Top 5 Major Cities In Alaska
- Anchorage is the most populous and major city of Alaska which has a population of close to 3 lakh people
- Fairbanks, Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan are four other major cities in Alaska
Top 5 Major Cities In Alaska: Which is the largest state in USA by area? It is Alaska which has a sprawling area of 1,723,337 square kilometre. The area of the state is more than of California and Texas combined. It is the northernmost and westernmost state in USA. The state is known for its oil, gas and petroleum industry which powers more than 80% of economy. After oil and gas seafood is the second major industry in Alaska. The state primarily exports salmon, crabs and cod. Shipping and transportation industry too plays a crucial role in Alaska’s economy.
Alaska is a natural gas producer. In 2025 natural gas accounted for more than 40% of state’s total energy generation. Hydroelectric power generated sits at second spot with a share of more than 20%. Despite having one of the smallest economies Alaska have one of the highest per capita income in USA at $80,175.
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Alaska is home to some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes and so tourism has developed a lot here. From May to September tourists visit Alaska to experience 24-hours daylight. At a time 3.08 million tourists visited Alaska in just 12 months spending close to $4 billion and supporting livelihoods of 48,000 residents of Alaska. It is home to several military bases due to its strategic location. Around 9 military bases are operational in Alaska.
Anchorage
The first major city in the list is Anchorage. It is the most populous city in Alaska with 291,247 residents. 40% of total Alaska’s population lives in this city only. By area Anchorage is the 4th largest city in entire USA. Ted-Stevens Anchorage International Airport here acts as a major refueling centre for international aircrafts and a hub for FedEx courier service. For cargo traffic it is the world’s fourth busiest airport.
As Alaska is home to total 9 military bases 3 of them are here in Anchorage – Elmendorf Air Force Base, Fort Richardson and Kulis Air National Guard Base (127 acre). All military personnel who work here constitutes 10% of total Anchorage city population. The Conoco-Phillips Building is located here which is the tallest building in Alaska with a height of 296-feet and 22 storeys.
Fairbanks
The 2nd most populous city in Alaska is Fairbanks. This city is widely known for being a premier destination for viewing Northern lights. From late August tourists start visiting the city for an amazing night view as shown in the picture above. The season continues till April. Murphy Dome, a 2,930 foot peak located in the city provides 360 degree view of the Northern lights.
Fairbanks traces its origins as a city in 1900s when Fairbanks Gold Rush happened when miners moved in to mine gold in the area and exploration of gold continues till date. The city is located alongside the Chena river. Fairbanks is known as The Golden Heart of Alaska. Denali state bank headquarters is located in Fairbanks.
Juneau
Named as the capital of Alaska in 1906, Juneau is the third major city in the list. It is the sixth least populated capital of any state in USA with a population of just 32,255. As there are no roads connecting Juneau to other cities in Alaska it largely remains underdeveloped and disconnected from rest of the state. This is the exact reason why Alaska considered moving its capital from Juneau to elsewhere. Cruise and airline are the primary transport to be used here for traveling to other city or state. Most of the Juneau economy is supported by tourism.
Sitka – The Largest City In USA By Area
Which is the largest city in USA by area? Well it is Sitka. With a population of just 8,458 people the largest city of USA is also the least populated. Sitka has a total land area of 7,434 square kilometre. Mount Edgecumbe is the most notable mountain range in Sitka. This city used to be under Russian rule till 1867 when USA bought Alaska for $7.2 million. Sitka was originally a fur trading point and served as a site of Russia’s handover of Alaska to USA in 1867.
Cruise ships are the primary source here for tourist arrivals. Sitka itself is one of the few visiting cruise ship destinations in USA. The arrival of cruise ships in the city are such that a refrendum took place to restrict the number of visiting cruise ships in the city which was subsequently rejected by 73% of voters.
Ketchikan – The Salmon Capital of the World
Among all the major cities in Alaska Ketchikan is the last one. The city is known as the salmon capital of the world. This is because all five species of pacific salmon are found in the city’s nutrient rich waters. The names are King, Chinook, Sockeye, Coho, Pink, and Chum. Ketchikan often referred to as “The Alaska’s first City” because it is one of the first legally incorporated cities in the state.
So these were the 5 major cities in Alaska. If you find this article informative then please share. THANK YOU!
