Little towns outside of anchorage (Wasilla, Palmer: middle school, living in, gas)

[Mollym313]

Ok...I have been reading a lot of posts and I have seen a lot about Wasilla and Palmer. When I relocate, I will most likely start with a job in Anchorage but I'm not sold on living in Anchorage. Are there any small towns just outside of Anchorage with a store, gas station, and a Jr. High school with a shorter commute than Wasilla and Palmer?

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by Mollym313

Ok...I have been reading a lot of posts and I have seen a lot about Wasilla and Palmer. When I relocate, I will most likely start with a job in Anchorage but I'm not sold on living in Anchorage. Are there any small towns just outside of Anchorage with a store, gas station, and a Jr. High school with a shorter commute than Wasilla and Palmer?

Eagle River, Birchwood, Chugiak, Eklutna, and Peters Creek are the only towns closer to Anchorage than Wasilla, Palmer, or Girdwood. They are also all within the Anchorage Borough, whereas Wasilla and Palmer are not.

Eagle River is closest to Anchorage, only 15 minutes or so from downtown Anchorage. Peters Creek is furthest away of the five, roughly 30 minutes from downtown Anchorage.

All five of these communities are on the north side of the Chugach Mountain Range. Which may not mean much to those who have not spent a winter in Alaska, but for those who have southern exposure it very important. The winter sun barely clears the Chugach Range in the south, and casts a very long northerly shadow. For this reason many bypass these communities for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough further north and more winter sun exposure.

[Jefetio]

Girdwood is a slightly shorter commute than Wasilla or Palmer and has a combined Elementary/Middle School. There are small communities between Anchorage and Girdwood like Indian, and I imagine those kids go to Girdwood for school.

The commute time would depend on what part of town you are working in. Girdwood would be closer for south anchorage or midtown but Eagle River, etc. would be closer for downtown or east anchorage.

[Mollym313]

Originally Posted by Jefetio

Girdwood is a slightly shorter commute than Wasilla or Palmer and has a combined Elementary/Middle School. There are small communities between Anchorage and Girdwood like Indian, and I imagine those kids go to Girdwood for school.

The commute time would depend on what part of town you are working in. Girdwood would be closer for south anchorage or midtown but Eagle River, etc. would be closer for downtown or east anchorage.

Thank You...I have been exploring job opportunities at Fort Richardson.

[JavaPhil]

Yeah, Girdwood is slightly closer, but the New Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm is a hairy ride with 6 deaths in 25 miles in the past 3 months or so. Summer and speeders.

[steph937]

My co-workers commute from Wasilla to Anchorage on a snowy winter day (and she's lived here her whole life) was two to three hours one way.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by steph937

My co-workers commute from Wasilla to Anchorage on a snowy winter day (and she's lived here her whole life) was two to three hours one way.

On really bad days it can take 2 or 3 hours, but not normally. Typically, it is a 45 minute to an hour commute each way.

[Mollym313]

Originally Posted by steph937

My co-workers commute from Wasilla to Anchorage on a snowy winter day (and she's lived here her whole life) was two to three hours one way.

EEEK! Sounds scary. I'd prefer to not white knuckle my commute. I kinda like what I have seen so far of Eagle River.

[dmills]

Originally Posted by Glitch

All five of these communities are on the north side of the Chugach Mountain Range. Which may not mean much to those who have not spent a winter in Alaska, but for those who have southern exposure it very important. The winter sun barely clears the Chugach Range in the south, and casts a very long northerly shadow. For this reason many bypass these communities for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough further north and more winter sun exposure.

Really? I havelived here20 years and didn't know that. I'm not sure I still understand why there is less sun, but I'll take your word. That's interesting.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by dmills

Really? I havelived here20 years and didn't know that. I'm not sure I still understand why there is less sun, but I'll take your word. That's interesting.

You lived in Alaska for 20 years and did not know that when looking for a place to live southern exposure was important? I find that hard to believe.

There is less sunlight in the winter in the northern hemisphere because of the 23° axial tilt of the planet. There is even less sunlight in the winter in Eagle River, Chugiak, Birchwood, Eklutna and Peters Creek because they are on the north side of the Chugach Mountain Range and the sun is very low to the southern horizon.