Houston Alaska

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#6666CC" TEXT="#080000" background="49301573.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>AST2</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="AST2"><B>home</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="alaska_directory.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alaska Directory"><B><IMG SRC="0010e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="up" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A><B>   </B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14"><B>     </B><A HREF="hope_alaska.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hope Alaska"><B><IMG SRC="0020e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="previous" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A><B>  </B><A HREF="iliamna_alaska.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Iliamna Alaska"><B><IMG SRC="0030e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="next" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#6666CC" TEXT="#080000" background="005d2013.jpg"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Houston Alaska</I></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="627" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> <B>Current Population:</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="434"><div> 1,537 (2006 DCCED Certified Population)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> <B>Incorporation Type:</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="434"><div> 2nd Class City</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> <B>Borough Located In:</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="434"><div> Matanuska-Susitna Borough</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 WIDTH="186"><div> <B>Taxes:</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="434"><div> Sales: 2%, Property: 3.0 mills (City); 10.88 mills (Borough), Special: 5% Accommodations Tax (Borough) </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="04c66000.gif" border=0 width="358" height="256" ALT="alaska map of houston alaska" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="6" VSPACE="0">Location and Climate</B></div> <div> Houston is located north of Wasilla in the Mat-Su Borough, 57 road miles north of Anchorage. It lies on the George Parks Highway, along the Little Susitna River.</div> <bR> <div> The community lies at approximately 61.630280° North Latitude and -149.818060° (West) Longitude. (Sec. 21, T018N, R003W, Seward Meridian.) Houston is located in the Palmer Recording District.</div> <bR> <div> The area encompasses 22.4 sq. miles of land and 1.2 sq. miles of water.</div> <bR> <div> January temperatures range from -33 to 33; July temperatures range from 42 to 83. In 1993, there was 14 inches of rain and 48 inches of snow.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Organizations with Local Offices</B></div> <div> <B>Chamber of Commerce</B><B> -</B> Houston Chamber of Commerce</div> <div> P.O. Box 356</div> <div> Houston, AK 99694</div> <div> Phone 907-892-0827</div> <div> Fax 907-892-0829</div> <div> E-mail stagedoorintlstyles@yahoo.com</div> <bR> <div> <B>City</B><B> -</B> City of Houston</div> <div> P.O. Box 940027</div> <div> Houston, AK 99694-0027</div> <div> Phone 907-892-6869</div> <div> Fax 907-892-7677</div> <div> E-mail cityhall@mtaonline.net</div> <bR> <div> <B>Regional Organizations</B></div> <div> <B>Borough</B><B> -</B> Matanuska-Susitna Borough</div> <div> 350 East Dahlia Avenue</div> <div> Palmer, AK 99645</div> <div> Phone 907-745-4801</div> <div> Fax 907-745-9845</div> <div> E-mail Timothy.Anderson@matsugov.us</div> <div> Web http://www.matsugov.us/</div> <bR> <div> <B>Regional Native Health Corporation</B><B> -</B> Southcentral Foundation</div> <div> 4501 Diplomacy, Suite 200</div> <div> Anchorage, AK 99508</div> <div> Phone 907-729-5235</div> <div> Fax 907-729-4972</div> <div> E-mail katherineg@scf.cc</div> <div> Web http://www.southcentralfoundation.com/index.cfm</div> <bR> <div> <B>Regional Development</B><B> -</B> Mat-Su Resource Conser. & Dev.</div> <div> 1700 E. Bogard #203</div> <div> Wasilla, AK 99654</div> <div> Phone 907-373-1062</div> <div> Fax 907-373-1064</div> <div> E-mail matsurcd@mtaonline.net</div> <bR> <div> <B>Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care</B></div> <div> 60% of residents have individual wells, septic tanks, and complete plumbing. The school uses its own well water system. The remainder haul water and use outhouses.</div> <div> The Borough landfill in Palmer is used.</div> <div> Electricity is provided by Matanuska Electric Association.</div> <div> There is one school located in the community, attended by 667 students.</div> <div> Local hospitals or health clinics include Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer (907-861-6000) or Anchorage hospitals.</div> <div> Houston is classified as a highway village, it is found in EMS Region 2C in the Mat-Su Region.</div> <div> <I><B>Emergency Services</B></I></div> <div> Emergency Services have highway and helicopter access, and are within 30 minutes of a higher-level satellite health care facility. Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service and volunteers Auxiliary health care is provided by Mat-Su Regional Medical Center.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Economy and Transportation</B></div> <div> Residents are employed in the nearby Wasilla/Palmer area; some commute to Anchorage. Houston is a popular fishing and recreation center for the Little Susitna River and area lakes. Two residents hold a commercial fishing permit.</div> <bR> <div> Houston lies on the Parks Highway and the railroad. Air services are available nearby or at Anchorage International Airport. A privately-owned turf airstrip is located in Houston.</div> <bR> <div> <B>History, Culture and Demographics</B></div> <div> Herning Trail (now Willow Creek Sled Trail) was used for freighting supplies to the Willow Creek Mining District.</div> <div> "Houston Siding" was first listed on a blueprint map of the Alaska Railroad in 1917; it was named after Congressman Houston of Tennessee.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Several coal mines were developed in the area during 1917-18.</B></I></div> <div> A railroad spur was constructed to the Janios & Athens coal mine, which supplied coal to Anchorage and the LaTouche Mining Co. in Prince William Sound.</div> <bR> <div> In the mid-1920s, the Heaven brothers operated a mink farm at mile 59.6.</div> <div> In 1953-54, gravels roads and power lines were extended west of Wasilla, and Houston was quickly settled.</div> <div> In 1966, Houston became an incorporated city.</div> <div> In June 1996, the "Miller's Reach" wildfire destroyed more than 37,500 acres in the Houston and Big Lake area, including 433 buildings and homes valued at $8.9 million. </div> <div> The population of the community consists of 12.3% Alaska Native or part Native.</div> <div> Popular recreation sites include Bonnie Lake, Finger Lake and Long Lake.</div> <div> There are several community organizations, such as Mid-Valley Seniors, the Homesteaders Community Center, and the Houston Chamber of Commerce.</div> <div> Elementary students attend Big Lake and Willow schools.</div> <div> The Houston High School serves students from the surrounding area.</div> <div> During the 2000 U.S. Census, total housing units numbered 581, and vacant housing units numbered 136.</div> <div> Vacant housing units used only seasonally numbered 98. U.S. Census data for Year 2000 showed 452 residents as employed.</div> <div> The unemployment rate at that time was 17.67 percent, although 48.69 percent of all adults were not in the work force.</div> <div> The median household income was $39,615, per capita income was $17,213, and 17.09 percent of residents were living below the poverty level.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>