History:The history of Wasilla begins with the history of Knik (see Knik River, Alaska), the first boom town in the Mat-Su Valley which, by 1915, boasted a population of 500. The town served the early trappers and miners working the gold fields at Cache Creek and Willow Creek.
Wasilla was established in 1917 with the construction of the Alaska Railroad. Wasilla’s proximity to the gold fields and railroad service lured Knik residents to relocate in the new town—some of them even dragging their homes and businesses with them. In a few short years, Knik became a ghost town. The current townsite was established in 1917 at the intersection of the Knik-Willow mining trail and the newly constructed Alaska Railroad. It was a supply base for gold, notably at Hatcher Pass, and coal mining in the region through World War II.
Wasilla is midway between the Matanuska Valley and the Susitna Valley, on the George Parks Highway. It lies between Wasilla Lake and Lake Lucille, 43 highway miles northeast of Anchorage, about one hour's drive, and about 10 miles west of Palmer. January temperatures range from 4 to 23; July temperatures vary from 47 to 68. The average annual precipitation is 17 inches, with 50 inches of snowfall.
Description: The city was incorporated in 1974. Approximately 30 percent of the Wasilla workforce commutes to Anchorage, Alaska. The local economy is diverse, and residents are employed in a variety of city, borough, state, federal, retail and professional service positions. Tourism, agriculture, wood products, steel and concrete products are part of the economy. One hundred twenty area residents hold commercial fishing permits. Wasilla is home to the Iditarod Trail Committee.
The George Parks Highway, Glenn Highway and other roads connect the city to Anchorage, the remainder of the state and Canada. The Alaska Railroad serves Wasilla. A city airport, with a paved 3,700' airstrip, provides scheduled commuter and air taxi services. Floatplanes land at Wasilla Lake, Jacobsen Lake and Lake Lucille. There are 10 additional private airstrips in the vicinity.
Nine percent of the population is Alaska Native or part Native.
Name: Wasilla was named after a respected local Dena'ina Indian, Chief Wasilla. In the Dena'ina Athabascan Indian dialect, "Wasilla" is said to mean "breath of air." Other sources claim the chief derived his name from the Russian language and that "Vasili" is a variation of the Russian name "William."
Source: Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development