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Homer, Alaska

Coordinates: 59°38′35″N 151°31′33″W / 59.64306°N 151.52583°W / 59.64306; -151.52583
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Homer
City
Downtown Homer seen from Beluga Slough
Downtown Homer seen from Beluga Slough
Flag of Homer
Flag
Motto(s): 
Where the land ends and the sea begins
Location of Homer, Alaska
Location of Homer, Alaska
Coordinates: 59°38′35″N 151°31′33″W / 59.64306°N 151.52583°W / 59.64306; -151.52583
CountryUnited States
StateAlaska
BoroughKenai Peninsula
IncorporatedMarch 31, 1964[1]
Government
 • MayorKen Castner
 • State senatorGary Stevens (R)
 • State rep.Sarah Vance (R)
Area
[2]
 • Total25.25 sq mi (65.41 km2)
 • Land13.79 sq mi (35.71 km2)
 • Water11.47 sq mi (29.70 km2)
Elevation
95 ft (29 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total5,522
 • Density400.52/sq mi (154.64/km2)
Time zoneUTC−9 (Alaska (AKST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−8 (AKDT)
ZIP code
99603
Area code907
FIPS code02-33140
GNIS feature ID1413141
Websitewww.ci.homer.ak.us

Homer (Dena'ina: Tuggeght) is a city in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is 218 mi (351 km) southwest of Anchorage. According to the 2020 Census, the population is 5,522, up from 5,003 in 2010. Long known as the "Halibut Fishing Capital of the World", Homer is also nicknamed "the end of the road", and more recently, "the cosmic hamlet by the sea".[3]

Geography

[edit]
Homer from space

Homer is located at 59°38'35" North, 151°31'33" West (59.643059, −151.525900).[4] The only road into Homer is the Sterling Highway.[5] The town has a total area of 25.5 square miles (66 km2), of which 15 square miles (39 km2) are land and 10.5 square miles (27 km2) are covered by water.[6]

Homer is on the shore of Kachemak Bay on the southwest side of the Kenai Peninsula. Its distinguishing feature is the Homer Spit, a narrow 4.5 mi (7.2 km) 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, sank dramatically during the Good Friday earthquake in March 1964. After the earthquake, very little vegetation was able to survive on the Homer Spit.

Climate

[edit]

As with much of South-central Alaska, Homer has a moderate subarctic mediterranean climate (Köppen Dsc), which causes its weather to be moderate compared to interior Alaska. Winters are snowy and long, but not particularly cold, considering the latitude, with the average January high only slightly below freezing. The annual snowfall averages 50 inches (127 cm) per season, falling primarily from November through March, with some accumulation in October and April but rarely in May. Homer receives only about 25 inches of rainfall annually due to the influence of the Chugach Mountains to the southeast, which shelter it from the Gulf of Alaska. Seven days have a minimum 0 °F (−18 °C) or below annually, and Homer falls in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 6a.[7] The coldest day of the year averaged 10 °F (−12 °C) in the 1991 to 2020 normals, while the warmest night average was at 55 °F (13 °C). The coldest daytime maximum on record is −8 °F (−22 °C) on January 28, 1989, while, conversely, the record warm daily minimum is 60 °F (16 °C) on August 9, 1971, and August 23, 1963.[8] Summers are cool due to the marine influence, with 75 °F (24 °C) maxima or minima remaining at or above 55 °F (13 °C) being extremely rare. Extreme temperatures have ranged from −24 °F (−31 °C) on January 28–29, 1989, up to 81 °F (27 °C) on July 10, 1993.[8] The coldest has been January 2012 with a mean temperature of 9.0 °F (−12.8 °C), while the warmest month was July 2019 at 58.6 °F (14.8 °C); the annual mean temperature has ranged from 32.9 °F (0.5 °C) in 1956 to 43.7 °F (6.5 °C) in 2014.[8]

