Seward, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Seward is a city in Kenai Peninsula Borough
in the U.S. state of Alaska
. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 3,016.
It was named after William H. Seward
, United States Secretary of State
under Abraham Lincoln
and Andrew Johnson
. In 1867, he fought for the U.S. purchase of Alaska
which he finally negotiated to acquire from Russia.
In 1793 Alexander Baranov of the Shelikhov-Golikov company
(precursor of the Russian-American Company
) established a fur trade
post on Resurrection Bay
where Seward is today, and had a three-masted vessel, the Phoenix
, built at the post by James Shields, an English shipwright in Russian service.
, the city has a total area of 21.5 square miles (55.7 km²), of which, 14.4 square miles (37.3 km²) of it is land and 7.1 square miles (18.4 km²) of it (32.93%) is water.
Adjoining communities include Bear Creek
and Lowell Point
.
, 2.44% Black
or African American
, 16.68% Native American
, 1.84% Asian
, 0.18% Pacific Islander
, 0.88% from other races
, and 5.87% from two or more races. 2.40% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 917 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 21.9% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 35.9% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 150.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 166.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,306, and the median income for a family was $54,904. Males had a median income of $36,900 versus $30,508 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $20,360. About 8.3% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.
operates the Spring Creek Correctional Center
in Seward.
The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development operates AVTEC, Alaska's Institute of Technology in Seward.
The United States Postal Service
operates the Seward Post Office.
, a National Scenic Byway and All-American Road, which also brings it bus service. Seward is also the southern terminus of the Alaska Railroad
. This keeps the port busy with freight coming on and off the trains, but also makes Seward a primary end point for north-bound cruise ship
s. Cruise ship passengers get off the boats and take the train farther north to Denali or other Alaskan attractions.
Seward is a very bike friendly community. A paved bike path runs from the downtown business district through the harbor and along the highway to mile 4.5. Bikes are available for rent and there are even guided bike tours of the area http://www.sewardbiketours.com.
Seward used to receive service from the Alaska Marine Highway
(ferry) system, however, service was discontinued at the end of the 2005. Ferry connections are now available in Whittier
(90 miles North) or Homer
(150 miles by highway).
Seward Airport
(PAWD/SWD) is home to (general aviation) services and flight-seeing operators. Scheduled commercial service is available at Kenai Municipal Airport
in Kenai
and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport
, both about 100 miles (160.9 km) away. Seasonal bus connections are also available.
operates schools in Seward. Seward Elementary School, Seward Middle School, and Seward High School serve Seward.
Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska
-National protected areas:* Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge ** Chiswell Islands** Tuxedni Wilderness* Chugach National Forest * Katmai National Park and Preserve ** Katmai Wilderness...
in the U.S. state of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 3,016.
It was named after William H. Seward
William H. Seward
William Henry Seward, Sr. was the 12th Governor of New York, United States Senator and the United States Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson...
, United States Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
under Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
and Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
. In 1867, he fought for the U.S. purchase of Alaska
Alaska purchase
The Alaska Purchase was the acquisition of the Alaska territory by the United States from Russia in 1867 by a treaty ratified by the Senate. The purchase, made at the initiative of United States Secretary of State William H. Seward, gained of new United States territory...
which he finally negotiated to acquire from Russia.
In 1793 Alexander Baranov of the Shelikhov-Golikov company
Grigory Shelikhov
Grigory Ivanovich Shelekhov Grigory Ivanovich Shelekhov Grigory Ivanovich Shelekhov (Григорий Иванович Шелехов in Russian; (1747–July 20, 1795 (July 31, 1795 N.S.)) was a Russian seafarer and merchant born in Rylsk....
(precursor of the Russian-American Company
Russian-American Company
The Russian-American Company was a state-sponsored chartered company formed largely on the basis of the so-called Shelekhov-Golikov Company of Grigory Shelekhov and Ivan Larionovich Golikov The Russian-American Company (officially: Under His Imperial Majesty's Highest Protection (patronage)...
) established a fur trade
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
post on Resurrection Bay
Resurrection Bay
Resurrection Bay is a bay on the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska, United States. Its main settlement is Seward, located at the head of the bay. It received its name from Alexandr Baranov, who was forced to retreat into the bay during a bad storm in the Gulf of Alaska...
where Seward is today, and had a three-masted vessel, the Phoenix
Phoenix (Alaska)
The Phoenix was the first ship built in Russian America . It was constructed under the direction of James George Shields, a British mariner in the employ of the Russian Navy, using mainly local materials. The boat was three-masted, 90 feet long, with a cargo capacity of 180 tons...
