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Source: Alaska
Department of Community and Economic Development
Seward, AK
| Current Population: |
2,540 (2004 State Demographer estimate) |
| Incorporation Type: |
Home Rule City |
| Borough Located In: |
Kenai Peninsula Borough |
| Taxes: |
Sales: 4% (City); 2% (Borough),
Property: 3.12 mills (City); 6.5 mills (Borough), Special: 4%
Accommodations Tax |
| Location
and Climate |
| Seward is
situated on Resurrection Bay on the east coast of the Kenai Peninsula,
125 highway miles south of Anchorage. It lies at the foot of Mount
Marathon, and is the gateway to the Kenai Fjords National Park. Bear
Creek and Lowell Point are adjacent to Seward. The community lies at
approximately 60.104170° North Latitude and -149.44222° (West)
Longitude. (Sec. 10, T001S, R001W, Seward Meridian.) Seward is
located in the Seward Recording District. The area encompasses 14.4 sq.
miles of land and 7.1 sq. miles of water. Seward experiences a maritime
climate. Winter temperatures average from 17 to 38; summer temperatures
average 49 to 63. Annual precipitation includes 66 inches of rain and 80
inches of snowfall. |
| History, Culture and
Demographics |
| Resurrection Bay was named in 1792
by Russian fur trader and explorer Alexander Baranof. While sailing from
Kodiak to Yakutat, he found unexpected shelter in this bay for a storm.
He named the Bay Resurrection because it was the Russian Sunday of the
Resurrection. Seward was named for U.S. Secretary of State William
Seward, 1861-69, who negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia
during the Lincoln administration. In the 1890s, Capt. Frank Lowell
arrived with his family. In 1903, John and Frank Ballaine and a group of
settlers arrived to begin construction of a railroad. Seward became an
incorporated City in 1912. The Alaska Railroad was constructed between
1915 and 1923, and Seward developed as the ocean terminus and supply
center. By 1960, Seward was the largest community on the Peninsula.
Tsunamis generated after the 1964 earthquake destroyed the railroad
terminal and killed several residents. As an ice-free harbor, Seward has
become an important supply center for Interior Alaska. 2003 is the 100th
anniversary of the founding of Seward.
The population of the community consists of 20.9% Alaska Native or
part Native. Seward is primarily a
non-Native community, although the Qutekcak Tribe is very active within
the community. Seward's annual Fourth of July celebration and its
grueling Mount Marathon race attracts participants and visitors
worldwide. Other annual events include the Seward Silver Salmon Derby in
August and the Polar Bear Jump-Off Festival in January.
During the 2000 U.S. Census, total housing
units numbered 1,058, and vacant housing units numbered 141. Vacant
housing units used only seasonally numbered 63. U.S. Census data for
Year 2000 showed 1,011 residents as employed. The unemployment rate at
that time was 17.18 percent, although 55.48 percent of all adults were
not in the work force. The median household income was $44,306, per
capita income was $20,360, and 10.6 percent of residents were living
below the poverty level. |
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Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Water is supplied by nine wells, is
treated and distributed throughout Seward. Sewage is collected via pipes
to a secondary treatment lagoon. Almost all homes are fully plumbed.
Refuse collection is provided by the City under contract; the Borough
provides solid waste disposal. Borough refuse transfer facility is
located on Hemlock St. Seward Electric System purchases power from
Chugach Electric, and owns six standby diesel generators. Electricity is
provided by Seward Electric System. There are 3 schools located in the
community, attended by 795 students. Local hospitals or health clinics
include Providence Seward Medical Center (224-5205); North Star Health
Clinic (224-3490). The hospital is a qualified Acute Care facility.
Long Term Care: Wesley Rehabilitation and Care. Specialized Care: Seward
Life Action Council Counseling Facility. Seward is classified as a large
town/Regional Center, it is found in EMS Region 2J in the Kenai
Peninsula Region. Emergency Services have highway, limited marine and
airport access. Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service
and volunteers Auxiliary health care is provided by Seward Volunteer
Ambulance Corps (224-3987); Bear Creek Volunteer Fire & EMS, Inc.
(224-3345/3338). |
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Economy and Transportation |
As the southern terminus for the Alaska
Railroad and road link to Anchorage and the Interior, Seward has long
been a transportation center. The economy has diversified with tourism,
commercial fishing and processing, ship services and repairs, oil and
gas development, an Alaska Railroad Corp. export facility for Usibelli
coal, Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC), a State Prison, and
the University of Alaska's Institute of Marine Sciences. The Alaska
SeaLife Center, the the Kenai Fjords National Park, and the Mt. Marathon
Race and Fourth of July festivities attract visitors. Over 320,000
cruise ship passengers visit Seward annually. 80 residents hold
commercial fishing permits.
Seward is connected to the Alaska Highway system by the Seward Highway.
Bus and commercial trucking services to and from Anchorage are available
daily. Air services and charters are available at the State-owned
airport. Two paved runways are utilized, at 4,240' long by 100' wide and
at 2,279' long by 75' wide. The Port serves cruise ships, the State
Ferry, cargo barges and ocean freighters from Seattle and overseas. The
small boat harbor has moorage for 650 boats, and two boat launch ramps.
The Alaska Railroad provides over 1.4 billion pounds of cargo transit
each year, importing cargo for the Interior and exporting coal to the
Pacific Rim. A new railroad depot was completed in the fall of 1997.
Seasonal passenger transportation is available by rail. |
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