Anchorage

Anchorage (pop. 235,000), largest city in Alaska, located in the southern part of the state at the head of Cook Inlet. Founded in 1915 as the headquarters for the Alaska Railroad and incorporated in 1920, it is now the commercial and transportation center of Alaska, serving the state's coal, gas, and oil industries. During World War II, Anchorage became an important military and air defense center. Its international airport services heavy traffic in jets bound for the Orient, Canada, and other parts of the United States and for Europe by the transpolar route. Anchorage was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1964 that killed 131 people.

See also: Alaska.