Figure 1.--Log cabins were common in Alaska and still are in rural areas. Here is one in Seward. This postcard was sent to Uncle George in 1907. The caption read, "Sneaking up on the Chickens. They are great chums. Both age 5 years." The boys were Willie and Jack, but unfortunately we can't make out their last name.

Alaska is most associated with the Pacific northwest, but in our regional divisions of the west, Alaska as it is not contgiguous with the "lower 48" and located at such a northerly latitude seems best considered as a separate region. The huge area of the state make it a sizeable region although the population is miniscule. Alaska was where the first humans first reached the Americas, across the Bearing Sea Ice age land bridge (the modern Aleutians). The first Europeans, Vitus Bearing and Alwksey Chirikov, found Alaska (1741). The major Russian interest was the fur trade. Russian fur traders followed. The first permanent settlement was on Kodiak Iskand (1784). Alexsandr Baranov dominated the early history of the Russian colony. He extended the fur trade south. The southern border of Alaska arose as a result of the American-British dispute over the Oregon Territory (1824). The United States purchased Alaska (1867). The Russian sale was in part promted by the fear that the British might seize it. Americans first called Alaska "Seward's Folly" after the secretary of state who negotiated the purchase. An American government was established after gold was discovered near Fairbabks (1884). The discovery of gold in the Klondike brought in the first substantial influx of Americans (1896). Further strikes followed in Nome and Fairbanks. The eastern boundary with Canada was settled (1903). Fur remained a major economic activity, but the population was declining. A arrangement was reached with Canada and Russia (1911). Alaska was given territorial status (1912). Alaska became a World War II battlefield when Japan invaded the Aleutian Islands (1942). The United States built the Alaska Highway to ptovide a land route to Alaska. Alaska became the 49th state (1959). The population has grown, but is still quite small. Alaska is seen as the Last Frontier. The ecomony is based on farming, fishing, mining, and other activities. Important oil discovering have been made. Earthquakes have neen reported, including an especially severe one (1984).

Destinctive Region

Alaska is most associated with the Pacific northwest, but in our regional divisions of the west, Alaska as it is not contgiguous with the "lower 48" and located at such a northerly latitude seems best considered as a separate region. The huge area of the state make it a sizeable region although the population is miniscule.

Geography

Alaska is the largest state, dwarfing Texas. Only six countries have a larger area. It forms a iant peninsula, surrounded by oceans on three sides. There is the Arctic Ocean to the North, Bering Sea to the West, and the Pacific Ocean to the South. The eastern land border is with Canada--Yukon and British Colombia. If its many islands are considered, Alaska has nearly 34,000 miles of tidal shoreline, mote than all the rest of the United States. Alaska has the most ruggeed geography of any state, in fact of almost all countries. And that is intensified by its Aratic climate. Which is why it was at first described as Seard's Folly or Icebox. There are an amazing 39 mountain ranges accounting for 17 of the 20 highest peaks in the United States. There are an estinated 3 million lakes of various sizes, many quite small. There are more than 3,000 rivers. The most important river is the 2,300 mile Yukon which rises in British Columbia, Canada and flows nortwest before cutting across cenbtral Alaska and Aladaka, empteing into the Bering Sea forming the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Much of central Alaska is part of the Yukon River watershead. There are five regions. South Central Alaska is the southern coastal region and contains most of the state's population. Anchorage and many growing towns, such as Palmer, and Wasilla. The economynis based on petroleum industrial plants, transportation, tourism, and two military bases. Alaskan Panhandle is also called Southeast Alaska, is home to many of Alaska's larger towns including the state capital Juneau, tidewater glaciers and forests. Tourism, fishing, forestry and state government are themajor econoimic activities. Southwest Alaska is coastal facing both the Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea. It is parsely populated even by Alaskan standars. It is not unconnected to the state's road highway system, but is a large part of the important fishing industry. Alaskan Interior is whwere Fairbanks is located. It is the catchmnt area of the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers. It also includes Arctic tundra lands and shorelines. Alaskan Bush is the remote largely unpopulated area of the state. There are 380 native villages and small towns.

