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Eagle River

  •   State: 
    Alaska
      County: 
    Municipality of Anchorage
      City: 
    Eagle River
      County FIPS: 
    02020
      Coordinates: 
    61°19′17″N 149°34′04″W
  •   Latitude: 
    61,3175
      Longitude: 
    -149,5392
      Dman name cbsa: 
    Anchorage, AK
      Timezone: 
    Alaska Standard Time (AKST) UTC-9:00; Alaska Daylight (AKDT) UTC-8:00
      ZIP codes: 
    99577
      GMAP: 

    Eagle River, Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska, United States

  •   Population: 
    1,710

Eagle River is a community within the Municipality of Anchorage. It is situated on the Eagle River, for which it is named, between Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and Chugach State Park. The community has been annexed to the municipality since the 1970s. Secession efforts have from time to time gained traction by residents who would like Eagle River legally regarded as a separate community. It has a close relationship with its neighboring community to the north, Chugiak, with which it shares some history. The name Eagle River was first reported in 1939 by the U.S. Geological Survey. It was first appeared on the 1960 Census as an unincorporated village, and again in 1970. The 2000 census found a population of 22,236 in Eagle River and 8,000 in the northeast of Eagle River. About 30,000 people live in the Eagle river and ChUGiak areas on both sides of the Glenn Highway. In summer, temperatures range from 50 °F (10 °C) to 70 °C. Annual precipitation is 15.9 inches (40 cm), with 69 inches (180 cm) of snowfall. On average, the area experiences 2 to 3 "chinooks" - a warm, dry wind that melts much of the snow and creates a minor thaw - during the winter months. Springtime is generally referred to as "break up" in the area, referring to the breaking up of the ice on rivers and lakes. Local lore holds that seedlings should not be planted outdoors until after Memorial Day in May.

History

The Eagle River area was settled by homesteaders and prospered on agricultural activities. The name Eagle River was first reported in 1939 by the U.S. Geological Survey. The Chugiak-Eagle River Borough was established in 1974, only to be dissolved shortly thereafter when the arrangement was ruled unconstitutional by the Alaska Supreme Court. In spite of some local opposition, the area became annexed to the Municipality of Anchorage when the City of Anchorage and the Greater Anchorage Area Borough were unified in 1975. Efforts to secede from the municipality surfaced around 2000, and then became less prominent for a while as the community saw an influx of individuals with social and economic ties to Anchorage and Joint Base ElmendorfRichardson. However, secession talks began again in 2019 from a small group of community members. The town of Eagle River has a population of about 2,000. The city of Anchorage has a total population of more than 4,000, with the majority of residents living in the city's downtown area. The community is located on the Alaska Peninsula, which was once part of the Matanuska-Susitna Peninsula. The state's largest city, Anchorage, is located in the state's southern part, near the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and the Canadian border. The population of the city is around 2,200. The area's largest employer is the Alaska State College of Pharmacy, which has a campus in the town of Anchorage. It also has a post office in Eagle River, which opened in 1961.

Geography

The Eagle River runs through the southern end of the community. Mount Baldy, a 3,218-foot peak in Chugach State Park, is a popular hiking and hang-gliding area. Annual precipitation is 15.9 inches (40 cm), with 69 inches (180 cm) of snowfall. On average, the area experiences 2 to 3 "chinooks" - a warm, dry wind that melts much of the snow and creates a minor thaw - during the winter months. Springtime is generally referred to as "break up" in the area and further north, referring to the breaking up of the ice on rivers and lakes. Local lore holds that seedlings should not be planted outdoors until after Memorial Day in May, and even then temperatures should be watched for light frost until June. The community's average temperatures in January range from 6 °F (14 °C) to 20 °C (7 °C); in summer, temperatures range from 50°F (10 °C), to 70°F, (21°C) (Eagle River is located on the U.S. Geological Survey's North American West Coast. It is home to several radio station transmitters and towers at the 1,900 feet (580 m) level on Wallace Mountain, on the far northeast corner of thecommunity's road system. The town has a population of about 2,000, with most of its residents living on the east and west sides of the Eagle River.

Demographics

Eagle River first appeared on the 1960 U.S. Census as an unincorporated village, and again in 1970. It was annexed into Anchorage in 1975. The 2000 census found a population of 22,236 in Eagle River and an additional 8,000 in the settlements northeast of Eagle River. Many personnel from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson live in the Eagle River area. Many of the area's civilian residents additionally commute to jobs in the "Anchorage bowl" of the state. The Eagle River/Chugiak area is home to about 30,000 people, on both sides of the Glenn Highway. The area is also home to a large number of Alaska Natives, many of whom live in nearby Chugiak, Birchwood, Peters Creek, Thunderbird Falls and Eklutna. It is also the home of the Alaska Army National Guard, which has a base in the area, as well as a number of other military installations around the state, such as Fort Richardson and ElmendorF Air Force Base. The town's population is about 22,000, according to the 2000 census, with another 8,500 living in the nearby settlements. The city's population was 22,239 in the 2010 census. It has a population density of about 2,000 per square mile. The population of the town is about 1,800. The village is located on the Alaska-Alaska border, which is about 50 miles north of Anchorage. The community is known as the "Glenn Highway town".

