Population
277,000. Anchorage is Alaska's largest city with 42 percent of the state's population. (Note: Alaskans are very friendly. Do not be alarmed if residents smile and greet you or offer assistance; they only want you to have a great time! )
Time Zone
Anchorage, and virtually all of Alaska, is in Alaska Standard Time, one hour behind Pacific Standard Time and four hours behind Eastern Standard Time.
Size
Anchorage stretches from Portage Glacier to Eklutna, encompassing 1,955 sq. miles (782 hectares) - about the size of the state of Delaware.
Location
Anchorage sits at the base of the Chugach Mountains along the coast of Cook Inlet in South central Alaska. Alaska is actually the northern, western and easternmost point in the United States. The Aleutian Chain extends into the Eastern Hemisphere .
Sales Tax
There is no sales tax in Anchorage.
Mountains
You can see the Chugach, Kenai, Talkeetna, Tordrillo, Aleutian and Alaska mountain ranges from Anchorage. Mount McKinley, 130 miles (208 km) north of downtown, can be seen on clear days. This 20,320-foot peak is the tallest mountain in North America.
Earthquake Evidence
The Good Friday Earthquake shook all of South central Alaska on March 27, 1964. It is the strongest earthquake ever recorded in North America, measuring 9.2 on the Richter Scale.
Glaciers
There are approximately 100,000 glaciers in Alaska, 60 of which are within 50 miles of Anchorage. Portage Glacier, just 45 miles (72 km) south of downtown, is one of the most visited attractions in all of Alaska.
Aviation
Alaska has about one registered pilot for every 58 residents, six times as many pilots per capita and 14 times as many airplanes per capita as the rest of the United States.