Sterling, Alaska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sterling, Alaska
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Location of Sterling, Alaska
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Kenai Peninsula |
| Area | |
| • Total | 79.64 sq mi (206.26 km2) |
| • Land | 77.78 sq mi (201.45 km2) |
| • Water | 1.86 sq mi (4.81 km2) |
| Elevation | 220 ft (67 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,918 |
| • Density | 76.09/sq mi (29.38/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-8 (AKDT) |
| ZIP code |
99672
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| Area code(s) | 907 |
| FIPS code | 02-73070 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1414063 |
Sterling is a community in Alaska, United States. It is called a census-designated place (CDP). This means it is a place that looks like a town but doesn't have its own local government.
Sterling is located on the Kenai Peninsula. In 2020, about 5,918 people lived there. This number was a bit higher than in 2010. Sterling is the tenth-largest CDP in Alaska.
Contents
Exploring Sterling's Location and Surroundings
Sterling is found on the western side of the Kenai Peninsula. It is located at about 60 degrees North and 150 degrees West. This area is known for its beautiful natural scenery.
Neighboring Communities
Sterling shares borders with a few other places. To the west is Ridgeway. To the southwest, you'll find Soldotna. Funny River is located to the south.
Soldotna Creek forms the western edge of Sterling. The Kenai River makes up its southern boundary.
Main Roads and Travel
The main road through Sterling is Alaska Route 1. This road is also called the Sterling Highway. It connects Sterling to other towns.
- It's about 11 miles southwest to the center of Soldotna.
- It's about 34 miles east to Cooper Landing. Cooper Landing is near Kenai Lake.
- The city of Kenai is about 22 miles west, past Soldotna.
Land and Water Area
Sterling covers a total area of about 206.3 square kilometers (79.6 square miles). Most of this area is land. About 4.9 square kilometers (1.9 square miles) is water. This means about 2.36% of Sterling is covered by water.
Sterling's Climate and Weather
Sterling has a type of climate called a continental subarctic climate. This means it has long, cold winters. Summers are usually short and cool.
| Climate data for Sterling, Alaska (1954-1968 normals and extremes) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 45 (7) |
49 (9) |
50 (10) |
66 (19) |
71 (22) |
80 (27) |
83 (28) |
81 (27) |
69 (21) |
60 (16) |
49 (9) |
44 (7) |
83 (28) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 18.4 (−7.6) |
24.7 (−4.1) |
32.8 (0.4) |
42.8 (6.0) |
54.9 (12.7) |
62.6 (17.0) |
64.7 (18.2) |
63.3 (17.4) |
54.6 (12.6) |
40.9 (4.9) |
27.5 (−2.5) |
15.6 (−9.1) |
41.9 (5.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 8.7 (−12.9) |
13.5 (−10.3) |
19.5 (−6.9) |
33.0 (0.6) |
43.8 (6.6) |
51.3 (10.7) |
54.4 (12.4) |
53.7 (12.1) |
45.3 (7.4) |
31.9 (−0.1) |
19.3 (−7.1) |
7.0 (−13.9) |
31.8 (−0.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | −1.1 (−18.4) |
2.3 (−16.5) |
6.3 (−14.3) |
23.1 (−4.9) |
32.7 (0.4) |
40.0 (4.4) |
44.0 (6.7) |
44.1 (6.7) |
36.1 (2.3) |
24.9 (−3.9) |
11.2 (−11.6) |
−1.6 (−18.7) |
21.7 (−5.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −42 (−41) |
−47 (−44) |
−47 (−44) |
−6 (−21) |
19 (−7) |
25 (−4) |
30 (−1) |
24 (−4) |
12 (−11) |
−13 (−25) |
−31 (−35) |
−41 (−41) |
−47 (−44) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.04 (26) |
1.14 (29) |
0.58 (15) |
1.00 (25) |
0.86 (22) |
1.21 (31) |
2.54 (65) |
2.98 (76) |
2.40 (61) |
1.43 (36) |
1.42 (36) |
1.45 (37) |
18.04 (458) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 8.7 (22) |
14.4 (37) |
5.7 (14) |
4.2 (11) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
4.4 (11) |
10.5 (27) |
13.9 (35) |
61.8 (157) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 5 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 98 |
| Source: WRCC | |||||||||||||
Understanding Sterling's Population
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 115 | — | |
| 1970 | 30 | −73.9% | |
| 1980 | 919 | 2,963.3% | |
| 1990 | 3,802 | 313.7% | |
| 2000 | 4,705 | 23.8% | |
| 2010 | 5,617 | 19.4% | |
| 2020 | 5,918 | 5.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Sterling first appeared on the U.S. Census in 1960. Back then, it was a small, unincorporated village. In 1980, it became a census-designated place (CDP).
Population Details from 2000
In the year 2000, there were 4,705 people living in Sterling. These people made up 1,676 households. A household is a group of people living in the same home. Out of these, 1,305 were families.
The population density was about 60.9 people per square mile. There were 2,554 housing units available.
Most people in Sterling were White (92.7%). Other groups included Alaskan Native (3.3%), Black or African American (0.4%), and Asian (0.5%). About 1.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Household and Family Life
Many households in Sterling had children under 18 (40%). Most households (66.5%) were married couples living together. About 6.7% had a female head of household without a husband.
The average household had 2.80 people. The average family had 3.16 people.
Age Groups in Sterling
The population in Sterling was spread across different age groups:
- 30.6% were under 18 years old.
- 6.9% were between 18 and 24.
- 29.0% were between 25 and 44.
- 26.8% were between 45 and 64.
- 6.7% were 65 years or older.
The average age in Sterling was 36 years old. For every 100 females, there were about 108.4 males.
Income Information
In 2000, the average income for a household in Sterling was $47,700. For families, the average income was $53,889.
The average income per person in Sterling was $20,741. About 7.7% of families and 10.0% of the total population lived below the poverty line. This included 11.8% of those under 18 and 5.9% of those 65 or older.
A Brief Look at Sterling's Past
The area now known as Sterling was first opened for settlement in 1947. It was originally called "Naptowne."
However, in 1954, a post office was set up in the area. It was named "Sterling" after the Sterling Highway that served the community.
Ancient History of the Area
Archaeologists have found signs of people living near Sterling a very long time ago. They discovered old house pits from the prehistoric Dena'ina people. This shows that the area has been inhabited for centuries.
Current Industries in Sterling
Today, the main jobs and businesses in Sterling support tourism. Many people visit for sport fishing and hunting. These activities are very popular in the area.
Parks and Outdoor Fun in Sterling
Sterling is close to some amazing natural areas. It is right next to the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. There are also two Alaska state parks nearby.
Scout Lake State Recreation Site
This park is 164 acres in size. It is a day-use park, meaning you can visit during the day. It has a picnic shelter, perfect for outdoor meals. The lake here is stocked with fish like rainbow trout and Arctic grayling. This makes it a great spot for fishing.
Morgan's Landing State Recreation Area
Morgan's Landing is a larger park, covering 279 acres. It is the main office for Alaska State Parks on the Kenai Peninsula. The park has a campground where you can stay overnight. It also offers one of the few public spots for fishing from the riverbank on the middle Kenai River.
See also
In Spanish: Sterling (Alaska) para niños
