Sunshine 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="stony_river_alaska.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Stony River 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="susitna_alaska.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Susitna 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>Sunshine Alaska</I></div> <div> Montana Creek and Sunshine</div> <div> The Y is the developed area between Willow and Talkeetna, on the George Parks Highway.</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><NOBR><div> 1,085 (2006 Estimated Population (not Certified))</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> <B>Incorporation Type:</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="433"><div> Unincorporated</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> <B>Borough Located In:</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="433"><div> Matanuska-Susitna Borough</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 WIDTH="187"><div> <B>Taxes:</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="433"><div> Sales: None, Property: 11.483 mills (Borough), Special: 5% Accommodations Tax (Borough) </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B><IMG SRC="0ae66000.gif" border=0 width="358" height="256" ALT="alaska map of willow" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="6" VSPACE="0">Location and Climate</B></FONT> </div> <div> The George Parks Highway and Talkeetna Spur Road form what is locally known as the "Talkeetna Y" at Milepost 98.7.</div> <bR> <div> The Y includes Montana Creek and Sunshine. The community lies at approximately 62.154270° North Latitude and -149.798920° (West) Longitude. (Sec. 22, T024N, R003W, Seward Meridian.)</div> <bR> <div> The Y is located in the Palmer Recording District.</div> <bR> <div> The area encompasses 333.4 sq. miles of land and 3.1 sq. miles of water.</div> <bR> <div> January temperatures range from -40 to 51; July can range from 26 to 90. Precipitation ranges from 14 to 29 inches, with 48 to 70 inches of snowfall.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Organizations with Local Offices</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>Community Non-Profit</B> - Y Community Council</div> <div> HC 89 - Box 8575</div> <div> Talkeetna, AK 99676-</div> <div> Phone 907-495-5749</div> <bR> <div> <B>Regional Organizations</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>Borough</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 <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>Timothy.Anderson@matsugov.us</U></FONT></div> <div> Web <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>http://www.matsugov.us/</U></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Regional Native Health Corporation</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 <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>katherineg@scf.cc</U></FONT></div> <div> Web <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>http://www.southcentralfoundation.com/index.cfm</U></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Regional Development</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 <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>matsurcd@mtaonline.net</U></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="626" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="622"><div> <B>Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 142 WIDTH="622"><div> The majority of occupied homes have individual wells, septic tanks, and complete plumbing. Seasonal-use homes haul water and use outhouses. The Borough operates a refuse transfer station in Y, at mile 102 Parks Hwy. Electricity is provided by Matanuska Electric Association. There is one school located in the community, attended by 209 students. Local hospitals or health clinics include Sunshine Community Health Center (733-2273) in Talkeetna or Valley Hospital in Palmer (746-8600). Auxiliary health care is provided by Talkeetna Ambulance Service; Trapper Creek Ambulance Service; Sunshine Community Health Center (733-2273); Valley Hospital in Palmer or Anchorage hospitals. </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="626" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="622"><div> <B>Economy and Transportation</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 88 WIDTH="622"><div> Many residents are self-employed in a variety of small businesses, including lodging, guiding and charter services. Some residents are employed in the Palmer/Wasilla area.</div> <bR> <div> The community is accessible from the George Parks Highway. The Talkeetna airstrip is located nearby. A variety of transportation means are available in Wasilla, Palmer and Anchorage.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>History, Culture and Demographics</B></div> <div> Ahtna-speaking Athabascans lived in the Talkeetna Mountains and had a village opposite the mouth of Sunshine Creek called "Tsuk Qayeh," meaning "Old Village." Dena'ina-speaking Athabascans lived along the Deshka River and the middle Susitna River in the winter, below present-day Talkeetna. A Dena'ina village was located on the North Fork of the Kashwitna River, with a trail to Chickaloon. Montana Creek became a small Dena'ina village in about 1915 during railroad construction. Through 1927, the railroad brought employment and settlement to the area. Montana, at Mile 209.3, was one of the first construction camps. In 1918, a spur was constructed to a coal mine in the area. Sunshine Depot at Mile 215.3 was established in 1918, but was moved to higher ground in 1936. Construction of the George Parks Highway and State land disposals led to settlement of the area. </div> <div> The population of the community consists of 11.2% Alaska Native or part Native. The local "Y Community Council" advocates for area residents' concerns. Only half of the more than 800 homes in this area are occupied. The population is relatively diverse. During the 2000 U.S. Census, total housing units numbered 818, and vacant housing units numbered 406. Vacant housing units used only seasonally numbered 285. U.S. Census data for Year 2000 showed 253 residents as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 24.25 percent, although 64.42 percent of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $31,848, per capita income was $15,437, and 17.41 percent of residents were living below the poverty level.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="http://www.ast2.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ast2.com"> <img src="HTMLobj-227/aniGif.gif" alt="Rent this Space" border="0" align="bottom" width="468" height="60">  </A></div> <bR> <div> Web Site by: <A HREF="http://www.AST2.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.AST2.com">AST2.com</A>   Low Cost Business Sites</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>