, built at the post by James Shields, an English shipwright in Russian service.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 21.5 square miles (55.7 km²), of which, 14.4 square miles (37.3 km²) of it is land and 7.1 square miles (18.4 km²) of it (32.93%) is water.
Adjoining communities include Bear Creek
Bear Creek, Alaska
Bear Creek is a census-designated place in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,748. Bear Creek is a few miles North of Seward near the stream of the same name and its source, Bear Lake.-Geography:...
and Lowell Point
Lowell Point, Alaska
Lowell Point is a census-designated place in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, United States, just outside of Seward. At the 2000 census the population was 92.-Geography:Lowell Point is located at ....
.
Economy
- Seward is the seventh most lucrative fisheries port in the United States per value. In 2004, 49.7 million dollars worth of fish and shellfish passed through Seward according to the National Marine Fisheries ServiceNational Marine Fisheries ServiceThe National Marine Fisheries Service is a United States federal agency. A division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Department of Commerce, NMFS is responsible for the stewardship and management of the nation's living marine resources and their habitat within the...
. - Another major industry in Seward is tourism.
- Seward is also an Alaska Railroad terminus which has a maintained dock for cruise vessels and it controls a shipping terminal for coal from Usibelli. The Railroad and Aurora Energy Services employ dozens of people in the local area.
- Seward also has a minor military installation and is the homeport of the USCGC Mustang.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,830 people, 917 households, and 555 families residing in the city. The population density was 196.0 people per square mile (75.7/km²). There were 1,058 housing units at an average density of 73.3 per square mile (28.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.12% WhiteRace (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.44% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 16.68% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.84% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.18% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.88% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 5.87% from two or more races. 2.40% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 917 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 21.9% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 35.9% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 150.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 166.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,306, and the median income for a family was $54,904. Males had a median income of $36,900 versus $30,508 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $20,360. About 8.3% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1920 | 700 |
| 1930 | 800 |
| 1940 | 900 |
| 1950 | 2,100 |
| 1960 | 1,900 |
| 1970 | 1,600 |
| 1980 | 1,800 |
| 1990 | 2,700 |
| 2000 | 2,830 |
| 2010 | 2,693 |
Government and infrastructure
The Alaska Department of CorrectionsAlaska Department of Corrections
The Department of Corrections of the state of Alaska is an agency of the state government responsible for corrections. The Department manages institutions, parole and probation. The current commissioner is Joe Schimdt...
operates the Spring Creek Correctional Center
Spring Creek Correctional Center
Spring Creek Correctional Center is an Alaska Department of Corrections maximum security prison for men located in Seward, Alaska, United States. The prison is located approximately south of Anchorage. The prison is located on about of land surrounded by national parks. The prison capacity...
in Seward.
The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development operates AVTEC, Alaska's Institute of Technology in Seward.
The United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates the Seward Post Office.
Transportation
Seward is unusual among most small Alaskan communities in that it has road access in the Seward HighwaySeward Highway
The Seward Highway is a highway in the U.S. state of Alaska that extends 127 miles from Seward to Anchorage. It was completed in 1951 and runs through the scenic Kenai Peninsula and Turnagain Arm, for which it was designated an All-American Road by the U.S...
, a National Scenic Byway and All-American Road, which also brings it bus service. Seward is also the southern terminus of the Alaska Railroad
Alaska Railroad
The Alaska Railroad is a Class II railroad which extends from Seward and Whittier, in the south of the state of Alaska, in the United States, to Fairbanks , and beyond to Eielson Air Force Base and Fort Wainwright in the interior of that state...
. This keeps the port busy with freight coming on and off the trains, but also makes Seward a primary end point for north-bound cruise ship
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
s. Cruise ship passengers get off the boats and take the train farther north to Denali or other Alaskan attractions.
Seward is a very bike friendly community. A paved bike path runs from the downtown business district through the harbor and along the highway to mile 4.5. Bikes are available for rent and there are even guided bike tours of the area http://www.sewardbiketours.com.
Seward used to receive service from the Alaska Marine Highway
Alaska Marine Highway
The Alaska Marine Highway or the Alaska Marine Highway System is a ferry service operated by the government of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has its headquarters in Ketchikan, Alaska....
(ferry) system, however, service was discontinued at the end of the 2005. Ferry connections are now available in Whittier
Whittier, Alaska
Whittier is a city in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area, in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of 2006, the population was 177. The city is also a port for the Alaska Marine Highway.-Geography:...
(90 miles North) or Homer
Homer, Alaska
Homer is a city located in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population was 5,364. One of Homer's nicknames is "the cosmic hamlet by the sea"; another is "the end of the road"...
