Soldotna Alaska

Location and Climate
Soldotna is on the Kenai Peninsula, 150 highway miles south of Anchorage, at the junction of the Sterling and Kenai Spur Highways. It lies 10 miles inland from Cook Inlet, and borders the Kenai River. Soldotna is located in the Kenai Recording District. The area encompasses 7 sq. miles of land and 1 sq. miles of water. Winter temperatures range from 6 to 24; summers range from 45 to 66. Average annual precipitation is 17.4 inches.

History, Culture and Demographics
The Peninsula has historically been the home to Kenaitze Indians, and was developed by non-Natives for its rich resources, including fish, timber and oil. Soldotna was named for a nearby stream; it is a Russian word meaning "soldier." Others believe it is derived from an Indian word meaning "stream fork." The first homesteaders were World War II veterans, given a 90-day preference over non-veterans in selecting and filing for property in 1947. That same year, the Sterling Highway right-of-way was constructed from Cooper Landing to Kenai. Soldotna was the site for the bridge crossing the Kenai River. A post office opened in 1949, with stores and a community center shortly thereafter. Soldotna continued to develop because of its strategic location at the Sterling-Kenai Spur Highway junction. In 1957, oil was discovered in the Swanson River region, bringing new growth and development. Soldotna was incorporated as a city in 1960.

4.5% of the population are Alaska Natives. Soldotna is primarily a non-Native community. The Kenai offers top trophy king salmon fishing during June and July. A 97 lb. 4 oz. world record king salmon was taken from these waters in 1985, and catching kings of over 60 pounds is not uncommon here. The Central Peninsula Sports Center provides an ice rink, racquetball courts, weight room and meeting facilities.

Economy and Transportation
The area economy is highly diverse. Kenai and Soldotna residents are employed in oil industry services for Cook Inlet oil drilling and exploration. New oil and natural gas deposits have been discovered in the Inlet since 1991. Oil refining operations occur north of Kenai in Nikiski. Tourism is estimated at a $95 million per year industry on the Peninsula. The Kenai Convention and Visitors Bureau receives about 800 visitors a day during July. Other important economic sectors include sport, subsistence and commercial fishing, fish processing, government, timber and lumber, agriculture, transportation services, construction and retail trade. 170 area residents hold commercial fishing permits. It is the site of the Central Peninsula General Hospital, the Kenai Peninsula Community College, the State Troopers' Headquarters, The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, and the Borough and School District offices.

The Soldotna Municipal Airport provides facilities for charter services and local air traffic. The paved runway is 5,000' in length. The Kenai Municipal Airport, located 10 miles away, offers scheduled flights and float plane facilities. Seaplanes may also land at nearby Mackeys Lakes. There are four additional private landing strips in Soldotna, and a heliport for medical emergencies at Central Peninsula General Hospital. The Sterling Highway provides access to Anchorage, the George Parks and Alcan highways.


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Source: Department of Community & Economic Development