Chapter 1 Region and themes

Population (1994): 626,278 ( 48th in size)

State size: 591,004 square miles (1st in size)

State Capital: Juneau (named after Joe Juneau a prospector who found gold in the area)

Major cities: Juneau, Anchorage and Fairbanks

Admission to union: The 49th State

Date entered the union: January 3, 1959

Origin of state name: Named from the Aleut word Al-ay-ek-sha meaning mainland.

Nicknames: The Great Land and the Last Frontier

Bordering states: Not bordering any states. The Arctic Ocean on the north, Canada on the east, Gulf of Alaska and Pacific Ocean on the south and Bering Straight on the west.

State bird: Willow Ptarmigan

State flower: Forget-me-not

State tree: Sitka Spruce

Alaska State Capital:

Juneau (population of about 31,262) the only state capital is the US with no road access. It can only be reached by air or sea. 10 largest cities (2005 est.): Anchorage, 275,043; Fairbanks, 31,324; Juneau, 30,987; Sitka, 8,986; Wasilla, 8,471; Kenai, 7,464; Ketchikan, 7,410; Palmer, 6,920; Kodiak, 6,273; Bethel, 6,262; Land area: 571,951 sq mi. (1,4 81,353 sq km) Geographic center: 60 mi. NW of Mt. McKinley Number of boroughs (counties): 27 Largest borough by population and area: Anchorage, 275,043 (2005); Yukon-Koyukuk, 145,900 sq mi. State parks: more than 100 (3.5 million acres) Residents: Alaskan 2005 resident population est.: 663,661 2000 resident census population (rank): 626,932 (48). Male: 324,112 (51.7%); Female: 302,820 (48.3%). White: 434,534 (69.3%); Black: 21,787 (3.5%); American Indian and Alaska Native: 98,043 (15.6%); Asian: 25,116 (4.0%); Other race: 9,997 (1.6%); Two or more races: 34,146 (5.4%); Hispanic/Latino: 25,852 (4.1%). 2000 percent population 18 and over: 69.6; 65 and over: 5.7; median age: 32.4.