inc.
1700 E. Bogard, Suite 203
Wasilla, AK 99654
Phone 907-373-1062
Fax 907-373-1064
E-mail martymet@msn.com
Web http://www.matsurcd.com
Regional
Organizations
Borough - Matanuska-Susitna Borough
350 East Dahlia Avenue
Palmer, AK 99645
Phone 907-745-4801
Fax 907-745-9845
E-mail john.duffy@matsugov.us; lonnie.mckechnie@matsugov.us
Web http://www.matsugov.us/
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
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