WASILLA, ALASKA

Located on the Alaska Railroad main line that runs between Anchorage and Fairbanks, Wasilla is about 45 miles north of Anchorage. It is situated between the Matanuska and Susitna valleys of southcentral Alaska. Automobile access is via the Parks Highway which, as does the railroad, connects Anchorage and Fairbanks. Over the past several years, it has been one of America's fastest growing cities. With a present population of just over 5,100, it is the largest city in the Mat-Su Borough (Alaska's fastest growing region). Corporate limits total only 13 square miles and next to Palmer, which is the smallest town in the borough, Wasilla is second smallest if one measures only area. 

Wasilla is the center of commercial activity in the borough. Retail and shopping outlets abound in several malls and along the shopping strip; several statewide banks have outlets and service branches here, and utility, real estate, insurance and medical service organizations consider Wasilla their home base.

Commercial and industrial activities include steel fabrication, agriculture, concrete products, building materials distribution, millwork and building truss manufacture. Because of the location of several hundred small, private aircraft in the Wasilla-Palmer area, aircraft maintenance has also become a very important service. Of course, catering to the tourist trade is another huge enterprise in Wasilla. There will be found hotels, motels and bed and breakfast operations and in total, over 100 lodging rooms are available in the Greater Wasilla marketing area. A major opportunity for hotel/convention facilities exists in the Greater Wasilla market.

Many dining, recreational and entertainment facilities can be found in the business district and nearby.

 

Wasilla is nearly enveloped by the mountains of the Talkeetna and Chugach Ranges. The Wasilla plain features gentle rolling hills and flat moraines of glacial outwash materials. Lakes Lucille and Wasilla are prominent, popular, and located within the Wasilla city limits. Consequently both are heavily used in all seasons of the year. They offer water skiing, swimming, fishing and boating. Wintertime activities feature skating, ice boating, ice fishing snowmobiling and ice golf. A number of streams crisscross the area and provide excellent recreational opportunities of their own.

Courtesy of www.wasillachamber.org