Anchorage is the closest major city to Fort Richardson. It has about 298,000 people, and is a home rule city (it is not in a borough, the local name for a county). The only other nearby small community is Eagle River.

It is about 14 miles from downtown Anchorage to Fort Richardson; this takes about 25 minutes to commute (in good weather), but the city is very spread out, and weather can be harsh, and travel times can vary significantly. The average commute in Anchorage is about 20 minutes.

Major local employers are the shipping, oil, logging and other resource extraction industries, the military, and various Alaska corporations.

Local Housing Rental Prices: The average apartment rent in the Anchorage area ranges from $900 to $1,200 per month, with a median of $1,000 per month.

Local Housing Purchase Prices: The average price for a house in Anchorage is about $267,000, compared to $232,000 for Alaska. Detached houses are about $314,000.

Description of the Area: Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska, and centrally located in the southern part of the state. The area is generally cold in winter, and cool in summer, and surrounded by wilderness. The city is not a wilderness, of course, and has a number of museums, shopping centers, and the usual features of civilization, despite being surrounded by trees and nature.

Climate and Weather: The area has a subarctic, dry climate. Winter temperatures range on average from the low 20s to low 10s; summer temperatures range from the mid-60s to low 50s. The area is relatively dry, with the main rainfall in August and September, and usually only about a foot of snow per winter month (but it can be more). Skies are often overcast, especially in deep winter. The weather can vary considerably, and winter snow storms can drop up to three feet of snow. There are volcanoes in southwestern Alaska (not close to the city); eruptions are rare, but can result in ash fall in Anchorage. Overall, Anchorage is mild by Alaskan standards.

Local Hazards

Earthquake warning: Alaska is earthquake active, and basic earthquake safety should be followed.

Mudflat warning: Alaska is not well known for its sandy sunny beaches for good reason, and Anchorage's coast is actually dangerous. Most of the coastlines are mudflats; they may look solid, but they aren't, and people can get stuck in the mud. Do not walk on the mudflats - it is dangerous because the tide comes in very quickly.

Wildlife in the city: New arrivals in Anchorage should be aware that Alaska is a wild land, and wildlife may wander into the city, especially the outer areas of the city, including moose and bear. Do not try to deal with wandering wildlife yourself; back off (do not run) and call 911 for emergencies, or report at the Anchorage Report a Bear Sighting web page. Do Not Feed The Bears.