Eagle River, Alaska
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Eagle River is a subdivision in the Municipality of Anchorage situated on the Eagle River for which it is named, between Fort Richardson and Chugach State Park in the Chugach Mountains. Its zip code is 99577.
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[edit] Demographics
The 2000 census found a population of 18,000 in Eagle River and an additional 10,000 in the settlements northeast of Eagle River: Chugiak, Birchwood, Peters Creek, Thunderbird Falls and Eklutna. About 30,000 people live in the Eagle River and Chugiak areas, on both sides of the Glenn Highway. Many personnel from Fort Richardson and Elmendorf Air Force Base live in Eagle River, and many of the area's civilian residents commute to Anchorage jobs.
The Eagle River Nature Center, which sits at an entrance to Chugach State Park, is 12 miles up Eagle River Road. A state campground is located where the Glenn Highway crosses the river, and a state prison is nearby.
Popular local activities include rafting, hiking, skiing and exploring the mountains. One of the more popular local hikes is up Mount Baldy, which overlooks the town. The historic Crow Pass Trail, which runs 26 miles from the Eagle River Nature Center and ends near the town of Girdwood, remains a favorite backpacking trip. There is no fishing in the river, but anglers do gather at Fire and Mirror Lakes.
Eagle River is the shopping hub between Anchorage and Palmer-Wasilla. Chugiak High School is northeast of town while Eagle River High School is on the southern end.
Annual community events include the Highland Games at the end of June and a Fourth of July celebration, both held at Lion's Park, and the Bear Paw Festival which is in mid-July and is celebrated all over Eagle River.
[edit] Climate
Eagle River's average temperatures in January range from 6 to 20 degrees; in summer, temperatures range from 50 to 70. Annual precipitation is 15.9 inches, with 69 inches of snowfall.
[edit] History
The name Eagle River was first reported in 1939 by the U.S. Geological Survey. The Eagle River/Chugiak area was settled by homesteaders and prospered on agricultural activities. The Eagle River post office was established in 1961.
In spite of local opposition, Chugiak and Eagle River 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 have been ongoing since 2000, in the form of petitions and a home rule vote.
[edit] Sources
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State of Alaska Juneau (capital) |
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| Regions |
Aleutian Islands | Arctic Alaska | Bush Alaska | Interior | Kenai Peninsula | Mat‑Su Valley | North Slope | Panhandle | Seward Peninsula | Southcentral | Southwest | Tanana Valley | Yukon‑Kuskokwim Delta |
| Largest cities |
Anchorage | Barrow | Bethel | Fairbanks | Homer | Juneau | Kenai | Ketchikan | Kodiak | Kotzebue | Nome | Palmer | Petersburg | Seward | Sitka | Unalaska | Valdez | Wasilla |
| Boroughs |
Aleutians East | Anchorage | Bristol Bay | Denali | Fairbanks North Star | Haines | Juneau | Kenai Peninsula | Ketchikan Gateway | Kodiak Island | Lake and Peninsula | Matanuska‑Susitna | North Slope | Northwest Arctic | Sitka | Yakutat |
| Census areas |
Aleutians West | Bethel | Dillingham | Nome | Prince of Wales‑Outer Ketchikan | Skagway‑Hoonah‑Angoon | Southeast Fairbanks | Valdez‑Cordova | Wade Hampton | Wrangell‑Petersburg | Yukon‑Koyukuk | (see also) Unorganized Borough |
