Palmer, Alaska

{{Further|Matanuska Valley Colony}}

File:Alaska - Palmer through Paxson Lake - NARA - 23942233.jpg

File:Alaska - Palmer through Paxson Lake - NARA - 23942239.jpg

File:Alaska - Palmer through Paxson Lake - NARA - 23942241.jpg

The city was named after George Palmer, a trader.{{cite web| url= http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=27984|title=Profile for Palmer, Alaska, AK|publisher=ePodunk|access-date=July 28, 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203061553/http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=27984 | archive-date=February 3, 2013}}

In the late 19th century, the U.S. government began to take interest in the Matanuska coal fields located north of Palmer. This interest sparked financiers to consider constructing the Alaska Central Railroad in 1904. The advent of World War I created a need for high-quality coal to fuel U.S. battleships, and by 1917 the US Navy had constructed rail from the port of Seward to the Chickaloon coal deposits. At the end of World War I, the U.S. Navy distributed land in the coal fields to war veterans and additional land was opened to homesteading. Farmers, miners and homesteaders began to populate the area. The Palmer Post Office was opened July 6, 1917, under the name of Warton. With railroad accessibility, new markets for agriculture began to open up for farmers in the Matanuska Valley.

In one year, Palmer transformed from a mere whistle stop rail siding to a planned community with modern utilities and community services. Eleven million dollars from Federal Emergency Relief Administration was spent to create the town of Palmer and relocate 203 families from the hard hit Iron Range region of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Families traveled by train and ship to Palmer, arriving in May 1935. Upon their arrival they were housed in a city tent during their first Alaskan summer. Each family drew lots for {{convert|40|acre|m2|adj=on}} tracts and their farming adventure began in earnest. The failure rate was high, but many of their descendants still live in the area and there are still many operating farms in the Palmer area, including the Vanderwheele and Wolverine farms. In 1971, the National Outdoor Leadership School started operating wilderness education courses in the nearby Talkeetna and Chugach mountain ranges from a local historic farmhouse, the Berry House, which is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In addition to an agrarian heritage, the colony families brought with them Midwest America's small-town values, institutional structures, and a well-planned city center reminiscent of their old hometowns in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Many of the structures built are now in a nationally recognized historic district. Construction of the statewide road system and the rapid development of Anchorage has fueled growth around Palmer. Many Palmer residents commute 45 minutes to work in Anchorage.

File:PalmerAK Hay Flats.jpg is to the left with Twin Peaks to the right of Pioneer. The "Ghost Forest" of the Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge is shown in the foreground. These trees died from the subsidence that occurred in the area as a result of the Great Alaska earthquake of 1964.]]

Palmer is {{convert|42|mi|km}} northeast of Anchorage on the Glenn Highway. It lies on the north shore of the Matanuska River, not far above tidewater, in a wide valley between the Talkeetna Mountains to the north and the Chugach Mountains to the south and east. Pioneer Peak rises over {{convert|6000|ft|sigfig=2}} above the town, just a few miles south. East of Palmer is Lazy Mountain, and standing behind that is Matanuska Peak. Lazy Mountain, Matanuska Peak, and Pioneer Peak are all a part of the Chugach Range. North of Palmer are the Talkeetna Mountains. Hatcher Pass, a local favorite for hiking, skiing and other recreational activities, is located in this mountain range about {{convert|22|mi|0|abbr=on}} from Palmer.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|3.8|sqmi|km2}}, all of it land.

Palmer and Wasilla are the two major old-town cores of the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. Population of the area has grown dramatically in the past decade; Borough officials estimate the local population at 8,000.{{cite web|url=http://www.matsugov.us/business.cfm |title=Matanuska-Susitna Borough |access-date=June 29, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301150931/http://www.matsugov.us/business.cfm |archive-date=March 1, 2009 }}

Apart from road access, Palmer can be accessed by the Palmer Municipal Airport and the Palmer Depot of the Alaska Railroad. Neither of these has regularly scheduled service. However, when the Alaska State Fair operates, the Alaska Railroad operates a special train from Anchorage to Palmer (though it did not operate in 2021).{{Cite web|title=Fair Trains {{!}} Alaska Railroad|url=https://www.alaskarailroad.com/ride-a-train/event-trains/fair-train|access-date=December 3, 2021|website=www.alaskarailroad.com}}

Palmer has a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification: Dsc). Despite this classification, the city receives noticeably more precipitation in summer, with August being the wettest month. However, April, one of the six warmer months is sufficiently drier than October and December, hence the letter 's' is used instead of 'f' (as in Dfc).

