Homer’s People have inhabited Kachemak Bay for thousands of years, drawn to its abundant, diverse land and marine animals and relatively mild climate. In the 1800s, homesteaders and coal miners made up the area’s population and Homer became a booming ‘company town until the demand for coal diminished in the early 1900s.

Some years later, the commercial harvest and processing of fish became the mainstay of the local economy, and lead the growth of Homer into the commercial and transportation hub of the Southern Kenai Peninsula. Today, Homer’s economy relies on commercial fishing and the growing tourism industry.

Homer is primarily a fishing, fish processing, trade and service center, and enjoys a considerable seasonal tourist industry. Approximately 10 cruise ships dock in Homer each summer. During summer months, the population swells with students and others seeking cannery or fishery employment. Sport fishing for halibut and salmon contributes significantly to the economy. (more…)

Homer’s area encompasses 11 sq. miles of land and 16 sq. miles of water. Homer lies in the maritime climate zone. During the winter, temperatures range from 14 to 27; summer temperatures vary from 45 to 65. Average annual precipitation is 24 inches, including 55 inches of snow.

Homer’s climate is heavily influenced by its proximity to the ocean. Summer temperatures are typically in the 60’s, but rainy days are common, and a breeze off the water can cool things off into the 40’s and 50’s.

Winter weather in Homer is cold, with both rain and snow. Average annual precipitation is about 25 inches, with about 50 inches of snow a year.

Homer is the Southern most town on the Alaska highway system. It is also part of the Alaska Marine Highway (the Alaskan ferry system).

A regional airport lies near the coast as well, with two local airlines: Homer Air, and Smokey Bay Air flying scheduled routes, as well as Era Aviation and PenAir. Homer constructed its first traffic light in 2005.

Homer is accessible by the Sterling Highway to Anchorage, Fairbanks, Canada and the lower 48 states. It is often referred to as “The End of the Road,” because it lies at the terminus of the Sterling Highway. (more…)

As of 2004, there were 3,726 people, 1,523 households, and 955 families residing in town. The population density is 122.0/km² (372.9/mi²). There are 1,873 housing units at an average density of 68.4/km² (177.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 88% White, 2.33% Black or African American, 4.88% Native American, 2% Asian, 1.19% Pacific Islander, 0.73% from other races, and 3.14% from two or more races. 2.41% of the population is Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 1,523 households out of which 31.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% are married couples living together, 9.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% are non-families. 29.7 % of all households are made up of individuals and 6.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.40 and the average family size is 2.99.

In town the population is spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 98.7 males. (more…)

Archeological digs indicate that early Alutiq people probably camped in the Homer area although their villages were on the far side of Kachemak Bay. Coal was discovered in the area in the 1890s. The Cook Inlet Coal Fields Company built a town, dock, coal mine, and a railroad at Homer. Coal mining in the area continued until World War II. There are an estimated 400 million tons of coal deposits still in the area.

Homer was named for Homer Pennock, a gold mining company promoter, who arrived in 1896 on what is now the Homer Spit and built living quarters for his crew of 50 men. However, gold mining was never profitable in the area. Currently, tourism, sport fishing, commercial fishing and logging are important industries in the Homer area. Homer, Alaska attracts a multitude of artists who produce and sell artwork in many different genres.

Homer was founded in 1896 by gold seekers. Among these early adventurers was Homer Pennock, from whom the town took its name. Near the turn of the century, coal mines were developed; and eventually, one of Alaska’s first railroads was built to haul coal to waiting ships anchored off Homer Spit. The mines and railway shut down during World War II. (more…)

Homer is located at 59°38′35″ North, 151°31′33″ West (59.643059, -151.525900)GR1. Homer is on the shore of Kachemak Bay on the southwest side of the Kenai Peninsula.

Its most distinguishing feature is the Homer Spit, a narrow 7 km (4.5 mile) long gravel bar that extends into the bay, on which is located the Homer Harbor.

