Willow, Alaska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Willow, Alaska
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Location in Matanuska-Susitna Borough and the state of Alaska
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 Willow, Alaska
Location in Alaska
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Matanuska-Susitna |
| Area | |
| • Total | 698.58 sq mi (1,809.30 km2) |
| • Land | 690.47 sq mi (1,788.31 km2) |
| • Water | 8.11 sq mi (20.99 km2) |
| Elevation | 213 ft (65 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,196 |
| • Density | 3.18/sq mi (1.23/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-8 (AKDT) |
| ZIP codes |
99683, 99688
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| Area code(s) | 907 |
| FIPS code | 02-85280 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1417146 |
Willow is a small community in Alaska, located in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. It's about 26 miles northwest of Wasilla along the George Parks Highway. Willow is also part of the larger Anchorage area. In 2020, about 2,196 people lived there.
Contents
History of Willow, Alaska
The community of Willow began in 1897. This was when miners found gold on Willow Creek. Ships brought supplies up Cook Inlet to places like Knik. From Knik, a 26-mile trail led to Willow. This trail is now part of the scenic Hatcher Pass Road.
In 1920, the Alaska Railroad built a station in Willow. This station was at mile 185.7 on the tracks from Seward to Fairbanks.
During World War II, a radar station and an airfield were built near the railroad. A post office opened in 1948.
By 1954, Willow Creek was the biggest gold mining area in Alaska. It had produced nearly 18 million dollars worth of gold.
Around 1970, Willow had only 78 people. But after the George Parks Highway was finished in 1972, the area grew.
In 1976, people in Alaska voted to move the state capital from Juneau to Willow. The idea was to make the capital easier to reach for more Alaskans. A plan was even made for the new city. However, in 1982, people voted against the money needed for the move. So, Juneau stayed the state capital.
Many homes in Willow are used only during certain seasons. Most homes have their own water wells and septic tanks for water and waste.
Today, Willow is famous as the official starting point for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
In June 2015, a very large wildfire burned many acres of land near Willow. It also destroyed buildings and closed the George Parks Highway. This cut off the road between Anchorage and Fairbanks for a time.
Geography and Climate
Willow is located at 61°46′10″N 149°59′28″W / 61.76944°N 149.99111°W. It is a very large community in terms of land area.
The area of Willow is about 692.9 square miles (1,794.6 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water. It is the largest census-designated place in the United States by area.
Weather in Willow
Willow has a subarctic climate. This means it has long, cold winters and mild summers. A weather station near Willow, called Whites Crossing, helps us know about the climate.
| Climate data for Whites Crossing, Alaska, 1991–2020 normals, 1971–2009 extremes: 270ft (82m) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 47 (8) |
49 (9) |
54 (12) |
69 (21) |
83 (28) |
88 (31) |
89 (32) |
86 (30) |
76 (24) |
69 (21) |
54 (12) |
49 (9) |
89 (32) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 37.4 (3.0) |
40.5 (4.7) |
46.4 (8.0) |
58.6 (14.8) |
73.1 (22.8) |
80.2 (26.8) |
80.6 (27.0) |
77.6 (25.3) |
65.9 (18.8) |
53.8 (12.1) |
39.0 (3.9) |
40.1 (4.5) |
82.7 (28.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 15.9 (−8.9) |
25.8 (−3.4) |
34.4 (1.3) |
48.2 (9.0) |
61.2 (16.2) |
68.6 (20.3) |
71.0 (21.7) |
67.0 (19.4) |
56.6 (13.7) |
40.5 (4.7) |
22.9 (−5.1) |
17.9 (−7.8) |
44.2 (6.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 7.1 (−13.8) |