Climate data for Homer, Alaska (Homer Airport), 1991–2020 normals,[a] extremes 1932–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 57
(14) 		53
(12) 		54
(12) 		65
(18) 		72
(22) 		80
(27) 		81
(27) 		78
(26) 		69
(21) 		64
(18) 		58
(14) 		52
(11) 		81
(27)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 44.7
(7.1) 		44.6
(7.0) 		45.8
(7.7) 		54.4
(12.4) 		63.8
(17.7) 		68.2
(20.1) 		70.3
(21.3) 		70.2
(21.2) 		63.3
(17.4) 		55.9
(13.3) 		47.9
(8.8) 		45.5
(7.5) 		72.9
(22.7)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 31.8
(−0.1) 		34.9
(1.6) 		37.1
(2.8) 		46.1
(7.8) 		53.8
(12.1) 		59.3
(15.2) 		63.1
(17.3) 		62.6
(17.0) 		56.7
(13.7) 		47.1
(8.4) 		37.6
(3.1) 		34.0
(1.1) 		47.0
(8.3)
Daily mean °F (°C) 25.4
(−3.7) 		28.3
(−2.1) 		30.1
(−1.1) 		38.7
(3.7) 		46.0
(7.8) 		52.0
(11.1) 		56.1
(13.4) 		55.3
(12.9) 		49.5
(9.7) 		40.2
(4.6) 		31.2
(−0.4) 		27.7
(−2.4) 		40.0
(4.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 19.0
(−7.2) 		21.7
(−5.7) 		23.1
(−4.9) 		31.3
(−0.4) 		38.2
(3.4) 		44.7
(7.1) 		49.2
(9.6) 		48.0
(8.9) 		42.3
(5.7) 		33.3
(0.7) 		24.8
(−4.0) 		21.4
(−5.9) 		33.1
(0.6)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −0.6
(−18.1) 		4.3
(−15.4) 		7.0
(−13.9) 		19.9
(−6.7) 		29.4
(−1.4) 		36.7
(2.6) 		41.4
(5.2) 		38.7
(3.7) 		30.2
(−1.0) 		20.2
(−6.6) 		9.0
(−12.8) 		3.7
(−15.7) 		−4.4
(−20.2)
Record low °F (°C) −24
(−31) 		−19
(−28) 		−21
(−29) 		−9
(−23) 		6
(−14) 		27
(−3) 		34
(1) 		31
(−1) 		20
(−7) 		0
(−18) 		−7
(−22) 		−16
(−27) 		−24
(−31)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.15
(55) 		1.82
(46) 		1.32
(34) 		1.15
(29) 		0.78
(20) 		0.87
(22) 		1.45
(37) 		2.31
(59) 		3.28
(83) 		2.61
(66) 		2.87
(73) 		3.27
(83) 		23.88
(607)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 9.1
(23) 		9.6
(24) 		7.0
(18) 		1.9
(4.8) 		trace 0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		2.6
(6.6) 		7.0
(18) 		10.2
(26) 		47.4
(120.4)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 14.1 12.4 10.7 10.2 9.7 9.8 12.1 14.3 16.5 14.9 14.7 16.9 156.3
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 8.0 6.4 5.2 1.9 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.2 5.4 7.6 36.8
Average relative humidity (%) 79.7 78.0 74.0 73.8 74.2 76.2 80.2 81.6 81.4 78.5 78.9 79.4 78.0
Average dew point °F (°C) 17.4
(−8.1) 		18.7
(−7.4) 		21.6
(−5.8) 		27.7
(−2.4) 		35.4
(1.9) 		42.3
(5.7) 		47.8
(8.8) 		47.8
(8.8) 		42.3
(5.7) 		31.3
(−0.4) 		23.0
(−5.0) 		19.0
(−7.2) 		31.2
(−0.4)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 93 141.3 186 240 279 270 248 186 150 124 90 62 2,069.3
Mean daily sunshine hours 3 5 6 8 9 9 8 6 5 4 3 2 6
Percent possible sunshine 43 54 50 55 52 48 45 39 39 40 39 33 45
Average ultraviolet index 0 0 1 3 4 5 5 4 2 1 0 0 2
Source 1: NOAA (relative humidity and dew point 1961–1990)[8][9](average snowfall/snow days 1981–2010)[10][11]
Source 2: Weather Atlas (sun and uv)[12]

See or edit raw graph data.

Coastal temperature data for Homer
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average sea temperature °F (°C) 37.6
(3.11) 		38.3
(3.50) 		37.2
(2.89) 		38.8
(3.78) 		42.1
(5.61) 		46.8
(8.22) 		50.4
(10.22) 		52.0
(11.11) 		51.6
(10.88) 		47.7
(8.72) 		43.5
(6.39) 		41.0
(5.00) 		43.9
(6.65)
Source 1: Seatemperature.net[13]
Notes
  1. ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.

History

[edit]
Homer Airstrip, 1942
Coal Point Park, the plaque reads "Coal Point Site of the Cook Inlet Coal Fields Company Roundhouse Railroad shops, and boardwalk with coal-oil lamp lighting system. The original Homer townsite was surveyed by the Land Office of the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1896. State of Alaska Governor Walter J. Hickel, Alaska Centennial Commission"
Homer City Hall, located on Pioneer Avenue
Landmark: the Salty Dawg Saloon
Homer has a winery and a brewery.
Old Town Homer: Islands and Oceans visitor center is at the far right.

Tiller digs indicate that early Alutiiq 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 railroad at Homer. Coalmining in the area continued until World War II. It is estimated that 400 million tons of coal deposits are still present in the area.

Homer was named for Homer Pennock, a goldmining company promoter, who arrived in 1896 on the Homer Spit and built living quarters for his crew of 50 men. However, goldmining was never profitable in the area.

