Seward, Alaska

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Coordinates: 60°07′28″N 149°26′00″W / 60.12444, -149.433333
Seward, Alaska
Aerial view of Seward, Alaska

Country	United States
State	Alaska
Borough	Kenai Peninsula
Established	1903
Incorporated	1912
Government
- Mayor	Clark Corbridge Term Expires 10/2009
Area
- Total	21.5 sq mi (55.8 km²)
- Land	14.4 sq mi (37.4 km²)
- Water	7.1 sq mi (18.4 km²)
Elevation	0 ft (27 m)
Population
- Total	2,830
- Density	196.0/sq mi (75.7/km²)
Time zone	Alaska (UTC-9)
- Summer (DST)	Alaska (UTC-8)
ZIP code	99664
Area code(s)	907
FIPS code	02-68560
GNIS feature ID	1414598
Source of coordinates ^[1]
Website: www.cityofseward.net

The Seward boat harbor

Seward is a city in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 3,016.^[2]

It was named after William H. Seward, early member of the United States Republican Party, United States Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln. As Secretary of State, he fought for the U.S. purchase of Alaska which he finally negotiated to acquire from Russia.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Transportation
4 International sister cities
5 Notable people from Seward
6 Attractions
7 Other facts about Seward
8 References
9 External links

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 21.5 square miles (55.8 km²), of which, 14.4 square miles (37.4 km²) of it is land and 7.1 square miles (18.4 km²) of it (32.93%) is water.

Adjoining communities include Bear Creek and Lowell Point.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 2,830 people, 917 households, and 555 families residing in the city. The population density was 196.0 people per square mile (75.7/km²). There were 1,058 housing units at an average density of 73.3/sq mi (28.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.12% White, 2.44% Black or African American, 16.68% Native American, 1.84% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 0.88% from other races, and 5.87% from two or more races. 2.40% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Boat harbor at night

There were 917 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 35.9% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 150.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 166.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $44,306, and the median income for a family was $54,904. Males had a median income of $36,900 versus $30,508 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,360. About 8.3% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Transportation

Welcome sign

Seward is unique among most small Alaskan communities in that it has road access in the Seward Highway, a National Scenic Byway and All-American Road, which also brings it bus service, albeit most buses are marketed towards tourists and the costs are higher and service decreases or ceases in the winter. Seward is also the southern terminus of the Alaska Railroad. This keeps the port busy with freight coming on and off the trains, but also makes Seward a primary end point for north-bound cruise ships. Cruise ship passengers get off the boats and take the train farther north to Denali or other Alaskan attractions.

Seward used to receive service from the Alaska Marine Highway (ferry) system, however, service was discontinued at the end of the 2005 season due to budget cuts and "under utilization." Ferry connections are available in Whittier (90 miles North) or Homer (150 miles by highway).

Seward Airport (PAWD/SWD) is home to (general aviation) services and flight-seeing operators. Scheduled commercial service is available at Kenai Municipal Airport in Kenai and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, both about 100 miles away. Seasonal bus connections are also available.

[edit] International sister cities

Obihiro, Japan - (1968)

[edit] Notable people from Seward

In 1927, thirteen-year old Seward resident Benny Benson won a territory-wide American Legion contest to design a flag for Alaska. Up to that point Benny's life as a Native Alaskan was a typical story of the times. Born in Chignik in 1913, he was three when his mother died of pneumonia. Soon after her death the family's house burned and his Swedish fisherman father sent Benny and his brother to the Jesse Lee Home in Seward. Winning the contest changed Benny’s life. The prize for designing the flag included a $1000 scholarship which he used to become an airplane mechanic. He married, raised a family, and died of a heart attack in 1972 at the age of 58. His design became the territorial flag and eventually the state flag. He is memorialized in Seward by the Benny Benson Memorial Park.^[4]

[edit] Attractions

Mount Marathon and its famous Mount Marathon Race
Kenai Fjords National Park with its easily accessible Exit Glacier
Alaska SeaLife Center

Alaska Vocational Technical Center
4th of July Festival

Seward Silver Salmon Derby
Seward Polar Bear Jump-Off

[edit] Other facts about Seward

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Seward is the seventh most lucrative fisheries port in the United States per value. In 2004, 49.7 million dollars worth of fish and shellfish passed through Seward according to the National Marine Fisheries Service.