Economy

Eagle River is the shopping hub between Anchorage, Palmer, and Wasilla. Major stores are Wal-Mart, Fred Meyer, Carrs Safeway, and Walgreens. The local movie theater reopened in 2006 with six screens, then closed down in December 2011. As of 2006, leading industries in the community were the service industry, followed by trade (retail) and government (mainly working at public schools for the Anchorage School District). Some local businesses were heavily damaged during the 2018 Anchorage earthquake and had to be repaired and renovated or were forced to shut down. Schools such as Gruening Middle School and Eagle River elementary school had to close down for the school year due to excessive damage in part by the buildings age. The number of local restaurants available almost doubled over the same 10-year span. The last decade has seen two major improvements in local services: shopping and the availability of medical and dental services. The town is home to the Alaska State Museum, which is located in the heart of Eagle River. The city is also the home of the Alaska National Guard, which was based in Eagle River until it moved to Wasilla in the 1950s. The community is also home to Alaska State College, which opened in the 1970s and is located on the shores of the Wasilla River. It is the only state college in the state. The area has a population of about 2,000 people, making it one of the smallest towns in Alaska. The population of Anchorage is about 3,000.

Arts and culture

The Bear Paw Festival kicks off on Thursday evening with the Miss Bear Paw pageant held at the Steve Primis Auditorium at Chugiak High School. Saturday morning there is a 5k foot race, followed by a parade. A Renaissance anachronistic group does performances on Saturdays and Sundays. The Sleeping Lady Mountain Lions Club provides a Community Service Award scholarship. The Fourth of July celebration is held at Lion's Park, and is in July and is celebrated with multiple events throughout Eagle River. The festival ends with a fireworks display at the end of the festival. The Bear Paw Princess, Official Escort, Best Costume with an Alaskan Theme and Miss Congeniality are among the awards given to the winners of the pageant.

Education

The public school district is the Anchorage School District (ASD) ASD schools serving Eagle River are: Eagle River Elementary, Ravenwood Elementary, Alpenglow Elementary, Homestead Elementary, Firelake Elementary, Chugiak Elementary, and Birchwood Elementary. The University of Alaska Anchorage provides classes in the area and formerly had a campus at the Eagle Center building, adjacent to the middle Glenn Highway interchange. In 2019, the university chose not to renew its lease, but continues to provide classes at local public school locations. There is also a local bible college. Homeschooling is a popular form of education in the local area. The town is zoned such that roughly half of local public high school students go to Eagle River High School; the other half attends ChUGiak High School. The city is home to the Alaska State Museum, which is located in the town's downtown area. It is also home to a number of parochial and charter schools, as well as a handful of private schools. Eagle River has a population of about 2,000 people. The population of Eagle River is about 1,500 people, with the majority of residents living in the central part of the town. The majority of people live in or near the downtown area of the city, with most of the rest living in or around the southern portion of the community. The community has a high school population of around 1,200. The school district has a total of 12 schools, including two middle schools and two high schools.

Sports

There is a lot of local interest in sports: hockey, both indoor and outdoor soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, football, hiking, and cross-country running and skiing. A bike trail runs alongside the Glenn Highway from Anchorage past Eagle River and to Chugiak. Sidewalks are available and kept clear most of the winter in the downtown area for walking and jogging along the Old Glenn Highway and Business Boulevard. There is little fishing in the river, but anglers do gather at Fire and Mirror Lakes. One of the more popular local hikes is up Mount Baldy, which overlooks the town. The 1996 Arctic Winter Games were held in Chugiac and Eagle River. The town is home to a number of sports teams, including a soccer club for U11-U19 players and a baseball team for U9-U10 players. The city is also home to an ice hockey team, which hosted seven games at the 1989 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. It is also the home of a ski and snowboard team, as well as a hockey and figure skating team, and an ice-skating team. The community has a history of hosting international sporting events, such as the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada, and the 1992 Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria, which took place in 1992 and 1994. It also has a long history of rafting and hiking, which is a popular pastime for the residents of the town and the surrounding area.

  • Eagle River's population in Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska of 1,008 residents in 1900 has increased 1,7-fold to 1,710 residents after 120 years, according to the official 2020 census.

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