Anchorage

Anchorage
/ang"keuhr ij/, n.
a seaport in S Alaska: earthquake 1964. 173,017.

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Seaport, largest city (pop., 2000: 260,283), and chief commercial centre of Alaska, U.S. It lies at the head of Cook Inlet near the base of the Kenai Peninsula.

It was founded in 1914 as a construction camp for the building of a railroad to Fairbanks. It became a key aviation and defense centre in World War II and is now a regular stop on air routes from the U.S. to East Asia. Anchorage experienced rapid population growth in the late 20th century. In 1964 a severe earthquake caused a number of deaths and extensive property damage.

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      city (municipality), south-central Alaska, U.S. Lying at the base of the Chugach Mountains, it is a port at the head of Cook Inlet (a bay of the Pacific Ocean). In 1835 Russians established a mission across the inlet from the area that constitutes the modern city of Anchorage. After gold was discovered in the late 19th century, the area's population surged. Anchorage was founded in 1914 as the headquarters of the Alaska Railroad running north to Fairbanks. A railway link with Seward was finished in 1918, and five years later the entire Alaska Railroad was completed. In the 1930s, during the Dust Bowl drought that devastated agriculture in much of the central continental United States, settlers from the American Midwest were given federal assistance to move to the Anchorage area to develop an agricultural community. By the turn of the 21st century, this sector was declining. The city became a key aviation and defense centre with the construction of Fort Richardson and Elmendorf Air Force Base during World War II, and during the war completion of the Alaska Highway linked Anchorage with the continental United States. Subsequently, Anchorage became a regular stop on air routes from Europe and the United States to East Asia. On March 27, 1964, a severe earthquake caused a number of deaths and extensive property damage in the city.

      Anchorage is the largest city and chief commercial centre of Alaska, with an economy based primarily on defense projects and the exploitation of natural resources, including oil. Tourism is also significant. The city is the seat of a campus of the University of Alaska (Alaska, University of) (1954) and of Alaska Pacific University (chartered as Alaska Methodist University, 1957). The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, organized in 1967, commences in the city and ends in Nome. Far North Bicentennial Park features a ski area, miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, and a wildlife area that features moose and bears. Chugach State Park and Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge are also popular recreational and wildlife-watching locations. Other notable attractions include the Anchorage Museum of History and Art (1968), the state's largest museum; Alaska Heritage Library and Museum (1968), featuring native artifacts and art; and Alaska Zoo (1968). Anchorage is linked by highway to Seward and Soldotna (south) and Denali National Park and Preserve and Fairbanks (north). About 45 miles (70 km) south of the city is Portage Glacier. Inc. 1920. Pop. (1990) city and Anchorage MSA, 226,338; (2000) city and Anchorage MSA, 260,283.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Anchorage — es una ciudad de los Estados Unidos, ubicada en el estado de Alaska. En 2000 contaba con 260.283 habitantes, lo que la convierte en la ciudad más poblada de Alaska. Anchorage está situada en la parte central del estado a 61º de latitud norte,… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Anchorage, AK — U.S. municipality in Alaska Population (2000): 260283 Housing Units (2000): 100368 Land area (2000): 1697.214921 sq. miles (4395.766279 sq. km) Water area (2000): 263.879964 sq. miles (683.445939 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1961.094885 sq. miles… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Anchorage, KY — U.S. city in Kentucky Population (2000): 2264 Housing Units (2000): 750 Land area (2000): 3.043011 sq. miles (7.881361 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.006563 sq. miles (0.016998 sq. km) Total area (2000): 3.049574 sq. miles (7.898359 sq. km) FIPS… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Anchorage — An chor*age, n. 1. The act of anchoring, or the condition of lying at anchor. [1913 Webster] 2. A place suitable for anchoring or where ships anchor; a hold for an anchor. [1913 Webster] 3. The set of anchors belonging to a ship. [1913 Webster] 4 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • Anchorage — An cho*rage, n. Abode of an anchoret. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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