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Current Population: 2,627 (2006)
Borough Located In: Kenai Peninsula Borough
Taxes: 4% Sales (City); 3% (Borough); 4% Bed

Location and Climate
Seward is situated on Resurrection Bay on the east coast of the Kenai Peninsula, 125 highway miles south of Anchorage. It lies at the foot of Mount Marathon, and is the gateway to the Kenai Fjords National Park. Bear Creek and Lowell Point are adjacent to Seward. The community lies at approximately 60.104170° North Latitude and -149.442220° (West) Longitude. (Sec. 10, T001S, R001W, Seward Meridian.) Seward is located in the Seward Recording District. The area encompasses 14.4 sq. miles of land and 7.1 sq. miles of water. Seward experiences a maritime climate. Winter temperatures average from 17 to 38; summer temperatures average 49 to 63. Annual precipitation includes 66 inches of rain and 80 inches of snowfall

History, Culture and Demographics
Resurrection Bay was named in 1792 by Russian fur trader and explorer Alexander Baranof. While sailing from Kodiak to Yakutat, he found unexpected shelter in this bay for a storm. He named the Bay Resurrection because it was the Russian Sunday of the Resurrection. Seward was named for U.S. Secretary of State William Seward, 1861-1869, who negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867. In the 1890s, Capt. Frank Lowell arrived with his family. In 1903, John and Frank Ballaine and a group of settlers arrived to begin construction of a railroad. Seward became an incorporated City in 1912. The Alaska Railroad was constructed between 1915 and 1923, and Seward developed as the ocean terminus and supply center. By 1960, Seward was the largest community on the Peninsula. Tsunamis generated after the 1964 earthquake destroyed the railroad terminal and killed several residents. As an ice-free harbor, Seward has become an important supply center for Interior Alaska. 2003 is the 100th anniversary of the founding of Seward.

The population of the community consists of 20.9% Alaska Native or part Native. Seward is primarily a non-Native community, although the Qutekcak Tribe is very active within the community. Seward's annual Fourth of July celebration and its grueling Mount Marathon race attracts participants and visitors worldwide. Other annual events include the Seward Silver Salmon Derby in August and the Polar Bear Jump-Off Festival in January. During the 2000 U.S. Census, total housing units numbered 1,058, and vacant housing units numbered 141. Vacant housing units used only seasonally numbered 63. U.S. Census data for Year 2000 showed 1,011 residents as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 17.18 percent, although 55.48 percent of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $44,306, per capita income was $20,360, and 10.6 percent of residents were living below the poverty level.

Economy and Transportation
As the southern terminus for the Alaska Railroad and road link to Anchorage and the Interior, Seward has long been a transportation center. The economy has diversified with tourism, commercial fishing and processing, ship services and repairs, oil and gas development, an Alaska Railroad Corp. export facility for Usibelli coal, Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC), a State Prison, and the University of Alaska's Institute of Marine Sciences. The Alaska SeaLife Center, the the Kenai Fjords National Park, and the Mt. Marathon Race and Fourth of July festivities attract visitors. Over 320,000 cruise ship passengers visit Seward annually. 80 residents hold commercial fishing permits.

Seward is connected to the Alaska Highway system by the Seward Highway. Bus and commercial trucking services to and from Anchorage are available daily. Air services and charters are available at the State-owned airport. Two paved runways are utilized, at 4,240' long by 100' wide and at 2,279' long by 75' wide. The Port serves cruise ships and cargo barges and ocean freighters from Seattle and overseas. The small boat harbor has moorage for 650 boats, and two boat launch ramps. The Alaska Railroad provides over 1.4 billion pounds of cargo transit each year, importing cargo for the Interior and exporting coal to the Pacific Rim. A new railroad depot was completed in the fall of 1997. Seasonal passenger transportation is available by rail.

Seward Visitor Information and Recommend Activities and Tours

Seward Lodging, Hotels and Bed & Breakfast

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