Alaska Travel

Kenai

Kenai is a city in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 7,464. Kenai is the heart of Alaskan adventure, providing something for everyone. The Kenai River is known for its world-class King Salmon fishing. Kenai industries include oil, natural gas, commercial fishing and tourism. Located near Seward and Homer, Alaska, Kenai is easily accessible from Anchorage via a 30-minute flight or a leisurely and beautiful 3-hour drive, approximately 150 miles to the south.

It has mountain playgrounds full of circuitous trails, lush vegetation, skittish wildlife and colorful wildflowers. It has winding rivers with surprisingly sandy beaches navigating a landscape littered with lakes both large and small. And it has a plethora of both secluded cabins and Kenai River lodging for travelers to stay in, giving you a glistening view of the entire peninsula. more...

Population: 6940
Country: United States
State: Alaska
Type: City
Latitude: 60.55444
Longitude: -151.25833
Latitude (DMS): 60d 33m 16s
Longitude (DMS): -151d -15m 30s
Zip code: 99611
Major national language(s): English
Land area: 2000 (square miles) 16,013
FIPS Code: 122

History of Kenai

Kenai is named after the Kenai Peninsula. The name Kenai is probably derived from Kenayskaya, the Russian name for the Cook Inlet and translates to "flat, barren land". Or, it could refer to the Inuit word Kenai (black bear). Archaeological evidence suggests that the area was first occupied by the Kachemak people from 1000 B.C., until they were displaced by the Dena'ina Athabasca people around 1000 A.D.

Before the arrival of the Russians, Kenai was a Dena'ina village called Shk'ituk't, which means "where we slide down." When Russian fur traders first arrived in 1741, about 1,000 Dena'ina lived in the village. The traders called the people "Kenaitze," or "Kenai people." In 1791, a Russian trading post, Fort St. Nicholas, was constructed in the middle of the village for the purposes of fur and fish trading. more...

An overview on Kenai's Economy

National currency: US dollar (USD)
Employment: 18,420 jobs in 2003; 17,335 in 1999; and 17,322 jobs in 1995
Unemployment: 112.1% in 2003; 10.2% in 2000; varied between 9.8% and 15.5%
Adults Not In Labor Force: 44.3% in 2000; 33% in 1990
Per Capita Wealth: $21,800 in 1999; $21,900 in 1995 (in 1999 dollars)
Transfer Payments: $4,500/person in 1999; $3,600/person
Population: 51,220 people in 2003 or 7.9% of Alaska's population
Net Migration: Average in-migration of 6.7 persons per year per 1,000 population
Ethnicity: In 2002, the population was 7.9% all or part Alaska Native.
Below Poverty Level: 10% of population in 2000; 7.7%

Facts for Travellers

Climate of Kenai

The area encompasses 29.9 sq. miles of land and 5.6 sq. miles of water. Winter temperatures range from 4 to 22; summer temperatures vary from 46 to 65. Average annual precipitation is 20 inches. Because of the proximity to water, the climate of the Kenai Peninsula is cooler and wetter in the summer than locations farther inland.

Sunny summer days are typically in the 60's and 70's, with an occasional 80 degree day. Rainy days can be cooler, with temperatures in the upper 40's to low 60's. Winter weather on the Kenai is cold, and occasionally quite wet. Temperatures vary widely during the winter, ranging from as high as40 degrees during strong pacific storms, to as low as -25 during clear, cold periods. Snowfall ranges from 40 inches in some of the more protected spots to over 200 inches in the mountains.

Geography of Kenai

Kenai is located at 60°33'31?N, 151°13'47?W (60.558738, -151.229616)GR1. Kenai is located on the west side of the Kenai Peninsula near the outlet of the Kenai River to the Cook Inlet of the Pacific Ocean. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 92.0 km² (35.5 mi²). 77.4 km² (29.9 mi²) of it is land and 14.6 km² (5.6 mi²) of it (15.85%) is water. The Kenai Peninsula is bounded by Cook Inlet on the west, the Gulf of Alaska on the south, and Prince William Sound on the east.

The eastern two-thirds of the peninsula is dominated by the Kenai Mountains, which have numerous glaciers and icefields. The western portion of the peninsula is a gently rolling plain with several large lakes " Kenai, Skilak and Tustumena. Much of the peninsula is without roads. However, the Seward and Sterling Highways connect the peninsula to Anchorage. In addition, the Alaska Marine Highway connects the Kenai by ferry to Kodiak and the Alaska Peninsula.

Also Read: Getting in Kenai | Demographics of Kenai | Economy of Kenai | Transportation in Kenai

Cities in Alaska
Anchorage
Fairbanks
Juneau
Wasilla
Palmer
Sitka
Kenai
Ketchikan
Homer
Honeymoon in Alaska
Alaska
South Central
Insider Passage
Interior
Far North
South West