Palmer has a climate similar to that of Anchorage, although with low temperatures that are on average {{convert|1.4|F-change|1}} cooler and highs {{convert|0.8|F-change|1}} warmer. On average, over the course of a year, there are 28–29 days of sub-{{convert|0|°F|0}} lows, 22–23 days of {{convert|70|°F|0}}+ highs, and 0.8 days of {{convert|80|°F|0}}+ highs. The town straddles the border between USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 4b and 5a, indicating the coldest temperature of the year is typically around {{convert|−20|°F|0}}.{{Cite web|url=https://shop.arborday.org/LookUp.aspx?nursery=true&zipcode=99645|website=shop.arborday.org|access-date=January 14, 2020|title=What is my arborday.org Hardiness Zone?}} Palmer is flanked by two glaciers, the Matanuska Glacier and the Knik Glacier. Wind blows through the Matanuska and Knik River Valleys into the town frequently. If there is a substantial snowfall, it will often sit for several days before most of it is blown away. These warm winds can raise winter temperatures for a couple days at a time, and are often called Chinook winds by the local people.

{{Weather box

| collapsed=

| single line= Y

| location= Palmer Municipal Airport, Alaska, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1997–present

| Jan record high F= 58

| Feb record high F= 62

| Mar record high F= 59

| Apr record high F= 73

| May record high F= 80

| Jun record high F= 86

| Jul record high F= 88

| Aug record high F= 85

| Sep record high F= 70

| Oct record high F= 67

| Nov record high F= 55

| Dec record high F= 52

|Jan avg record high F = 45.8

|Feb avg record high F = 46.5

|Mar avg record high F = 46.0

|Apr avg record high F = 58.9

|May avg record high F = 72.9

|Jun avg record high F = 76.7

|Jul avg record high F = 78.5

|Aug avg record high F = 74.5

|Sep avg record high F = 65.8

|Oct avg record high F = 57.1

|Nov avg record high F = 44.6

|Dec avg record high F = 44.7

|year avg record high F = 80.1

|Jan avg record low F = -14.1

|Feb avg record low F = -8.0

|Mar avg record low F = -2.3

|Apr avg record low F = 16.3

|May avg record low F = 30.6

|Jun avg record low F = 39.5

|Jul avg record low F = 45.1

|Aug avg record low F = 40.0

|Sep avg record low F = 28.9

|Oct avg record low F = 14.0

|Nov avg record low F = -3.5

|Dec avg record low F = -8.2

|year avg record low F = -17.4

| Jan high F= 22.4

| Feb high F= 28.3

| Mar high F= 34.9

| Apr high F= 47.8

| May high F= 59.1

| Jun high F= 65.7

| Jul high F= 67.6

| Aug high F= 64.6

| Sep high F= 55.8

| Oct high F= 42.3

| Nov high F= 28.9

| Dec high F= 25.1

| year high F=45.1

| Jan mean F =15.4

| Feb mean F =20.8

| Mar mean F =25.5

| Apr mean F =38.8

| May mean F =49.0

| Jun mean F =56.3

| Jul mean F =59.2

| Aug mean F =56.4

| Sep mean F =48.3

| Oct mean F =35.4

| Nov mean F =22.2

| Dec mean F =18.3

| year mean F =37.1

| Jan low F= 8.3

| Feb low F= 13.2

| Mar low F= 17.2

| Apr low F= 29.8

| May low F= 38.8

| Jun low F= 46.9

| Jul low F= 50.7

| Aug low F= 48.2

| Sep low F= 40.8

| Oct low F= 28.6

| Nov low F= 15.6

| Dec low F= 11.4

| year low F=29.1

| Jan record low F= −27

| Feb record low F= −39

| Mar record low F= −12

| Apr record low F= −8

| May record low F= 22

| Jun record low F= 35

| Jul record low F= 42

| Aug record low F= 32

| Sep record low F= 21

| Oct record low F= −3

| Nov record low F= −19

| Dec record low F= −25

| precipitation colour= green

| Jan precipitation inch= 0.65

| Feb precipitation inch= 0.70

| Mar precipitation inch= 0.47

| Apr precipitation inch= 0.30

| May precipitation inch= 0.62

| Jun precipitation inch= 1.00

| Jul precipitation inch= 1.60

| Aug precipitation inch= 2.32

| Sep precipitation inch= 2.08

| Oct precipitation inch= 1.25

| Nov precipitation inch= 0.66

| Dec precipitation inch= 0.96

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 6.2

|Feb precipitation days = 6.1

|Mar precipitation days = 4.6

|Apr precipitation days = 3.9

|May precipitation days = 6.7

|Jun precipitation days = 8.7

|Jul precipitation days = 11.9

|Aug precipitation days = 14.3

|Sep precipitation days = 13.3

|Oct precipitation days = 8.9

|Nov precipitation days = 5.6

|Dec precipitation days = 7.7

| source 1= NWS (mean maxima and minima 2006–2020)

{{cite web

|url=https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=afc

|title=NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data

