By Tim Lambert
Early Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska, was founded in 1915 when Congress authorized the building of a railroad. Oscar Anderson House and Wendler House were both built in 1915.
Anchorage was incorporated on 23 November 1920. At that time, it had a population of 1,856. It grew slowly to over 2,200 in 1930 and just under 3,500 in 1940. Meanwhile, the Anchorage Hotel opened in 1916. Then, during the 1940s and the 1950s, the population of Anchorage grew very rapidly. By 1950, the population of Anchorage was over 11,000. By 1960, it was over 44,000.
Old City Hall was built in 1936. The Old Federal Building was built in 1940. Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson were built in the early 1940s. Meanwhile, Merrill Field Airport was built in 1930. Anchorage International Airport opened in 1951. (It was renamed Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in 2000 after an Alaskan senator).
Modern Anchorage
However, on 27 March 1964 (Good Friday), Anchorage was severely damaged by an earthquake. It measured 9.2 on the Richter Scale, making it the most powerful earthquake recorded in North America.
Yet Anchorage soon recovered. The Anchorage Museum opened in 1968. Also in 1968, Kincaid Park opened. The Alaska Zoo opened in 1969. Chugach State Park was established in 1970.
In 1975, Anchorage merged with nearby boroughs. It became the Municipality of Anchorage. By 1980, the population of Anchorage was over 174,000. It reached 250,000 in 1994. Meanwhile, Alaska Regional Hospital was built in 1976. The Oscar Anderson House Museum opened in 1982.
The Robert B. Atwood Building was built in 1983. The Conoco-Phillips Building was also built in 1983. The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts opened in 1988. Also in 1988, the Alaska Aviation Museum opened. The Alaska Botanical Garden opened in 1993, and the Alaska Museum of Science and Nature opened in 1994. The Alaska Native Heritage Center opened in 1999.
Today, tourism is a major industry in Anchorage. Meanwhile, the Dimond Center Mall opened in 1977, and the Anchorage 5th Avenue Mall opened in 1987. Moose Run Golf Course was established in 2000.
Oil is also an important industry in Anchorage. In 2024, the population of Anchorage was 293,000.
Last Revised 2025