14.1 (−9.9) |
20.5 (−6.4) |
35.6 (2.0) |
47.8 (8.8) |
56.5 (13.6) |
60.2 (15.7) |
56.6 (13.7) |
46.8 (8.2) |
32.0 (0.0) |
14.6 (−9.7) |
9.1 (−12.7) |
33.4 (0.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | −1.7 (−18.7) |
2.4 (−16.4) |
6.6 (−14.1) |
23.0 (−5.0) |
34.4 (1.3) |
44.4 (6.9) |
49.4 (9.7) |
46.1 (7.8) |
36.9 (2.7) |
23.5 (−4.7) |
6.3 (−14.3) |
0.3 (−17.6) |
22.6 (−5.2) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −28.5 (−33.6) |
−25.5 (−31.9) |
−16.6 (−27.0) |
1.2 (−17.1) |
23.5 (−4.7) |
31.6 (−0.2) |
39.0 (3.9) |
32.1 (0.1) |
20.7 (−6.3) |
−0.1 (−17.8) |
−17.6 (−27.6) |
−25.8 (−32.1) |
−35.6 (−37.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −50 (−46) |
−48 (−44) |
−36 (−38) |
−21 (−29) |
16 (−9) |
28 (−2) |
31 (−1) |
22 (−6) |
5 (−15) |
−20 (−29) |
−40 (−40) |
−42 (−41) |
−50 (−46) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.17 (30) |
0.92 (23) |
0.71 (18) |
0.83 (21) |
0.99 (25) |
1.28 (33) |
2.15 (55) |
3.79 (96) |
3.78 (96) |
2.97 (75) |
1.53 (39) |
1.69 (43) |
21.81 (554) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 11.5 (29) |
10.1 (26) |
7.3 (19) |
2.7 (6.9) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.9 (2.3) |
9.2 (23) |
15.8 (40) |
18.3 (46) |
75.8 (192.2) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.2 | 6.5 | 5.7 | 4.9 | 8.4 | 8.3 | 10.8 | 12.9 | 13.3 | 10.3 | 8.5 | 10.0 | 106.8 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 5.2 | 3.8 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 2.6 | 4.9 | 6.7 | 28 |
| Source 1: NOAA (1981-2010 precip/snowfall) | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: XMACIS2 (records & 1981-2009 monthly max/mins) | |||||||||||||
People and Population
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1940 | 13 | — | |
| 1960 | 78 | — | |
| 1970 | 38 | −51.3% | |
| 1980 | 139 | 265.8% | |
| 1990 | 285 | 105.0% | |
| 2000 | 1,658 | 481.8% | |
| 2010 | 2,102 | 26.8% | |
| 2020 | 2,196 | 4.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census: | |||
Willow first appeared on the U.S. Census in 1940. It was called "Willow Station" back then. Since 1960, it has been known simply as Willow. In 1980, it became a census-designated place (CDP).
Population in 2020
In 2020, there were 2,196 people living in Willow. There were 717 households and 431 families. Most people living in Willow were White (85.34%). Other groups included Native American (4.23%), Asian (1.05%), and Black or African American (0.77%). About 7.74% of people were of mixed races.
Population in 2010
In 2010, Willow had 2,102 people. There were 893 households. About 23.74% of households had children under 18. Many households (54.54%) were married couples.
The average household had 2.34 people. The average family had 2.86 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 20.9% were under 18. About 37.39% were between 45 and 64 years old. The average age was 46.4 years.
Parks and Recreation
A few miles north of Willow is the Alaska State Parks Willow Creek State Recreation Area. This park is 3,583 acres large. It has a big campground and is a popular spot for salmon fishing.
Other parks in the area include Nancy Lake State Recreation Area. There is also the Montana Creek State Recreation Site. This park is 82 acres and has a campground.
One end of the road to Hatcher Pass is in Willow. Willow Lake is a great place for Char fishing. There is also a library on its shoreline.
Famous People from Willow
Willow is a popular place for dog mushers. This is because of its location and access to trails. Several famous Iditarod racers live here. These include DeeDee Jonrowe, Beverly Masek, and Iditarod winner Dallas Seavey. They have their dog kennels in Willow. Beverly Masek also represented Willow in the Alaska House of Representatives.
John Gourley, the lead singer of the band "Portugal. The Man", was born in Willow, Alaska. His band has won a Grammy Award.
See also
In Spanish: Willow (Alaska) para niños