Another earlier settlement, Miller's Landing, was named after a Charles Miller, who homesteaded in the area around 1915. According to local historian Janet Klein, he was an employee of the Alaska Railroad and had wintered company horses on the beach grasses on the Homer Spit. He built a landing site in a small bight in Kachemak Bay, where supply barges from Seldovia could land and offload their cargos.[14] Miller's landing was legally considered a census-designated place separate from Homer until it was annexed in 2002, but has always been locally considered part of Homer.

Halibut and salmon sport fishing, along with tourism and commercial fishing are the dominant industries. Homer co-hosted the 2006 Arctic Winter Games. The Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve co-host a visitor center with interpretive displays known as the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center,[15] and a cultural and historical museum there is called the Pratt Museum.

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1940325—
1950307−5.5%
19601,247306.2%
19701,083−13.2%
19802,209104.0%
19903,66065.7%
20003,9467.8%
20105,00326.8%
20205,52210.4%
2022 (est.)5,876[16]6.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

Homer first appeared on the 1940 U.S. Census as an unincorporated village. It formally incorporated in 1964.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 5,003 people, 2,235 households, and 1,296 families residing in the city. The population density was 361.7 inhabitants per square mile (139.7/km2). There were 2,692 housing units at an average density of 194.6 per square mile (75.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 89.3% White, 4.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% Asian, 0.4% African American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos of any race were 2.1% of the population.[17]

There were 2,235 households, of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.0% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21, and the average family size was 2.83.[17]

The median age in the city was 44.0 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.2% were from 25 to 44; 34.5% were from 45 to 64; and 14.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.[17]

The median income for a household was $52,057, and the median income for a family was $68,455. Males had a median income of $41,581 versus $37,679 for females. The per capita income for the city was $32,035. About 3.8% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over.[17]

Education

[edit]
Kachemak Bay Campus seen from Heath street.

Schools and library

[edit]

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District provides primary and secondary education to the community of Homer. These schools are:

  • Homer High School (9-12)
  • Homer Flex High School (9-12)
  • Homer Middle School (7-8)
  • West Homer Elementary (3-6)
  • Paul Banks Elementary (K-2)
  • McNeil Canyon Elementary (K-6)
  • Fireweed Academy (K-6)
  • Connections Homeschool Program (K-12)

The Kachemak Bay Campus of Kenai Peninsula College provides post-secondary education, as well as ESL and GED training to the community of Homer.

The Homer Public Library has enthusiastic support from the Friends of the Homer Library, established in 1948, which raised funds and support for a new library building, opened on September 16, 2006.

Science education

[edit]

Because of the city of Homer's location on the Kenai Peninsula and its abundance of natural resources and marine habitats, there are many public education programs focused on the environment. Some of these educational endeavors include the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center (also known as the Alaska Island and Ocean Center) and the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies.[18] Both organizations encourage science education and sponsor many events aimed to teach people of all ages about the ecosystem and conservation. Some of these events include the Kachemak Crane Watch and the Kachemak Bay Science Conference, both sponsored by the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies.[19]

Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival

[edit]
A mated pair of sandhill cranes and their colts as seen through a pair of binoculars.

Homer hosts the Kachemak Bay Shorebird festival, which was established in 1993 by a group of Homer residents who wished to educate the public about shorebirds and the wetlands the birds inhabit.[20] Today, the festival is sponsored by Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and the Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges. The festival is held annually in early May when more than 13,000 shorebirds from 25 different species visit the Kachemak Bay area during spring migration.[21] Tourists and Alaskans alike attend the festival and are encouraged to watch the shorebird migration through a variety of land and boat tours in collaboration with the festival.

Some birds seen during the spring migration and the festival include horned puffins, sandhill cranes, and arctic terns.[22][23] Arctic Terns are famous for flying the longest distance of any migrating bird.[24] Many of the birds seen during the festival can be identified with the help of published guides that categorize distinguishable features such as, topography, silhouette, size, and color.[25] The festival also includes the Shorebirds Sing: Bird Call Contest, where contestants compete to mimic the calls of various bird species.[26]

In 2020, the festival was held entirely virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic and all presentations, speeches, and events were conducted online.[27] The 2021 festival was held both in person and virtually, with events taking place online and face-to-face.[28]

Media

[edit]
Homer welcome sign.

Homer has one newspaper, the Homer News, a weekly founded in 1964 and bought in 2000 by Morris Communications.

Homer has a number of radio stations including commercial stations KWVV-FM at 103.5 FM, KGTL at 620 AM, and public radio KBBI at 890 AM.

Homer receives 7 analog television stations:[29] Because the stations are rebroadcast into Homer using repeaters, their channel numbers are not the same in Homer and they were not required to participate in the transition to digital television.

