|
Current Population:
5,213
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. During the April 1990 U.S.
Census, there were 1,723 total housing
units, and 313 of these were vacant. 1,726
jobs were estimated to be in the
community. The official unemployment rate
at that time was 11.1%. 36.6% of all
adults were not in the work force. The
median household income was $37,619, and
10.8% of residents were living below the
poverty level.
Wasilla
is a center of commercial and service
activity in the borough. Retail and
shopping concerns abound in several malls
and along the shopping strip; several
statewide banks have outlets and service
branches there, and utility, real estate,
insurance and medical service
organizations make Wasilla their home
base.
Commercial
and industrial activities include steel
fabrication, agriculture, concrete
products, building materials
distribution, millwork and building truss
manufacture. Because of the location of
several hundred small, private aircraft
in the Wasilla-Palmer area, aircraft
maintenance has also become a very
important service. Of course, catering to
the tourist trade is another huge
enterprise in Wasilla. There will be
found hotels, motels and bed and
breakfast operations and in total, over
100 lodging rooms are available in the
Greater Wasilla marketing area.
Wasilla
was named after the respected local
Dena'ina Indian, Chief Wasilla. 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 town site was established in 1917 at
the intersection of the Knik-Willow
mining trail 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 homesteaders
as part of an experiment in the 1930s.
Agricultural crops and natural resources
sustained growth and development in the
valley.
Wasilla
is the headquarters for the Iditarod
Trail Committee. The Iditarod Sled Dog
Race is more than a race, it is a
commemoration of the colorful past.
The Iditarod Trail, now a national
historical trail, had its beginnings as a
mail and supply route from the coastal
towns of Seward and Knik to the interior
mining camps and beyond to the west coast
communities. Mail and supplies went in.
Gold came out. All via dog sled. Heroes
were made, legends were born.
In 1925,
part of the Iditarod Trail became a life-saving
highway for epidemic stricken Nome.
Diphtheria threatened the community and
the serum had to be brought in: again by
intrepid dog mushers and their faithful
hard-driving huskies. Today's Iditarod
race is a commemoration of those
yesteryears, a not-so-distant past
Alaskans honor and are proud of. The 1994
race faced new difficulties as two of the
major corporate sponsors pulled out due
to pressure from animal rights groups.
Tesoro Alaska and other Alaskan
Corporations stepped forward to insure
this great tradition continues.
|
. . . "the headquarters for
the Iditarod Trail " 
Scroll Down - There is More!
and/or