Homer, Alaska

Homer is a city located in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska. As of 2004 , the population of the city is 3,726.

Geography

Homer is located at 59°38'35" North, 151°31'33" West (59.643059, -151.525900)¹.

Homer is located on 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 sunk 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 city 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.

Trivia

Homer is the hometown of singer/songwriter Jewel.

Homer is the southernmost city in Alaska that can be driven to.

Homer is also the halibut fishing capital of the world.

Homer is part of the Alaska Marine Highway (the Alaskan ferry system).

Homer is the hometown of writer Tom Bodett, known for the Motel 6 "We'll leave the light on for you" advertisements, and the book about Homer, "As Far as You Can go Without a Passport".

Demographics

As of the 2004,there are 3,726 people, 1,523 households, and 955 families residing in the city. 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 city 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 are 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 the city 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.

The median income for a household in the city is $42,821, and the median income for a family is $53,571. Males have a median income of $38,063 versus $30,494 for females. The per capita income for the city is $21,823. 9.3% of the population and 7.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 11.6% of those under the age of 18 and 6.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

History

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.