History

Alaska was where the first humans reached the Americas, across the Bearing Sea Ice age land bridge (the modern Aleutians). The first Europeans, Vitus Bearing and Alwksey Chirikov, found Alaska (1741). The major Russian interest was the fur trade. Russian fur traders followed. The first permanent settlement was on Kodiak Iskand (1784). Alexsandr Baranov dominated the early history of the Russian colony. He extended the fur trade south. The southern border of Alaska arose as a result of the American-British dispute over the Oregon Territory (1824). The United States purchased Alaska (1867). The Russian sale was in part promted by the fear that the British might seize it. Americans first called Alaska 'Seward's Folly' after the secretary of state who negotiated the purchase. An American government was established after gold was discovered near Fairbabks (1884). The discovery of gold in the Klondike brought in the first substantial influx of Americans (1896). Further strikes followed in Nome and Fairbanks. The eastern boundary with Canada was settled (1903). Fur remained a major economic activity, but the population was declining. A arrangement was reached with Canada and Russia (1911). Alaska was given territorial status (1912). Alaska became a World War II battlefield when Japan invaded the Aleutian Islands (1942). The United States built the Alaska Highway to provide a land route to Alaska. Yhis as done for mikitary reasons, but had huge consequence fir the future economic growth of the state. Alaska became the 49th state (1959). The population has grown, but is still quite small, less than a million--an incedably small number given the imense size of the state.

Economy

The modern Alaskan economy began with the Russians who were after arriving in Siberia were attracted by the fur trade. This inckuded both seals abns sea others. Sea otters have the richest pelts of all the fur bearing animls. Unlike seals, they have littl bluber to oprotect them fron the cold water. American whalers were active in the waters off Alaka begining in the early-19th century, but they imcrebablr operated from New England -- an huge dusrabce bt sail. This demonstrates how valuble whles were at the time. This did not change until Anmrica opurchased Alaska from the Rusins (1867). Bu thuis time, the whaling industry was decliming, although the fur industry was still imprtant. Both ahaling and the fur industry were destroyed by over harvesting. The Klondike Gold Rush ignited interest in laska (1897). By this time, America's Western Frontier was closing. Alasska becane known as the Last Frontier. Alaska today is still seen as America's Last Frontier. But unlike the Mid-est, the lasnd is rugged with towering peaks and an inhospitsble cold climate. The stste's ecomony todsy is based on farming, fishing, mining, and other activities. Oil discoveries have led to oil bcoming an important resource. Earthquakes have neen reported, including an especially severe one (1984).

Ethnicity

As in most states, Whites (including Hispanics) are the major ethnic group, nearly 65 percent of the state's populatiion. Alaska is exceptional for the high relatiely high Native American population -- over 15 percent. Some estimates are as high as 20 percent. Alaska has the second highest percentage of any stateof persons who identified themselves as multi-racial. (Only Hawaii has a higher percentage.) Most of those individuals are White or Native American. While Whites and Native Anmericans are the two largest groups, all the various ethnic groups are present in Alaska, althought to varying degrees than the national average. African-Americans have an especially low presence. Natives Americans migrated from Siberia thousands of years ago. The acual dating has in recent years been pushed back, but this was more than 10,000 years ago. This was possible because of the Bearing Sea land bridge created by the last Ice Age. Anthropologists also talk about sea migrations, but the land bridge also facilitated sea migration given the primitive maritime technology. Alaska represents the America potion of the Native American Arctic Cultural Area. Indigenous peoples of Alaska include Aleut, Eyak, Haida, Iñupiat, Tlingit, Tsimshian, Yupik, and a number of Northern Athabaskan cultures. Native peoples in and outside of Alaska are commonly defined by their language groups. The Alaskan native people are of speecial historical interest because it was through Alasla that all of the Americas was populated by Amero-Indian peoples. This occured in diffent waves, which Anthropologists are still studying. The composition and destination of these waves varied. DNA studies suggest, for examole, that Alskan natives (meaning the migrants that remained in Alaska), are least closely related to native peoples that reached South America. The first Europeans, Vitus Bearing and Alwksey Chirikov, found Alaska (1741). Alaska as a result was colonized by the Russians as part of the fur trade, but the population continued to be almost entirely Native American under Russian control. The United states purchased Akaska fron the the Russiabns (1867). Almost no Russian presenmce remained after the purchase. Americans of all ethnicities did not begin arriving in Alaska in any numbers until the Klondike Gold Rush (1897). People arrived in Akaska by boat. World War II and the building of the Aklakan Highway (1942) ptovided the first land conndection with the United states and facilitated the peopling of Alasla.

Created: 2:13 AM 11/25/2009
Last updated: 4:44 AM 7/20/2023