Matanuska-Susitna Valley facts for kids
The Matanuska-Susitna Valley, or Mat-Su for short, is a large area in Southcentral Alaska. It's about 25 miles (40 km) north of Anchorage, Alaska. This valley gets its name from the Matanuska, Knik, and Susitna Rivers that flow through it.
Many people who work in Anchorage choose to live in the Mat-Su Valley. It has become a popular place to live, making it one of the busiest areas in Alaska. The valley includes towns like Palmer, Wasilla, Big Lake, Houston, Willow, and Talkeetna.
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About the Mat-Su Valley
Mountains and Rivers
The Mat-Su Valley is surrounded by three mountain ranges. These are the Alaska Range, the Talkeetna Mountains, and the Chugach Mountains. You can find both active and old gold mines in these mountains.
Like many parts of Alaska, the Mat-Su Valley was shaped by huge sheets of ice called glaciers. When these glaciers melted, they left behind many lakes. The Matanuska and Susitna Rivers are also important. They are known for having lots of salmon.
Farming in the Valley
The three main rivers in the Mat-Su Valley carry a lot of glacial silt. This silt is a very rich soil that is great for farming. Because of this good soil, the Mat-Su Valley is one of the few places in Alaska where large farms can grow crops.
People and History
The local government for the Mat-Su Valley is called the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Most parts of the United States have "counties" for local government. But in Alaska, they use "boroughs" instead. Some parts of Alaska don't even belong to a borough.
A few hundred Alaska Natives lived in the valley for a long time. Between 1900 and 1930, some "Alaska sourdoughs" (people who had lived in Alaska for a long time) also moved there. In the early 1930s, the U.S. Federal Government moved hundreds of "colonists" to the area.
In the 1970s, many new people came to Alaska and settled in Anchorage. Later, a lot of them moved to the Matanuska Valley. They wanted to enjoy a more "Alaskan country" lifestyle.
Images for kids
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The Matanuska Glacier, a large ice formation in the valley.
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