|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date=February 17, 2022}}

|source 2 = NOAA

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00025331&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access

|access-date = September 12, 2022

}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1940= 150

|1950= 890

|1960= 1181

|1970= 1140

|1980= 2141

|1990= 2866

|2000= 4533

|2010= 5937

|2020= 5888

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

As of the 2010 United States Census,{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} there were 5,937 people, 1,472 households, and 1,058 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,206.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,555 housing units at an average density of {{convert|413.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 80.9% White, 2.1% Black or African American, 8.2% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races, and 6.3% from two or more races. 3.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 14.9% were of German, 10.5% United States or American, 8.9% Irish and 8.7% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 1,472 households, out of which 47.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.29.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 33.6% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,571, and the median income for a family was $53,164. Males had a median income of $44,716 versus $25,221 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,203. About 6.0% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.6% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

{{Main|Alaska State Fair}}

File:AKStateFair.jpg

Palmer is most noted in Alaska as the location of the annual Alaska State Fair, where Palmer's agricultural spirit lives on. The Alaska State Fair holds contests for largest vegetable in several categories, and many national and even world records have been recorded at the fair, with the cabbage, radish, spinach and lettuce categories usually dominating local interest. There are rides and festivities, local artists on display, local venders and food trucks, and popular musical artists at the ConcoPhilips Borealis Theatre. In 2008, Scott Robb of Palmer won 1st place and a $2,000 prize for his {{convert|79.1|lb|abbr=on}} cabbage.{{cite web|url=http://www.alaskastatefair.org/2008/results/index.html |title=Alaska State Fair - 2008 Events & Schedules |access-date=September 14, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012005203/http://www.alaskastatefair.org/2008/results/index.html |archive-date=October 12, 2008 }}

Palmer hosts a log cabin Visitor Information Center in the heart of downtown that entertains more than 35,000 visitors each year. Each summer, the visitor center employs a full-time gardener to maintain the {{convert|2|acre|m2}} of public gardens that showcase more than 600 locally grown plant varieties. The Palmer Museum of History and Art is located in the Visitor Information Center and offers visitors a chance to view artifacts from Palmer's history, provides maps to historical places to see and stocks guidebooks for more information on local attractions.{{Cite web|title=Home {{!}} Palmer Museum {{!}} United States|url=https://palmermuseum.org/|access-date=July 3, 2020|website=Palmer Museum|language=en-US}}

A couple of blocks away from the Visitor Information Center is the United Protestant Church (aka The Church of a Thousand Trees), a Presbyterian church. It was built in 1936–37 and is one of the 17 structures that contribute to the National Register's Matanuska Colony Historic District.

The Friday Fling is a local downtown event that takes place around the public library and train depot. Many small local businesses and farmers gather to sell goods.{{cite web | last=Schreck | first=Carly | title=Friday Fling return transforms Downtown Palmer | website=Alaska's News Source | date=May 13, 2023 | url=https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2023/05/13/friday-fling-return-transforms-downtown-palmer/ | access-date=January 18, 2024}}

Twelve miles north of Palmer is Hatcher Pass, a scenic mountainous pass. It has been established as a state park and is the home of the Independence Mine. It serves as a local back-country area for skiers, snowboarders, snowmachiners, and hikers as well as a tourist attraction in the summer months.

