Whether you are moving to another street or from another state, Wasilla, Alaska offers residents countless opportunities to satisfy every lifestyle. With a population of nearly 7,000, Wasilla is large enough to provide plenty of jobs and services but small enough to maintain its rural charm and hospitality. The Palmer/Wasilla area is home to more than 60,000 residents.
Although many residents commute to Anchorage, the government, retail industry, and tourism-related services provide many job opportunities. Major employers in the area include the Mat-Su Borough School District, Fred Meyer, Wal-Mart, and Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. The Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, which is a new medical facility that replaces Valley Hospital, provides general medical and surgical care for inpatient, outpatient, and emergency room patients.
When residents are not working, they can enjoy numerous activities and attractions. Hike, bike, and horseback ride in the summer, and snowmobile, ski, and dog sled in the winter. Residents and visitors from all over the world also come to the Mat Su Borough to enjoy camping and Still Water fishing. Visitors can drive, fly, or rent a recreational vehicle and discover the beauty of Alaska by taking advantage of its campgrounds and access to thousands of lakes. Whether you have only the weekend or an entire week, camping in the Wasilla area is a great way to explore the valley’s lakes, mountains, and glaciers.
Several annual events draw large crowds to Wasilla. The Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race® may be the most famous race in the world, and it passes through the city. Mushers and their teams of dogs race more than 1,100 miles from Anchorage to Nome across the frozen terrain – through mountains, forests, lakes, rivers, and heavy winds – with temperatures below freezing. The Testoro Iron Dog Race, the longest annual snowmobile race in the world, allows Trail and Pro Class teams to travel more than 1,000 miles from Wasilla to Nome and Fairbanks.
Moving around Wasilla is convenient for residents and visitors alike. In addition to the Wasilla Airport and Anchorage International Airport, there are approximately 10 private airstrips throughout the area with floatplanes landing at several lakes. The Mat-Su Transit (MASCOT) provides passenger bus services from Wasilla, Palmer and Anchorage. The George Parks Highway and the Glenn Highway connect Wasilla to Palmer, Anchorage, Fairbanks and Canada. Alaska Railroad Corporation operates cruise and commuter trains between Anchorage and Fairbanks. Wasilla offers a variety of housing options including single family homes and luxury properties, and many of these communities are located along major roadways.
