Anchorage History 2

Anchorage History

In Anchorage history, it is written that in 1778 the famed "Captain James Cook" is said to be the first to explore the Anchorage area. However, Russian explorers have long established themselves on the southern part of Alaska by 1784. The cultural influence and trading accomplishment of Russia in that area greatly increased within the next hundred years. On the other hand, Russia began experiencing problems by 1867, forcing them to sell it by the amount of over seven million dollars (roughly two cents an acre).

Anchorage history records show that by 1915, Anchorage was originally planned as headquarters for the "Alaska Railroad" on the "Ship Creek Landing". As the erection of the headquarters of the Alaska Railroad began, a chain of tents popped in the mouth of the Ship Creek, escalating the population to over 2,000. With that the town grew and would be entrepreneurs converge on Anchorage bringing with them businesses and almost everything that is essential in building a city. The name Anchorage was derived from the "The Anchorage" (an old steamship called "Berth" that was dry docked); popular hardware and clothing store at that time.

All throughout the Anchorage history, it has been called many names, until the United States Postal Office formalized it with the name "Anchorage" in spite of many protests. Anchorage was later incorporated as a city on the 23rd of November in the year 1920 (Alaska however attained statehood on 1959). The growth of Anchorage was little by little progressing nevertheless it still is a small frontier town. But when the Japanese attacked Peal Harbor during the World War II; airfields, roads, and new infrastructures were put up all over Anchorage, escalating the population of Anchorage from four thousand to well over forty thousand.

On Good Friday, 27th of March in the year 1964, the people of Anchorage were hit with the worst tragedy throughout Anchorage history. Earthquake measuring up 9.2 in the Richter scale (the strongest ever in North America and in the United States) shook through Anchorage, leaving on its wake despair, death and lots of destruction. The city then prioritized its recovery on the late sixties. With its recovery, oil manufacturers and construction companies established their headquarters in Anchorage because of the oil discovery in the Prudhoe Bay.

The Anchorage history in the eighties was a productive time for Anchorage. With the North Slope oil revenues; beautification programs and capital project greatly increased the quality of life and infrastructure in Anchorage. Throughout the Anchorage History, it has developed many undeveloped areas; filling them with, strip malls, houses and other infrastructures. On the present day, recreational activities and tourism in Anchorage is one of the major aspects of the economy in Anchorage.