Alaskancities.com teaches Web surfers the basics about the history of the state of Alaska, as well as provides some facts about modern day economics and politics.
(PRWEB) May 10, 2005 -- A new site was recently launched at www.alaskancities.com to inform the public about the 49th state of the Union.
The site features information about Alaska's geography, major cities, economy, law and government, history and demographics, as well as pictures of the state flag and state seal. Some of facts and information featured on the site includes:
*Alaska was admitted to the United States as the 49th state on January 3, 1959. As of 2000, the population of the state hovers at approximately 626,932.
*The state is bordered by the Yukon Territory and British Columbia, Canada to the east, the Gulf of Alaska and the Pacific Ocean to the south, the Bering Sea, Bering Strait, and Chukchi Sea to the west, and the Beaufort Sea and the Arctic Ocean to the north.
*The name "Alaska" is most likely derived from the Aleut word for "great country" or "mainland." The natives called it "Alyeska," meaning "the great land."
*Alaska is the largest state in the United States in terms of land area, 570,374 square miles. If you placed a transparent map of Alaska on the Lower 48 states, Alaska would stretch from Minnesota to Texas, and from California to Georgia!
*The politics of the state are somewhat unique:
Alaska has no state income tax or sales tax. While the Republican Party dominates Alaskan politics, the state is better described as moderately libertarian rather than conservative. The state's population does not readily identify with the Bible Belt and midwest conservative backbone, as Alaska is generally far less religious than those areas of the Lower 48.
*The state has given its three electoral votes to the Republican candidate in eleven of the twelve (including ten in a row from 1968 through 2004) Presidential elections it has held since statehood. In recent presidential races that have been close nationally, Alaska has not been close at all. George W. Bush defeated Al Gore 59% to 28% in the 2000 election, and bested John Kerry 62% to 35% in the 2004 election.
*The cost of goods in Alaska has long been higher than in the contiguous 48 states for obvious reasons. This has changed for the most part in Anchorage, where the cost of living is actually less than some major cities in the Lower 48, thanks to cheaper housing and transportation costs.
*Rural Alaska suffers from extremely high prices for food and consumer goods due to the lack of transportation infrastructure. Many rural residents come in to Anchorage and purchase food and goods in bulk from warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam's Club.
To learn more about Alaska, visit http://www.alaskancities.com.
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