Palmer Alaska

Population: 5475

Location and Climate
Palmer is located in the center of the lush farmlands of the Matanuska Valley, 42 miles northeast of Anchorage on the Glenn Highway. It lies at approximately 61.599720° North Latitude and -149.11278° West Longitude. (Sec. 04, T017N, R002E, Seward Meridian.) Palmer is located in the Palmer Recording District. The area encompasses 3.8 sq. miles of land and 0.0 sq. miles of water. The temperatures in January range from -36 to 51; in July, 37 to 85. Annual precipitation is 16.5 inches, with 50 inches of snowfall.

History, Culture and Demographics
Two groups of Athabascans -- the Ahtna and Dena'ina -- have lived in this region for centuries. George Palmer is said to have arrived in 1875. He was a trader in Knik, and around 1890, established a trading post on the Matanuska River. A railway siding was constructed in Palmer in 1916. In 1935, Palmer became the site of one of the most unusual experiments in American history: the Matanuska Valley Colony. The Federal Emergency Relief Administration, one of the many New Deal relief agencies created by President Roosevelt, planned an agricultural colony in Alaska. 203 families, mostly from Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, were invited to join the Colony. They arrived in Palmer in the early summer of 1935. Although the failure rate was high, many of their descendants still live in the Mat-Su Valley today. The City of Palmer was formed in 1951. Construction of the statewide road system, and the rapid development of Anchorage, has fueled growth in the Mat-Su valley. 12.5% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native. The valley is renowned for the annual Alaska State Fair, where local farmers produce award-winning vegetables. Popular recreation sites include Hatcher Pass, Crevasse-Moraine Trails, Kepler Lake, Bonnie Lake, Finger Lake and Long Lake. During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 1,555 total housing units, and 83 were vacant. 5 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 1,869 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 10.84%, although 42.46% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $45,571, per capita income was $17,203, and 12.66% of residents were living below the poverty level.

Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care
Water is provided by three deep wells, is treated and stored in a million-gallon reservoir. Sewage is collected by pipe and treated in an aerated lagoon facility. The schools and Palmer Correctional Center operate individual well systems. All homes are completely plumbed. Matanuska Electric Assoc. is part owner of the Alaska Electric Generation & Transmission Cooperative, Inc., which operates a gas turbine plant in Soldotna and also purchases electricity from Chugach Electric and the Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Project. Piped natural gas, provided by Enstar, is used to heat homes. The Mat-Su Borough operates the landfill in Palmer. A sludge disposal site is also available. Electricity is provided by Matanuska Electric Association. There are 7 schools located in the community, attended by 2,983 students. Local hospitals or health clinics include Valley Hospital (352-2860). The Hospital is a qualified Acute Care facility and is privately-owned. Long Term Care: Palmer Pioneers' Home. Palmer is classified as a small city, it is found in EMS Region 2C in the Mat-Su Region. Emergency Services have highway,air, floatplane and helicopter access. Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service and volunteers. Auxiliary health care is provided by Palmer Ambulance Service (373-8800/745-4811).

Economy and Transportation
Many residents commute to Anchorage for employment. Palmer's economy is based on a diversity of retail and other services, City, Borough, State and federal government. Some light manufacturing occurs. 73 area residents hold commercial fishing permits. Palmer is home to 200 musk ox whose underwool (qiviut) is knitted into garments by Alaska Native women from several rural villages. Between 2,500 and 3,500 garments are created each year by these women, and sold by an Anchorage cooperative. The 75-acre musk ox farm is also a tourist attraction. The University has an Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Office and a district Cooperative Extension Service office here. The University's Matanuska Research Farm is also located in Palmer. Palmer lies on the Glenn Highway. Commercial airlines serve the Anchorage International Airport, but the Palmer Municipal Airport supports private and chartered services with two paved airstrips, one at 6,009' long by 60' wide and the other at 3,617' long by 75' wide. There are seven additional privately-owned airstrips in the vicinity. Float planes may land at nearby Finger Lake or Wolf Lake. The Alaska Railroad connects Palmer to Whittier, Seward or Anchorage for ocean freight delivery.

Source: State of Alaska, Department of Community and Economic Development.

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[graphic version Palmer Alaska]