How have the settlement patterns of Alaska been a reflection of the natural landscape, distance, resources and the economy?
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| Alaska Gold Nugget |
The discovery of gold and oil are two examples of this impact.
In the late 1800's and early 1900's, major gold discoveries in several parts of the state spurred new settlements.
After the discovery of oil at Prudhoe Bay in 1968, many Alaskan towns grew rapidly as people came to build the pipeline and work in the oil fields.
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| Fort Greely |
The military and oil discovery are two examples of this impact.
Our state's isolated location, separation from the lower forty-eight and close proximity to Russia are the reasons why the military has had such a strong presence, and thus caused many members of the military and their families to settle in Alaska.
The reason why the Alyeska Pipeline was built, and thus caused so many people to move to Alaska, was because the distance between the oilfields and a thawed ocean port was vast.
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| Alaska Pipeline |
Throughout American ownership of Alaska, many communities were created or increased as a result of mining, fishing, oil extraction, logging, tourism, military presence and other economic activities.
While many of these communities were abandoned after the economic activity ceased, many of these communities are still in existence today.
In larger communities, such as Anchorage and Fairbanks, hospitals, schools, military bases, universities, stores and other businesses continue to support the local economies.
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| Villagers Butchering Whale in Kaktovik |
Because most of the villages have a subsistence lifestyle with no real economic development, many villages have been abandoned or experienced a decline in population as people have moved to places where they could go to school or obtain employment.
Since the 1870's, what are the types of communities that have evolved in Alaska?
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| Mining Camp at Record City, Alaska 1903 |
Many towns developed as a result of the thousands of gold prospectors that flooded to Alaska after the discovery of gold.
The buildings and living quarters for these communities were typically tents or temporary log structures. Many of these towns only lasted a short time and were considered very "rough" and "wild".
Saloons, gambling houses and dance halls were plentiful in these towns. In some of these communities, shootouts and brawls were common.
Nome and Circle City began as mining camp towns.
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| Abandoned Community at Kennecott Mine |
After the initial gold stampedes, large mining companies began setting up operations in Alaska. Many of these companies developed towns on the land that they owned.
These towns typically consisted of boarding houses, offices and other community buildings such as bowling alleys, swimming pools and reading rooms.
Most company towns are no longer in existance. The Kennecott Copper Mines, Treadwell Gold mines, and Chatanika Gold Fields were three places that had company towns.
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| Coast Guard Base Kodiak, Alaska |
American Alaska has experienced two time periods of major military growth.
During the early gold rush years, seven military posts were established in Alaska. Sitka was heavily impacted by its military post.
During World War II, several naval stations, army posts and airfields were established throughout Alaska. Kodiak and Fairbanks are two communities that were and continue to be heavily impacted by their military posts.
Military posts in many ways were and are complete communities. Fort Wainwright here in Fairbanks has a grocery store, hospital, childcare center, recreation facilities and housing.
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| Traintracks in Nenana, Alaska |
Many new Alaskan communities were established along the routes that roads, railroads, cable and telegraph systems were built.
These communities were often more well-rounded and family oriented than mining camp communities and company towns. In 1908 the community of Cordova had schools, churches, furniture manufacturers and several types of small shops.
Anchorage, Cordova and Nenana were settled largely as a result of the roads, railroad and waterways that were build and used for transportation.
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| Village on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska |
Many Alaska Natives have lived and continue to live in small rural communities that were and are still predominately Native. These communities have a strong subsistence lifestyle. Kongiganak and Point Hope are two of these types of communities.
The village corporations that were established as part of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 was created in part to help these small, rural communities continue to survive.
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| Wasilla, Alaska |
Suburbs were established in the 1970's when Alaska's population nearly doubled as a result of the building of the pipeline, and new roads. Eagle River and North Pole are examples of these types of communities.
Concluding Paragraph
It was hard for me to clearly separate and explain how natural landscape, resources, distance and economy have contributed to settlement patterns, because all of these factors are very interconnected and each settlement in Alaska has been influenced by all four of these factors.
It is so interesting for me to think of what it would have been like to live in Alaska prior to the oil discovery at Prudhoe Bay and then see the huge increase in population that occurred when the pipeline began to be built.
I really liked the small changes that were made to this module that make it clearer. I like how the "required" readings were separated from the "nice to know" readings. This helped me to see more clearly what the instructors felt was important for me to know, understand and write about.
I also felt like the questions were a little clearer and easier to understand.
Three Blog Reviews
Dianne gives a good overview of communication systems development in Alaska.
Brad makes a lot of good connections between communication development in Alaska and the impacts on Native Culture and the environment. He also has a nice list of lesson topics related to transportation.
Marg has a very well constructed blog. She has some great links and a wonderful overview and pictures of ten roads in Alaska.
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