Quick facts and history of Alaska

If you're going to visit Alaska, you at least need to know a little of the history about this great state. So I have researched and included some facts here...

Russian whalers and fur traders on Kodiak Island established the first settlement in Alaska in 1784.

U.S. purchases Alaska from Russia on October 18, 1867 for $7,200,000, or two cents per acre, for Alaska.

Joe Juneau's 1880 discovery of gold ushered in the gold rush era.

Alaska officially became the 49th state on January 3, 1959.

Alaska adopted the flag for official state use in 1959. The blue field represents the sky, the sea, and mountain lakes, as well as Alaska's wildflowers. Emblazoned on the flag are eight gold stars: seven in the constellation Ursa Major, or the Big Dipper. The eighth being the North Star, representing the northern most state.

As of 2003 U.S. Census Alaska’s population was 626,932.

Alaska accounts for 25% of the oil produced in the United States.

The Trans-Alaska Pipeline moves up to 88,000 barrels of oil per hour on its 800 mile journey to Valdez. The fishing and seafood industry is the state's largest private industry employer.

The Sitka spruce is the official state tree.

The pheasant-like willow ptarmigan is the state bird. This bird changes color from light brown in summer to snow white in winter.

Forget Me Not is the state flower

The state motto is North to the Future.

Nickname: The Last Frontier

The jade is the official state gemstone.

Gold is the official state mineral. It was named the state mineral in 1968.

Dog mushing is the state sport. It was once a primary form of transportation in many areas of Alaska.

The king salmon is the state fish. Nearly one-third of Alaska lies within the Arctic Circle.

The Alaska Highway was originally built as a military supply road during World War II.

The discovery of gold in the Yukon began a gold rush in 1898. Later gold was discovered at Nome and Fairbanks.

Alaska is the United State's largest state and is over twice the size of Texas. Measuring from north to south the state is approximately 1,400 miles long and measuring from east to west it is 2,700 miles wide.

The Tongass National Forest is the largest national forest in the United States.

17 of the 20 highest peaks in the United States are located in Alaska.

At 20,320 feet above sea level, Mt. McKinley, located in Alaska's interior, is the highest point in North America.

Juneau is the only capital city in the United States accessible only by boat or plane.

Alaska’s capital is Juneau, located in the southeast region of Alaska, has a population of 30,684.

The state's largest city is Anchorage; the second largest is Fairbanks.

In 1915 the record high temperature in Alaska was 100 degrees Fahrenheit at Fort Yukon; the record low temperature was -80 degrees Fahrenheit at Prospect Creek Camp in 1971.

Alaska's name is based on the Eskimo word Alakshak meaning great lands or peninsula.

I hope you have enjoyed these facts.