(150 miles by highway).
Seward Airport
Seward Airport
Seward Airport is a state-owned, public-use airport located two nautical miles northeast of the central business district of Seward, a city in Kenai Peninsula Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska...
(PAWD/SWD) is home to (general aviation) services and flight-seeing operators. Scheduled commercial service is available at Kenai Municipal Airport
Kenai Municipal Airport
Kenai Municipal Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located in Kenai, a city in the Kenai Peninsula Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska.- Facilities :Kenai Municipal Airport covers an area of at an elevation of 99 feet above mean sea level...
in Kenai
Kenai, Alaska
Kenai is a city in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 7,464...
and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport
-Top destinations:-Scheduled cargo airlines:-Top destinations:-Scheduled cargo airlines:-Top destinations:-Scheduled cargo airlines:-Inter-terminal:...
, both about 100 miles (160.9 km) away. Seasonal bus connections are also available.
International sister cities
Obihiro, Japan - (1968)Notable people from Seward
- In 1927, thirteen-year old Seward resident and Native Alaskan, Benny BensonBenny BensonJohn Ben "Benny" Benson, Jr. was the Aleut boy who designed the flag of Alaska. Benny was 13 when he won in a contest in 1927 to design the flag for the territory of Alaska, which became a U.S. state in 1959.-Biography:...
, won a territory-wide American Legion contest to design a flag for Alaska. Born in Chignik in 1913, he was three when his mother died of pneumonia. Soon after her death the family's house burned and his Swedish fisherman father sent Benny and his brother to the Jesse Lee Home in Seward. Winning the contest changed Benny's life. The prize for designing the flag included a $1000 scholarship which he used to become an airplane mechanic. He married, raised a family, and died of a heart attack in 1972 at the age of 58. His design became the territorial flag and eventually the state flag. He is memorialized in Seward by the Benny Benson Memorial Park.
- Chad BentzChad BentzChad Robert Bentz is a Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. Bentz grew up in Juneau, and he made history on April 7, by becoming the second pitcher, after Jim Abbott, to play in the major leagues after being born without one of his hands...
, Major League Baseball Player
- Harry Kawabe, Japanese-American businessman sent to internment camp during World War II
Points of interest
- Mount MarathonMount MarathonMount Marathon or Marathon Mountain is a mountain two miles west of Seward in the Kenai Mountains of Alaska.The mountain actually derives its name from the ever-popular Mount Marathon Race held every Fourth of July.-External links:*...
and its famous Mount Marathon RaceMount Marathon RaceThe Mount Marathon Race is a mountain race that is run every Fourth of July in Seward, Alaska.-Race:The race begins downtown, on Fourth and Jefferson, in front of the First National Bank, and ends a block south of where it began, on Fourth and Adams. The halfway point is a stone marker atop Mount... - Kenai Fjords National ParkKenai Fjords National ParkKenai Fjords National Park is a United States National Park established in 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. The park covers an area of approximately on the Kenai Peninsula in southcentral Alaska, near the town of Seward. The park contains the Harding Icefield, one of...
with its easily accessible Exit GlacierExit GlacierExit Glacier is a glacier derived from the Harding Icefield in the Kenai Mountains of Alaska.It received its name because it served as the exit for the first recorded crossing of the Harding Icefield in 1968.- History :... - Alaska SeaLife CenterAlaska SeaLife CenterThe Alaska SeaLife Center, Alaska’s premier public aquarium and Alaska's only permanent marine mammal rehabilitation facility , is located on the shores of Resurrection Bay in Seward in the U.S. state of Alaska...
- Sport fishing- Salmon, Halibut, Ling cod, Salmon Shark
- Glacier and Wildlife Day Cruises
- Sailing
- Hiking
- World class mountain bike trails
- 4 July Celebrations
- Silver Salmon Derby
- AVTEC, Alaska's Institute of Technology
- 4th of July Festival
- Seward Silver Salmon Derby
- Seward Polar Bear Jump-Off
- Seward Spring Break Up Festival
- Seward Music and Arts Festival, every year in September.
Education
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictKenai Peninsula Borough School District
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District serves 21 communities and 9,400 students in the Kenai Peninsula Borough. KPBSD is the largest employer on the Kenai Peninsula providing $4.9 million in gross payroll each month.- Schools :...
operates schools in Seward. Seward Elementary School, Seward Middle School, and Seward High School serve Seward.
External links
- City of Seward in Alaska
- Seward Information Center
- Seward Chamber of Commerce and Conference & Visitors Bureau
- SewardCityNews.com Seward's citizen journalism site