Wasilla
City in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska
Wasilla is a city in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, with 9,054 residents (2020 Census). It sits at 341 ft (104 m) above sea level. The nearest town is South Lakes, 5.3 miles E.
- 9,054residents (2020 Census)
- 341 ftelevation · 104 m
- 12.4 sq miland area · 32.1 km²
- 731 / sq mipopulation density
- 99654ZIP code
About Wasilla
Wasilla (Denaʼina: Benteh) is a city in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, United States, and the fourth-largest city in Alaska. It is located on the northern point of Cook Inlet in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley of the southcentral part of the state. The city's population was 9,054 at the 2020 census, up from 7,831 in 2010. Wasilla is the largest city in the borough and a part of the Anchorage metropolitan area, which had an estimated population of 398,328 in 2020.
Established at the intersection of the Alaska Railroad and Old Carle Wagon Road, the city prospered at the expense of the nearby mining town of Knik. Historically entrepreneurial, the economic base shifted in the 1970s from small-scale agriculture and recreation to support for workers employed in Anchorage or on Alaska's North Slope oilfields and related infrastructure. The George Parks Highway turned the town into a commuter suburb of Anchorage. The headquarters of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, a popular and significant sporting event in Alaska, is located in Wasilla.
Wasilla gained international attention when Sarah Palin, who served as Mayor of Wasilla before her election as Governor of Alaska, was chosen by John McCain as his running mate for Vice President of the United States in the 2008 United States presidential election.
Wasilla is named after Chief Wasilla, a local Dena'ina chief. Wasilla is the anglicized spelling of the chief's Russian given name, Василий (Vasilij), which corresponds to the English name Basil.
Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Wasilla weather: 7-day forecast
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Source: National Weather Service (NOAA).
Live webcams in Wasilla
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Living in Wasilla
- Median household income
- $67,234
- Median home value
- $358,400
- Median rent
- $1,153/mo
- Median age
- 34.8
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Map of Wasilla
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Wasilla Street View
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Open in Google Maps ›Wasilla, AK population
Wasilla had 9,054 residents in the 2020 Census.
| 2020 Census | 9,054 |
|---|---|
| Density | 731 per sq mi (282 per km²) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.
Wasilla at a glance
| State | Alaska (AK) |
|---|---|
| County | Matanuska-Susitna Borough |
| Type | City |
| Population | 9,054 (2020) |
| Land area | 12.38 sq mi (32.1 km²) |
| Water area | 0.75 sq mi (1.94 km²) |
| Elevation | 341 ft (104 m) |
| Coordinates | 61.5785° N, 149.4763° W |
| ZIP code | 99654 |
| Official website | cityofwasilla.gov |
| Census code (GEOID) | 0283080 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.
Towns near Wasilla
- South Lakes5.3 mi E
- Tanaina5.7 mi N
- Meadow Lakes6.0 mi NW
- North Lakes6.1 mi NE
- Knik-Fairview6.9 mi SW
- Gateway8.5 mi E
- Houston11.0 mi W
- Farm Loop11.3 mi E
- Palmer12.0 mi E
- Fishhook12.3 mi NE
- Buffalo Soapstone13.8 mi NE
- Butte16.4 mi E
Straight-line distance between town centers.
Frequently asked questions about Wasilla
What county is Wasilla in?
Wasilla is in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska.
What is the population of Wasilla, AK?
9,054 people lived in Wasilla at the 2020 Census.
What is the ZIP code of Wasilla, AK?
The ZIP code of Wasilla is 99654.
What is the elevation of Wasilla?
341 feet (104 m) above sea level.
What towns are near Wasilla?
South Lakes (5.3 mi), Tanaina (5.7 mi), Meadow Lakes (6.0 mi), North Lakes (6.1 mi), Knik-Fairview (6.9 mi).
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