Seward, Alaska facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Seward Qutalleq
City
Aerial view of Seward
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  "Gateway to the Kenai Fjords"
Motto(s):  "Alaska Starts Here"
Seward, Alaska Location in Alaska
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Borough	Kenai Peninsula
Established	1903
Incorporated	June 1, 1912
Government
• Type	Council-manager
Area
• Total	21.89 sq mi (56.69 km2)
• Land	13.96 sq mi (36.16 km2)
• Water	7.93 sq mi (20.54 km2)
Elevation	0 ft (0 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,717
• Density	194.63/sq mi (75.15/km2)
Time zone	UTC−9 (Alaska)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−8 (Alaska)
ZIP code	99664
Area code	907
FIPS code	02-68560
GNIS feature ID	1414598
Source of coordinates

Seward (in Alutiiq: Qutalleq; in Dena'ina: Tl'ubugh) is a city in Alaska, United States. It's located on Resurrection Bay, which is a type of deep, narrow inlet called a fjord. This bay is part of the Gulf of Alaska on the Kenai Peninsula. Seward is on Alaska's southern coast, about 120 miles (190 km) by road from Anchorage, Alaska's biggest city.

As of the 2020 census, Seward has 2,717 people. It is the fourth-largest city in the Kenai Peninsula Borough. The city is named after William H. Seward, who was a United States Secretary of State. He helped the United States buy Alaska from the Russian Empire in 1867.

Seward is the southern end of the Alaska Railroad. It's also the historic starting point of the original Iditarod Trail. This famous trail goes all the way to Interior Alaska. Mile 0 of the trail is marked on the shoreline at the southern end of town.

History of Seward

Fourth Avenue in Seward, August 1907

A dog sled team ready for a long journey in Seward, around 1914

In 1793, a Russian company leader named Alexander Andreyevich Baranov set up a fur trade post in the area where Seward is now. They even built a three-masted ship there called the Phoenix.

Seward became an important port during World War II. The military built Fort Raymond nearby to protect the community. An Army airfield was also built, which later became Walseth Air Force Base. Both military sites closed after the war ended.

In 1964, a big earthquake and a local tsunami caused a lot of damage in Seward. Many parts of the city were destroyed.

Geography and Climate

Aerial view of Seward, Alaska, in the 1990s. You can see the Resurrection River and Mount Marathon.

Seward covers about 21.5 square miles (55.7 square kilometers). About 14.4 square miles (37.3 square kilometers) is land, and 7.1 square miles (18.4 square kilometers) is water.

The city is bordered by the Resurrection River to the north and Resurrection Bay to the east. The steep slopes of Mount Marathon are to the west. To the south, the city limits reach the community of Lowell Point.

Seward's Weather

Seward has a climate that is influenced by the nearby Gulf of Alaska. This means it has milder temperatures compared to other parts of Alaska. Even in January, the average daily high temperature is only slightly below freezing. Very cold temperatures (below zero degrees Fahrenheit) are rare. The city also gets a lot of rain, especially in the fall and winter.

Seward's Economy

Boats in the harbor with snow-capped Mount Alice in the background

Seward's economy mainly depends on commercial fishing and tourism. Many hotels, restaurants, and shops in the city are open only during the summer tourist season. This season usually runs from mid-May to mid-September. Other big employers include the Spring Creek Correctional Center and AVTEC, a vocational school. The local Providence Health & Services hospital is also a major employer.

Fishing Industry

Seward is one of the most profitable commercial fishing ports in the United States. In 2016, fishing boats in Seward brought in about 13,500 tons of fish and shellfish. This was worth about $42 million. Over ten years, from 2007 to 2016, about $545 million worth of seafood passed through Seward's harbor.

Tourism in Seward

Seward is a popular spot for tourists visiting Alaska. It's the southern end of the Alaska Railroad. It also has good roads connecting it to Anchorage and the rest of the Kenai Peninsula. Many large cruise ships use Seward as a northern port. Passengers often get off here and take the train or bus further north. They might go to Anchorage, Denali, or other Alaskan attractions.

Seward also has a small military base. It is the home port for the USCGC Mustang, a ship used by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Population of Seward

Seward first appeared in the U.S. Census in 1910. It officially became a city in 1912.

In 2000, there were 2,830 people living in Seward. About 72% of the people were White, and about 17% were Native American. The average age of people in the city was 37 years old.

Education in Seward

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District runs the schools in Seward. These include Seward Elementary School, Seward Middle School, and Seward High School.

Transportation in Seward

A northbound Alaska Railroad passenger train at the Seward depot in 2010.

Seward is special because it has road access to Anchorage. The Seward Highway connects the two cities and is a beautiful scenic road. Seward is also the southern end of the Alaska Railroad. This railroad serves the Port of Seward, which can handle large ships. This keeps the port busy with cargo coming on and off trains. It also makes Seward a main stopping point for northbound cruise ships.

The Alaska Railroad offers passenger service to Seward during certain seasons. This is done through their Coastal Classic train. In 2023, Seward had 87 cruise ship visits, bringing almost 200,000 tourists to the town.

The Alaska Railroad Corporation plans to build a new cruise ship dock and terminal in Seward. This project will cost $137 million. Construction is expected to start in autumn 2025 and finish in 2026.

Seward is also a very bike-friendly city. There's a paved bike path that runs along the waterfront and highway. You can rent bikes and even go on guided bike tours.

Ferry service from the Alaska Marine Highway stopped in Seward at the end of 2005. Now, you can find state ferry connections in Whittier (90 miles north) or Homer (150 miles by highway).

Seward Airport (PAWD/SWD) is used for small planes and flight-seeing tours. For bigger flights, you can go to Kenai Municipal Airport in Kenai or Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Both are about 100 miles (160 km) away. Bus connections are also available to these airports.

Sister Cities

Obihiro Park, with a gazebo given to Seward by Obihiro, Japan, in 1993.

Seward has special connections with cities in other countries, called "sister cities":

• Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan (since 1968)
• Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan (since 1982)
• Yeosu, South Korea (an informal connection)

Notable People from Seward

The Benny Benson Memorial on the Seward Highway in Seward, Alaska

• Benny Benson (1913–1972): He was an Alaska Native who designed the Alaskan state flag.
• Lydia Jacoby (born 2004): She is an Olympic swimmer who won a gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics. She was the first Alaskan swimmer to compete in the Olympics!

Fun Places to Visit in Seward

Seward, Alaska, in 1959

• Mount Marathon: This mountain is famous for its challenging Mount Marathon Race.
• Kenai Fjords National Park: You can easily visit Exit Glacier here.
• Alaska SeaLife Center: A great place to learn about Alaska's ocean animals.
• Seward Silver Salmon Derby: A popular fishing competition.
• Seward Polar Bear Jump-Off: A brave event where people jump into the cold water!
• Seward Spring Break Up Festival: A fun festival to celebrate spring.
• Seward Music and Arts Festival: Held every September, with music and art.
• Balto Film Fest: A film festival held at the end of July.
• Boat tours: You can take boat tours to see Holgate Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park.
• Seward is known as "The Fat Bike Capital of the World." It has the most fat-bike owners per person on Earth!

See also

In Spanish: Seward (Alaska) para niños