Tanaina, which means 'The People,' refers to a region in southern Alaska that was known for its natural beauty and vantage geographical location.
Today, Tanaina with its total area of 27
Tanaina, which means 'The People,' refers to a region in southern Alaska that was known for its natural beauty and vantage geographical location.
Today, Tanaina with its total area of 27.5 square miles can be described as a census-designated place (CDP) in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough of Alaska. It's interesting to note that the population of 8,197, which has grown a whopping 64.17% since the 2000 census beats the national average rate of 9.71%. Also it's population density of 265.58 people per square mile, is more than four times the national average density of 81.32 people per square mile. Government Borough mayor Larry DeVilbiss appears to be in close connect with the needs of his people which explains the steady hikes in population.
The biggest selling point of Tanaina is its proximity to the capital city, Anchorage, that lies an hour's drive away. This accessibility allows residents to traverse almost daily for work or simply to enjoy the cultural and culinary offerings of the bigger city life.
If you are thinking of moving base to Tanaina, these statistics should prove useful. Although the per capita income is lower than the state and national average, the good news is that the median household income has grown a stealthy 13.59% since 2000. Now, while accessing jobs is definitely not going to be the same as it is in the larger cities of mainland America, the cost of living in Tanaina is more affordable than cities such as New York, Los Angeles and even Honolulu.
There exists two airports within 30 miles of Tanaina's city center. Most working Tanaina residents spend an average of 30 minutes per day commuting to work, which is higher than the state average of 17.9 minutes and the national average of 25.4 minutes. The rest of them either carpool with friends, colleagues and neighbors, or work from home. Some even walk from home.
With no defined neighborhoods as such, the average median price of a house in Tanaina is lower than the state average and higher than the national average, while the median house value has grown impressively since 2000. If building a house from scratch sounds like an interesting proposition, Tanaina also has lots of land on sale.
Not to be confused with Tanaina, Tanaina's course in history was forever altered after the arrival of the Russians a few centuries back. Although natives protested vehemently, the mighty Russians easily set up base in the nearby Kodiak Island from where they overlooked their trading operations in Alaska. It was a matter of time before the two groups started to intermarry. The Creoles born from this union were often used to facilitate communication and conduct trade with other Eskimo groups. Even though Alaska was sold off to the USA in 1867, there was not too much intervention in local and social matters which led to this far flung community being more or less isolated until the 20th century. A good book to read in this respect would be 'Tanaina Tales from Alaska' by Bill Vaudrin.
You're probably already aware of the proverbial winters where prolonged darkness and sub zero temperatures are the rule. But the good news is that summers are as surreal as it gets with locals indulging in extended bouts of midnight fishing or hiking simply because the sun hovers in the sky for an average of 20 hours a day. As expected, the sheer plethora of outdoor activities is endless with fishing, skiing, snow machining, ice skating, sledding, hiking, biking and rafting leading the way. The nearby Memory Lake provides a great setting for family picnics and celebrations during summers. The city of Wasilla which lies four miles south is a repository of culture and history with its Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry, the Dorothy G. Page Museum and the Knik Museum. As mentioned earlier, capital city Anchorage is in easy reach and a great idea to hop to for a change of scenery.
Life in Tanaina is as relaxed as its comes, and could be a great place to move to.
