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2000 Census Information

The total Alaskan population at the time of the 2000 Census was as follows:

1. Total population – 626,932
   
2. Total native population – 119,241
   
3. Breakdown population according to tribe
   • Eskimo – 54,761
   • Tlingit-Haida – 22,365
   • Alaska Athabascan – 18,838
   • Aluet – 16,978
   • Alaskan native non-specific – 6,299

The weather conditions found in Alaska are broken down into several regions. These regions and their climate information is as follows:

1. Northern Arctic Zone

   This region of Alaska is the coldest with fewer than 110 days having temperatures above freezing. Summer begins in early July and continues through mid-September each year. Snow only covers the ground for eight months of the year. However, snowfall is expected during every month of the year. Between November 18 and January 24 the sun will not shine in the Northern Arctic Zone.

   The largest city in the Northern Arctic Zone is Borrow which has a population of 4,581

2. Northern Central Zone Although warmer than the Northern Arctic Zone the Central Zone is also very cold during the winter months. Average temperatures during this time of year are about 20 degrees below zero. The area receives 4 to 10 hours of sun between the months of November and March. During this time the air is generally filled with an ice fog. The snowfall in this region of Alaska is heavy, however the snow is so dry that the majority of the water is received through summer rain showers. Summer months are sunny and warm with temperatures usually found in the low 70s. During this time the sun is up between 18 and 21 hours each day. The largest city in the Northern Central Zone is Fairbanks which has a population of 35,483.
   
3. Southern Zone This section of Alaska has all four seasons rather than just summer and winter. Summer brings daytime temperatures in the mid-60s and cools to the 50s after dark. The Southern Zone receives most of its rainfall from August to October. Autumn is short, but beautiful lasting from early September to mid-October. Annual snowfall is between 60 and 90 inches. The coldest part of the winter occurs in January with temperatures dipping into the low 20s. The last snowfall of the year is generally in late-April. This marks the beginning of spring. The vegetation green quickly and bloom even faster as the days melt into summer again. The largest city in the Southern Zone is Anchorage which has a population of 260,283.
   
4. Southeast Coastal Zone The Southeast Coastal region of Alaska has a mostly maritime climate. During the summer months of June, July and August, it is not unusual for temperatures to reach into the high 80s. February is the coldest month and has been known to get as cold as -22 degrees. This warmer climate is due to the coastal currents bringing the warmer air up through the Gulf of Alaska. This climate also brings more precipitation than the other regions of the state, as much as 130 inches in a single year. It seldom snows after March as the region begins to move from winter to springtime weather. Fog is a problem in the Southeast Coastal Zone year round. This is usually caused by the warm and cold air mixing. The fog in this region is most often short lived. The largest city in the Southeast Coastal Zone is Alaska’s Capitol, Juneau which has a population of 30,711. The city of Juneau has no road leading in or out of the city. To access the city you must travel by boat or airplane.
   
5. Southwest Coastal Zone The Southwest and Southeast Coastal Zones have very similar weather. The main difference is the amount of precipitation each year. There is much less rain and snowfall in the Southwest region. It is also difficult to separate the seasons in this zone. Spring and summer blend as do fall and winter. The foggy season in this region, usually runs from mid-July to mid-September. Winter has it own visibility problems with blowing snow. The most interesting settlement in the Southwest Coastal Region is Port Moller, which has a winter population of 1.

Alaska became the 49th State accepted into the Union on January 3, 1959. It adopted its state flag that same year. It has a blue background with the big dipper constellation and the North Star on the foreground.

Other state symbols are as follows:

1. State Flower – Forget-me-not
2. State Motto – North to the Future
3. State Song - Alaska’s Flag
4. State Gem – Jade
5. State Tree - Sitka spruce
6. State Fish – King Salmon
7. State Mineral – Gold
8. State Bird - Pheasant-like Willow Ptarmigan
9. State Fossil – Wooly Mammoth
10. State Land Mammal – Moose
11. State Insect – Spotted Skimmer Dragonfly
12. State Marine Mammal – Bowhead Whale
13. State Sport – Dog Mushing
14. State Nickname – The Last Frontier

1. Highest Peak – Mount McKinley
2. Lowest Point - Pacific Ocean
3. Geographic Center: 60 miles northwest of Mount McKinley