#1Ketchikan
Ketchikan Gateway Borough · 7,939 peopleHistory grade, better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #24 of 41 in AK
Ketchikan, #1 on this list · Creek Street Historic District · Photo: Jerzystrzelecki · CC BY 3.0Alaska rankings · History
Most historic towns in Alaska
Ketchikan ranks first on history among Alaska’s 41 towns of 2,500+; 1 of the 41 grade A− or better on history nationally.
The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. How grades work
#1A−
#2Unalaska
Aleutians West Census Area · 4,306 peopleHistory grade, better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #2 of 41 in AK
#3Juneau
Juneau City and Borough · 31,609 peopleHistory grade, better than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #14 of 41 in AK
All 41 towns
History grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 6 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
41 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeOverall
1KetchikanKetchikan Gateway Borough · 7,939 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #24 of 41
2UnalaskaAleutians West Census Area · 4,306 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #2 of 41
6Petersburgunincorporated, Petersburg Borough · 3,227 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #1 of 41
8Farm Loopunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 2,894 peopleCbetter than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #12 of 41
9Mill Bayunincorporated, Kodiak Island Borough · 3,654 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #34 of 41
10Fishhookunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 5,819 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #27 of 41
11PalmerMatanuska-Susitna Borough · 6,710 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #11 of 41
12FairbanksFairbanks North Star Borough · 31,468 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #38 of 41
17Farmers Loopunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 4,954 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #6 of 41
18Chena Ridgeunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 5,881 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #15 of 41
19AnchorageAnchorage Municipality · 287,155 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #26 of 41
20Esterunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 2,752 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #25 of 41
21WasillaMatanuska-Susitna Borough · 10,556 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #40 of 41
22Knik-Fairviewunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 19,972 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #31 of 41
23Collegeunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 11,924 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #13 of 41
26KotzebueNorthwest Arctic Borough · 2,876 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #37 of 41
27Butteunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 4,085 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #19 of 41
28SoldotnaKenai Peninsula Borough · 4,615 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #18 of 41
29Nikiskiunincorporated, Kenai Peninsula Borough · 4,773 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #36 of 41
30South Lakesunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 6,180 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #8 of 41
31Badgerunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 18,677 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #33 of 41
32Gatewayunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 6,845 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #10 of 41
T33Goldstreamunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 3,294 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #7 of 41
T33Kalifornskyunincorporated, Kenai Peninsula Borough · 8,663 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #17 of 41
T33Meadow Lakesunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 8,689 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #35 of 41
T33North Lakesunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 10,223 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #22 of 41
T33Steele Creekunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 5,928 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #5 of 41
T33Tanainaunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 9,646 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #21 of 41
39Eielson AFBunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 3,155 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #32 of 41
40Big Lakeunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 3,585 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall C · #29 of 41
41Sterlingunincorporated, Kenai Peninsula Borough · 6,323 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall B · #9 of 41
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the most historic town in Alaska?
Ketchikan (Ketchikan Gateway Borough) ranks first on history among 41 towns, with an A−; Unalaska and Juneau follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a history grade (41 in Alaska). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Alaska page.
Go deeper
All Alaska rankings →More Alaska lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live41 towns · #1 PetersburgBest small towns33 towns · #1 PetersburgMost affordable towns41 towns · #1 KotzebueSafest towns18 towns · #1 UnalaskaTowns with the best schools41 towns · #1 PetersburgHealthiest towns41 towns · #1 Chena RidgeBest towns for jobs & income41 towns · #1 Steele CreekMost walkable towns41 towns · #1 SitkaTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk41 towns · #1 UtqiaġvikBest towns for the outdoors41 towns · #1 AnchorageTowns with the most civic life17 towns · #1 SewardTowns with the least snow35 towns · #1 KetchikanDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns35 towns · #1 ValdezDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters41 towns · #1 SitkaDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers41 towns · #1 GoldstreamDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers41 towns · #1 UtqiaġvikDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes41 towns · #1 GatewayDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes39 towns · #1 KotzebueDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns19 towns · #1 WasillaDescribed, no letters
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