Transportation

[edit]
Main airport terminal.

Homer is the southernmost town on the contiguous Alaska highway system. It is also part of the Alaska Marine Highway (the Alaskan ferry system). The Homer Airport lies near the coast as well, with local air taxis and regular scheduled commercial flights to Anchorage. Homer erected its first traffic light in 2005.[30]

The United States Coast Guard stations one Island Class cutter in Homer.[31][32] From 1992 to 2015, the cutter Roanoke Island was assigned to Homer, and was replaced by the cutter Sapelo. Sapelo is scheduled to be replaced by a more modern Sentinel-class cutter.[when?]

Government

[edit]

Homer uses a city council consisting of seven members. As of April 2020, the current mayor of Homer is Ken Castner.[33][34]

Notable people

[edit]
Eagles on the spit in Homer

See also

[edit]
Moose are a common sight on area roads and trails

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 1996 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory. Juneau: Alaska Municipal League/Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs. January 1996. p. 65.
  2. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  3. ^ 36 hours: Homer Alaska New York Times
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "From Ketchikan to Barrow". Alaska Magazine. 81 (5): 19. June 2015.
  6. ^ "Facts & Figures | City of Homer Alaska Official Website". www.cityofhomer-ak.gov.
  7. ^ "USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map". Agricultural Research Center, PRISM Climate Group Oregon State University. Archived from the original on February 27, 2014. Retrieved November 1, 2019. Input 99603 in the ZIP Code box.
  8. ^ a b c d "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  9. ^ "U.S Climate Normals Quick Access (1991–2020)". National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on May 9, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  10. ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access (1981–2010)". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on May 9, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  11. ^ "WMO climate normals for HOMER/ARPT AK 1961−1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on May 9, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  12. ^ "Monthly weather forecast and climate - Homer, AK". Weather Atlas. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  13. ^ "Nome Sea Temperature". seatemperature.net. April 26, 2023. Archived from the original on April 26, 2023.
  14. ^ Klein, Janet (1981). A History of Kachemak Bay. Homer, Alaska: Homer Society of Natural History.
  15. ^ "Islands and Oceans homepage". www.islandsandocean.org. Archived from the original on October 18, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  16. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Alaska: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Census.gov. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  17. ^ a b c d "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  18. ^ "Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center | Homer Things To Do". ALASKA.ORG. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  19. ^ "Explore. Connect. Protect - Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies | Homer, Alaska". www.akcoastalstudies.org. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  20. ^ "About Us | Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival". kachemakshorebird.org. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  21. ^ Matz, George. "Kachemak Bay Shorebird Monitoring Project: 2014 Report" (PDF). Kachmak Bay Birders.
  22. ^ "Birds Seen During the Festival | Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival". kachemakshorebird.org. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  23. ^ "SPECIES TALLY LIST FOR KACHEMAK SHOREBIRD FESTIVAL MAY 9-12 2019" (PDF). Kachemak Shorebird.
  24. ^ Fijn, R.C.; Hiemstra, D.; Phillips, R.A.; van der Winden, J. (2013). "Arctic Terns Sterna paradisaea from the Netherlands migrate record distances across three oceans to Wilkes Land, East Antarctica". Ardea. 101: 3–12. doi:10.5253/078.101.0102. S2CID 84699518.
  25. ^ "Shorebird Identification" (PDF). Migratory Shorebird Project.
  26. ^ "Bird Song Hero – Virtual Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival". Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  27. ^ "2020 Program of Events and Registration | Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival". August 12, 2020. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  28. ^ "2021 Program of Events | Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival". kachemakshorebird.org. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  29. ^ "TV Station List". Archived from the original on October 11, 2007.
  30. ^ "Homer News Online - News". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved March 7, 2007.
  31. ^ Michael Armstrong (June 4, 2015). "Coast Guard cutter forced into retirement". Homer News. Archived from the original on June 5, 2015. Homer won't lose the 18 crewmembers and their families, however. An Island Class patrol boat, the 110-foot Roanoke Island will be replaced in Homer by a sister ship, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Sapelo, now stationed in Sector San Juan, Puerto Rico.
  32. ^ David Mosely (October 25, 2012). "Cutter crew maintains operational readiness". Coast Guard Alaska. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2015. The 110-foot Island-class patrol boat, homeported in Homer, Alaska, just completed a major, 135-day long, maintenance overhaul at the Coast Guard dry dock in Ketchikan. This overhaul updated the ships systems to ensure it can continue to meet its mission requirements until its scheduled replacement by one of the Coast Guard's new fast response cutters.
  33. ^ "City Council - City of Homer Alaska Official Website". City of Homer. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  34. ^ Gross, Renee, Mayor Castner and City Council clash over authority and mayoral proclamations, KBBI, October 23, 2018
[edit]
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