The area is also home to the Kepler-Bradley Lakes State Recreation Area, which grants access to numerous small lakes,[http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/maps/kepler.pdf Kepler-Bradley SRA], Alaska Department of Natural Resources the Finger Lake State Recreation Area, and a number of city parks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cityofpalmer.org/vertical/sites/%7BCEEE28AE-9003-4337-8BE2-A1961FF16E3D%7D/uploads/Parks_Map.pdf|title=Palmer city parks map}}

{{unreferenced section|date=October 2021}}

The Mat-Su Miners, a franchise in the Alaska Baseball League, a high-level summer collegiate baseball league, play their games at Hermon Brothers Field on the State Fairgrounds.{{Cite web |title=Summer League Spotlight: Rother rakes in Alaskan Baseball League |url=https://lehighsports.com/news/2021/6/28/summer-league-spotlight-rother-rakes-in-alaskan-baseball-league |access-date=April 21, 2022 |website=Lehigh University Athletics |language=en}} Colony High School bands play pep rally music, and different venders get together to bring a large crowd to support. With Division I collegiate players from all over the United States, the Miners have twice captured the coveted National Baseball Congress championship, in 1987 and 1997. Alaska Raceway Park is a nearby dragstrip. The Valley Steelers, a semi-pro football team within the Alaska Football League, play their home games at Palmer High School.

Primary and secondary education in Palmer is a part of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. Within city limits, there are two elementary schools (Swanson Elementary and Sherrod Elementary), one middle school (Palmer Jr. Middle School) and one high school (Palmer High School).

Palmer High is of modest size, with 649 students and 73 staff members.{{Cite web |title=Search for Public Schools - Palmer High School (020051000227) |url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=0200510&SchoolPageNum=3&ID=020051000227 |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=nces.ed.gov}}{{Cite web |title=Staff Directory - Palmer High School |url=https://phs.matsuk12.us/about-us/staff-directory |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=phs.matsuk12.us |language=en-US}} In 1999, It became the first school in Alaska to offer the International Baccalaureate program. About ten minutes from Palmer High is "cross-town" rival Colony High School.

Palmer is also home to Alaska Bible College, the state's only accredited school of theology and ministry, and Matanuska-Susitna College, an extended college of the University of Alaska Anchorage.

The Palmer Alaska Job Corps is at 800 E. Lynn Martin Drive, across from the Hageland airfield.

The Ya Ne Dah Ah School (YNDA School), operated by the Athabascan Nation Chickaloon Village, uses Alaska Native methods to teach children. It was established in 1992."[http://www.chickaloon.org/departments/education/yaschool/ Ya Ne Dah Ah School]." Athabascan Nation Chickaloon Village. Retrieved on March 12, 2017. It is funded with grant money. In 2012 the school did not receive an annual grant which would allow it to fund Athna language and cultural programs, and it failed to receive Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) funds since the BIA had a 1995 rule preventing it from funding Alaska Native programs.{{cite web|author=Lockyer, Ellen|url=http://www.alaskapublic.org/2012/10/19/tribal-school-could-lose-language-program/|title=Tribal School Could Lose Language Program |publisher=Alaska Public Media |date=October 19, 2012|access-date=March 12, 2017}}

• Charlie Akers (1939-2016), Olympic biathlete
• Corey Cogdell (born 1986), two-time Olympic bronze medalist in trap shooting (2008, 2016))
• Edna DeVries (born 1941), Borough Mayor of Matanuska-Susitna Borough.{{cite news|last=Bradner|first=Tim|title= Edna DeVries is the next mayor of the Mat-Su Borough; Palmer to get a new mayor, too|date=November 2, 2021|newspaper=Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman|access-date=April 2, 2022|url-access=limited|url=https://www.frontiersman.com/news/edna-devries-is-the-next-mayor-of-the-mat-su-borough-palmer-to-get-a/article_21483110-3c7b-11ec-ad7b-238011dc259c.html|archive-date=November 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120193939/https://www.frontiersman.com/news/edna-devries-is-the-next-mayor-of-the-mat-su-borough-palmer-to-get-a/article_21483110-3c7b-11ec-ad7b-238011dc259c.html}}
• Anna Marly (1917–2006), Russian-French singer-songwriter; settled in Lazy Mountain where she became a citizen of the US; died in Palmer
• Ed Walker (1917–2011), last surviving member of Castner's Cutthroats, resided at Alaska Veterans and Pioneers Home in Palmer{{cite news|title=Last 'Cutthroat' dies at age 94|url=http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/2011/10/31/opinion/editorials/doc4eaf752eeb63c305319893.txt|work=Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman|date=October 31, 2011|access-date=November 19, 2011}}
• Talis J. Colberg (Born 1958), former Attorney General of Alaska

