Anchorage, AK

Anchorage is the largest city and main regional center for the frontier state of Alaska. Most of the state’s commercial and industrial activity occurs here. Because of rebuilding after an earthquake in 1964 and the recent influx of oil money, the city is quite modern. The area has a strong, growing economy, which is offset by a high cost of living caused by geographic isolation. Anchorage s largest economic sectors include transportation, military, municipal, state and federal government, tourism, corporate headquarters (including regional headquarters for multinational corporations) and resource extraction. Large portions of the local economy depend on Anchorage s geographical location and surrounding natural resources. The Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (TSAIA) is the world s third busiest airport for cargo traffic, surpassed only by Memphis and Hong Kong.