Current Population: 4,205 (certified December, 2000, by DCED) Incorporation Type: 1st Class City Borough Located In: Kenai Peninsula Borough Taxes: Sales: 3.5% (City); 2% (Borough), Property: 5.5 mills (City); 7.5 mills (Borough), Special: None Location and Climate
Homer is located on the north shore of Kachemak Bay on the southwestern edge of the Kenai Peninsula. The Homer Spit, a 4.5-mile long bar of gravel, extends from the Homer shoreline. It is 227 road miles south of Anchorage, at the southern-most point of the Sterling Highway. It lies at approximately 59d 38m N Latitude, 151d 33m W Longitude (Sec. 19, T006S, R013W, Seward Meridian). Homer is located in the Homer Recording District. The area encompasses 10.9 sq. miles of land and 15.8 sq. miles of water. Homer lies in the maritime climate zone. During the winter, temperatures range from 14 to 27; summer temperatures vary from 45 to 65. Average annual precipitation is 24 inches, including 55 inches of snow. History, Culture and Demographics
The Homer area has been homes to Kenaitze Indians for thousands of years. In 1895 the U.S. Geological Survey arrived to study coal and gold resources. Prospectors bound for Hope and Sunrise disembarked at the Homer Spit. The community was named for Homer Pennock, a gold mining company promoter, who arrived in 1896 and built living quarters for his crew of 50 on the Spit. Their plans were to mine the beach sands along Cook Inlet, from Homer to Ninilchik. The Homer post office opened shortly thereafter. In 1899, Cook Inlet Coal Fields Company built a town and dock on the Spit, a coal mine at Homer's Bluff Point, and a 7-mile-long railroad which carried the coal to the end of Homer Spit. Various coal mining operations continued until World War I, and settlers continued to trickle into the area, some to homestead in the 1930s and 40s, other to work in the canneries built to process Cook Inlet fish. Coal provided fuel for homes, and there is still an estimated 400 million tons of coal deposits in the vicinity of Homer. The City government was incorporated in March 1964. After then Good Friday earthquake in 1964, the Homer Spit sunk approximately 4 to 6 feet, and several buildings had to be relocated.
Alaska Natives represent 3.6% of the population. While commercial and sport fishing are the center of the economic activity, Homer has a large community of artists. The Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby runs from May 1 through Labor Day each year. Homer is the "Halibut Capital of the World."
During the April 1990 U.S. Census, there were 1,673 total housing units, and 262 of these were vacant. The official unemployment rate at that time was 7.9%, with 1,722 jobs estimated to be in the community and 35.6% of all adults not in the work force. The median household income was $36,652, and 5% of residents were living below the poverty level.
Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care
Over 90% of homes are fully plumbed. Water is supplied by a dam and 35-acre reservoir at Bridge Creek, is treated, stored in a 500,000-gallon tank, and piped to the majority of homes in the City. The system provides 2 million gallons per day. The City has asked for state funding to develop a 1-million-gallon water tank. Others residents use individual wells or have water delivered to home tanks. City sewage is piped to a deep shaft sewer treatment plant; capacity is 880,000 gallons per day. Refuse is collected by Peninsula Sanitation, a private firm, and hauled to the Borough-operated Homer landfill and balefill. The City participates in recycling and hazardous waste disposal programs. Homer Electric Assoc. operates the Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Plant and is part owner of the Alaska Electric Generation & Transmission Cooperative, which operates a gas turbine plant in Soldotna. It also purchases electricity from Chugach Electric.
Electricity is provided by Homer Electric Association.
There are 8 schools located in the community, attended by 1,481 students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include South Peninsula Hospital. The hospital is a qualified Acute Care and Long Term Care facility. Specialized Care: Community Mental Health Center (outpatient care); Community Support Program (lodging and health care); Promoting Responsibility & Individual Development (lodging and health care) Auxiliary health care is provided by Homer Volunteer Fire Dept./EMS (235-3155/3150), private practices.
Economy and Transportation
Homer is primarily a fishing, fish processing, trade and service center, and enjoys a considerable seasonal tourist industry. Approximately 10 cruise ships dock in Homer each summer. During summer months, the population swells with students and others seeking cannery or fishery employment. Sport fishing for halibut and salmon contributes significantly to the economy. 522 area residents hold commercial fishing permits. The fish dock is equipped with cold storage facilities, ice manufacturing and a vacuum fish-loading system. A sawmill processes borough timber, and Circle De Pacific Corp. is exporting wood chips from Homer to Japan. Plans for a multi-million dollar U.S. Fish & Wildlife Visitors Center for the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge are underway.
Homer is accessible by the Sterling Highway to Anchorage, Fairbanks, Canada and the lower 48 states. It is often referred to as "The End of the Road," because it lies at the terminus of the Sterling Highway. The State owns and operates the Homer Airport, with a 6,700' asphalt runway and float plane basin, and a seaplane base at Beluga Lake. The City is served by several scheduled and chartered aircraft services. There are four additional private landing strips in the vicinity. The Alaska Marine Highway and local ferry services provide water transportation. The deep-water dock can accommodate 30-foot drafts, and 340-foot vessels. There is a boat harbor with moorage for 750 vessels, and a 5-lane boat launch ramp.