• Saroma, Hokkaido, Japan{{Cite web|url=https://asiamattersforamerica.org/asia/data/sister-partnerships|title=Data Visualizations – Asia – Sister Partnerships – Asia|website=Asia Matters for America|language=en|access-date=January 14, 2020}}

On October 28, 1980,{{Cite web|url=http://www.sistercities.org/interactive-map/relationship/Palmer,%20Alaska/Saroma,%20Japan|title=Palmer, Alaska & Saroma, Japan|website=www.sistercities.org|language=en|access-date=February 2, 2018}} Palmer and Saroma agreed to a bilateral sister relation to promote cultural exchange and support a home-stay program for their residents.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cityofpalmer.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B109CCB05-12FD-4625-954A-A0B06472D13F%7D|title=Sister City Program - City of Palmer, Alaska|website=www.cityofpalmer.org|access-date=February 2, 2018}} The relationship began with a friendship formed between Mr. Mutsuhiro Ishiguro,"[http://www.cityofpalmer.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={109CCB05-12FD-4625-954A-A0B06472D13F} Sister City Program]." City of Palmer. Retrieved on March 13, 2017. an English teacher at Saroma High School,{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} and Palmer resident Edward Holmes. They met over their ham radios, and over time formed a friendship. Mr. Holmes eventually visited Saroma, which then led to a delegation from Saroma to Palmer, where they signed the sister city accords. Since that time, additional relationships have formed under the auspices of the town connection.

• Palmer High School with Saroma High School, established 1991
• Palmer Junior Middle School and Colony Middle School with {{Nihongo|Saroma Junior High School|佐呂間中学校}}, established 2003
• Pioneer Peak Elementary School with {{Nihongo|Saroma Elementary School|佐呂間小学校}}, established 1991
• Palmer Presbyterian Church with Saroma Christian Church"[http://www.cityofpalmer.org/vertical/sites/%7BCEEE28AE-9003-4337-8BE2-A1961FF16E3D%7D/uploads/Spring_2014.pdf Palmer and Saroma Sister City Churches] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906032533/http://www.cityofpalmer.org/vertical/sites/%7BCEEE28AE-9003-4337-8BE2-A1961FF16E3D%7D/uploads/Spring_2014.pdf |date=2015-09-06 }}." Palmer, Alaska-Saroma, Japan Sister City News. City of Palmer. Spring 2014. p. 6/6. Retrieved on March 12, 2017.

The sister city relationship is managed by the {{Nihongo|Palmer Saroma Kai|パーマ・サロマ会}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.saroma.hokkaido-c.ed.jp/lastinfo-kokusaikoryu.html |script-title=ja:国際交流（パーマ高校短期留学） |publisher=Saroma High School |access-date=March 13, 2017 |archive-date=July 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729220739/http://www.saroma.hokkaido-c.ed.jp/lastinfo-kokusaikoryu.html |url-status=dead }}

{{Portal|Agriculture|Alaska}}

• Matanuska Valley Colony

{{Reflist}}

• Matanuska Valley Memoir: The Story of How One Alaskan Community Developed, by Hugh A. Johnson and Keith L. Stanton. Bulletin 18, 3rd edition, 1980. Originally published July 1955. Alaska Agricultural Experiment Station: Palmer, Alaska.

{{commons category}}

• {{official website|https://www.palmerak.org/}}

{{Alaska borough seats}}

{{Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska}}

{{Alaska}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Anchorage metropolitan area

Category:Borough seats in Alaska

Category:Cities in Alaska

Category:Cities in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska

Category:Populated places established in 1916