Alaska 2014
The capital city of Alaska is Juneau, located in the southeastern panhandle of the state. It is a port city, situated in the Gastineau Channel, and has a population of around 33,000 people. Juneau is home to many government offices and state buildings due to it being the capital city. According to countryaah.com, the largest city in Alaska is Anchorage which has a population of over 300,000 people. It is located on the Cook Inlet in south-central Alaska and is known for its beautiful mountains and outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, and fishing. Anchorage is also home to many businesses and industries including oil production and transportation.
Politics of Alaska in 2014
In 2014, Alaska was a state with a politically diverse landscape. At the federal level, Alaska was represented by two Republican Senators and one Republican Representative in the U.S. Congress. At the state level, the Governor of Alaska was a Republican and the majority of both houses of the State Legislature were members of the Republican Party.
The 2014 midterm elections saw a major shift in power in Alaska’s politics as Democrats made significant gains in the State Legislature and won control of both houses for the first time since 2006. In addition to flipping both chambers, Democrats also won several key races at both state and local levels including Mark Begich’s successful campaign to retain his seat in the U.S. Senate against Republican challenger Dan Sullivan.
In 2014, Alaska was also home to several ballot initiatives that sought to address a range of issues from education funding to gun control to abortion rights. The most well-known initiative was Ballot Measure 2 which sought to raise taxes on oil production companies operating in Alaska as well as impose new limits on corporate donations to political campaigns. The measure passed by an overwhelming majority with nearly 60 percent of voters supporting it on Election Day 2014.
In addition to these measures, there were also several other political developments at both state and local levels throughout 2014 including Governor Sean Parnell’s decision not to seek reelection due to low approval ratings after his handling of an ethics scandal involving his former lieutenant governor; a ballot measure seeking to legalize recreational marijuana use that failed narrowly; and continued debate over oil drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).
Overall, politics in Alaska during 2014 were marked by shifts in power between Republicans and Democrats at both state and federal levels as well as some difficult decisions about issues ranging from taxes on oil companies to marijuana legalization.
Population of Alaska in 2014
According to beautyphoon, the population of Alaska in 2014 was estimated to be 736,732 people. This population was composed of a variety of ethnicities and backgrounds. The largest ethnic group in the state were White Americans, who made up 68.6% of the population. Native Alaskans were the second largest group and accounted for 16.5% of the population. African Americans made up 4.4%, Asians 3%, and other races 7.4%.
In terms of gender, there was a slight majority of females in Alaska with 50.2% being female and 49.8% male as of 2014 estimates. The median age for the state was 33 years old which is slightly lower than the national average at 37 years old during this same time period.
The most populous city in Alaska is Anchorage which had an estimated population of 291,826 people in 2014 making it the most populous city in all of Alaska and one of the most populous cities on the entire West Coast region as well as one of the fastest growing cities in America during that time period due to its booming oil industry and influx of new immigrants from around the world looking for work opportunities there. Other notable cities include Fairbanks (population 31,535), Juneau (population 32,164), Sitka (population 8,881), Ketchikan (population 8,050) and Wasilla (population 8,413).
In terms of religion, Christianity was by far the most popular faith with 78% identifying as Christian while only 2% identified as non-religious or atheist/agnostic according to a Pew Research Center survey from 2014. Other religious groups included Judaism at 1%, Islam at 0.5%, Buddhism at 0.3%, Hinduism at 0.2%, other faiths at 0-5%.
Economically speaking, Alaska’s economy is largely based on its natural resources such as oil production and fishing industry which provide jobs for many residents throughout the state. The median household income for Alaska was $71,583 while poverty rate stood at 11 percent according to U..S Census Bureau data from 2014. In terms of education level, 88 percent had attained a high school diploma or higher, 35 percent had attained a bachelor’s degree or higher, and 11 percent had attained an advanced degree or higher.
Overall, the population in Alaska during 2014 consisted mainly white Americans with a variety other ethnic backgrounds present. One could find a mix Christian faiths alongside smaller numbers adherents to other religions such Judaism, Islam, Buddhism etc. The economy revolved largely around natural resources jobs such fishing and oil production while educational attainment levels were comparable to national averages.
Economy of Alaska in 2014
In 2014, Alaska’s economy was in a strong position compared to the rest of the United States. The state had a GDP of $51.3 billion dollars, with growth of 4.2% over 2013. This growth was largely driven by oil and gas production, which accounted for 34.2% of the state’s total GDP. Fishing and seafood processing added another 10%, while tourism and transportation accounted for just over 9%. Manufacturing contributed another 5%, and government services made up the remaining 40%.
According to ablogtophone, the unemployment rate in Alaska was 6.7%, slightly higher than the national average of 6.2%. However, this figure is deceiving since many Alaskans are employed in seasonal jobs that are not counted when calculating this statistic. In addition, many people live off subsistence activities such as hunting or fishing that are not included in these figures either.
The state’s budget faced challenges due to declining oil prices and production levels during 2014, resulting in a $3 billion budget deficit by mid-year. This prompted Governor Bill Walker to make substantial cuts to government services in order to balance the budget before year-end.
Despite these challenges, Alaska continued to experience strong economic growth throughout 2014 due to its diverse industry base and sound fiscal management practices by Governor Walker’s administration. The state experienced strong job growth and an increase in wages which helped boost consumer spending power throughout the year as well as support local businesses across all sectors of the economy from retail outlets to large corporations based out of Anchorage or Fairbanks. Additionally, investments were made into infrastructure projects such as roads and bridges that further supported economic activity across the state’s cities and towns alike.
Events Held in Alaska in 2014
In 2014, Alaska hosted a variety of events that attracted visitors from around the world. The summer months saw the bustling city of Anchorage host the Annual Alaska State Fair. This event featured carnival rides, live music, and a variety of food vendors. It was also a great opportunity to learn about the unique culture and history of the state. In addition, the International Dog Mushing Championship was held in Fairbanks and drew competitors from all over the world. The championship saw mushers compete in a grueling race across the snow-covered terrain.
In Juneau, the Alaska Folk Festival featured performances from local and international folk musicians as well as workshops for those interested in learning more about traditional music. The event also included storytelling sessions and workshops on traditional Alaskan crafts such as basket making and wood carving.
The Great Alaska Beer Train Festival was held in Anchorage in July and featured craft beer tastings from around the world along with live music performances from local bands. The festival attracted thousands of visitors each year who came to sample some of Alaska’s best beers while enjoying live entertainment.
The World Ice Art Championships were held in February at the Ice Park in Fairbanks. This event saw teams of sculptors compete to create large ice sculptures that were judged by a panel of experts. Visitors could also explore an ice sculpture park while enjoying live music performances by some of Alaska’s best musical acts.
The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race began on March 1st with mushers racing across 1,000 miles of Alaskan wilderness from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. This annual race is known as “The Last Great Race” due to its grueling conditions that test both man and beast alike.
Finally, there was no shortage of outdoor activities for those looking for an adventure during their visit to Alaska in 2014. Hiking trails stretched across Denali National Park while kayaking trips down rivers like Kenai offered visitors stunning views of wildlife such as bears, moose, bald eagles, whales, seals, caribou, wolves and other animals that call this state home.