Much of the coastline as well as the Homer Spit sank dramatically during the Good Friday Earthquake in March of 1964. After the earthquake, very little vegetation was able to survive on the Homer Spit.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 58.1 km² (22.4 mi²). 27.4 km² (10.6 mi²) of it is land and 30.7 km² (11.9 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 52.83% water.
The town’s most interesting geographical feature is Homer Spit, an arm of sand and gravel that reaches several miles into the bay. (more…)

Homer is a town located in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population was 5,364. Homer is nestled among rolling hills and overlooking Kachemak Bay and the Kenai Mountains, this seaside community has 4,000 residents and another 8,000 beyond the city limits. In addition to the downtown area of Homer, a unique attraction is the Homer Spit, a long, narrow finger of land jutting 4.5 miles into Kachemak Bay.

The Spit is home to our harbor and over 700 charter and commercial boat operators year round, growing to 1,500 in the summer months. Homer offers all the amenities of a small, first class city, including a hospital, medical clinics, pharmacies, police and fire departments, and a U.S. Coast Guard cutter for safety at sea. Local, state and federal government offices operate here, as does the Kenai Peninsula College and a senior citizens center.

The town of Homer owes its beginnings to the coal and gold miners of the late 1800s who came to the area looking for riches. Although the big strike was not to be found here and these first settlers eventually moved on, Homer Pennock’s name was left behind as a reminder of what once was. (more…)

Ketchikan serves as a both an air and marine transportation hub for southern Southeast Alaska.
The Ketchikan International Airport both serves as a gateway for Alaska Airlines jet service from Seattle and a bush carrier and charter aircraft hub for destinations like Hyder, Metlakatla, Alaska, and Prince of Wales Island. Ketchikan also serves as the base for L.A.B. Flying Service’s regular flights to Klawock.

Ketchikan receives service to two separate ferry lines. Ketchikan sits on the Alaska Marine Highway’s Inside Passage route and sees a large number of ships northbound (to the rest of Alaska) and southbound (to Prince Rupert, British Columbia ” where a connection can be made to the BC Ferries system ” and Bellingham, Washington).

Ketchikan also sees regular day service from the Alaska Marine Highway vessel M/V Lituya, a day boat that shuttles between Ketchikan and Metlakatla, its homeport. The newly-inaugurated Inter-Island Ferry Authority serves Ketchikan daily (and, in the summer, twice daily) with the day boat M/V Prince of Wales from its homeport in Hollis on Prince of Wales Island. Ketchikan often serves as a connection between the Prince of Wales and mainline Alaska Marine Highway vessels that run to the rest of Southeast Alaska. (more…)

Located in the vast coastal rainforest of Southeast Alaska, Ketchikan is one of the rainiest cities in North America with just over 150 inches of average annual precipitation. Visitors should therefore come prepared for rain, especially if they plan activities on the water or in the forest or otherwise away from town and easy access to shelter.

During the summertime precipitation is generally light and sporadic and daytime temperatures average in the high sixties (F). Wintertime is marked by heavy, cold, wind-driven rain, for months at a time with barely any respite and temperatures in the high thirties.

The area lies in the maritime climate zone noted for its warm winters, cool summers, and heavy precipitation. Summer temperatures range from 51 to 65; winter temperatures range from 29 to 39. Ketchikan averages 162 inches (13.5 feet) of precipitation annually, including 32 inches of snowfall.
The climate of Southeast Alaska is typically cool and damp. (more…)

Regularly-scheduled jet services offer three northbound and three southbound departures daily. The State-owned Ketchikan International Airport offers a paved, lighted 7,500′ runway. The airport lies on Gravina Island, a 10-minute ferry ride to the waterfront. Ketchikan is a regional transportation hub, with numerous air taxi services to surrounding communities.

There are four float plane landing facilities: Tongass Narrows, Peninsula Point, Ketchikan Harbor, and Murphy’s. Ketchikan is the first port of call in Alaska for cruise ships and Alaska Marine Highway vessels. Harbor and docking facilities include a breakwater, a deep draft dock, five small boat harbors, a dry dock and ship repair yard, boat launch, and a State ferry terminal.

The shipyard is privately-owned, and is used for repairs to the Alaska Ferry and offshore fish processors. The Inter-Island Ferry Authority, based on Craig, is coordinating funding to develop a twice-daily, year-round ferry service between Ketchikan and Hollis. (more…)