Palmer is a city in and the borough seat of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city was 4,533. 2005 Census Bureau estimates give the city a population of 6,920.

From the drought starved Midwest, 203 families traveled by train and ship to reach the fledgling colony. Upon their arrival they were housed in a tent city during their first Alaskan summer. Each family drew lots for 40 acre tracts and their farming adventure began in earnest.

While the colonists had varying digress of success with farming, Palmer is the only Alaskan Community that developed from an agricultural lifestyle. In addition to an agrarian heritage, the colony families brought with them small town values, institutional structures, and a well planned city center. Many of the structures built are now in a nationally recognized historic district.

Palmer is the home of several public and private schools, an active Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Merchants group, the Alaska State Fair the Alaska Job Corps Center, and State Superior and District courts. City facilities include an airport, library, ice arena, numerous parks and ball fields. In the past year a Museum Association, the Palmer Arts Council and a downtown business improvement district have been established by local citizens.

Palmer is the location of many of the Borough’s major businesses; the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Headquarters Complex; the Matanuska-Susitna School District Administration Office; the Third Judicial District Court; Department of Corrections, Mat-Su Pre Trial; Alaska State Troopers - “B” Detachment; the Palmer Pioneer Home and Senior Center complex; the Matanuska Electric Company; the Matanuska Telephone Company, the State Division of Forestry, the Alaska State Fair, an Airport capable of supporting small jet aircraft, an 18 hole golf course and more. All of these contribute significantly to the daily population of Palmer.