Editing Houston, Alaska

{{short description|City in Alaska, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Houston
| settlement_type    = [[City (Alaska)|City]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = 
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = Flag of Houston, Alaska.gif
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = Matanuska-Susitna Borough Alaska incorporated and unincorporated areas Houston highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 260px
| map_caption        = Location in [[Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska|Matanuska-Susitna Borough]] and the state of [[Alaska]]
| pushpin_map        = USA Alaska
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Alaska

<!-- Location -->| coordinates        = {{coord|61|36|30|N|149|46|25|W|region:US-AK_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Alaska]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of boroughs and census areas in Alaska|Borough]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska|Matanuska-Susitna]]
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Carter Cole
| leader_title1      = [[Alaska Senate|State senator]]
| leader_name1       = [[Mike Shower]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
| leader_title2      = [[Alaska House of Representatives|State rep.]]
| leader_name2       = [[Kevin J. McCabe|Kevin McCabe]] (R)
| established_title  = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date   = June 6, 1966<ref>{{cite book|title=1996 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory|location=[[Juneau]]|publisher=Alaska Municipal League/[[Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development|Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs]]|date=January 1996|page=68}}</ref>

<!-- Area -->| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_02.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 29, 2021}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_sq_mi   = 25.26
| area_land_sq_mi    = 23.94
| area_water_sq_mi   = 1.32
| area_total_km2     = 65.41
| area_land_km2      = 62.01
| area_water_km2     = 3.41

<!-- Elevation -->| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_ft       = 249
| elevation_m        = 76

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 1975
| population_density_sq_mi = 82.50
| population_density_km2 = 31.85

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[Alaska Time Zone|Alaska (AKST)]]
| utc_offset         = -9
| timezone_DST       = AKDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -8
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 99694
| area_code          = [[Area code 907|907]]
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS]] code
| blank_info         = {{FIPS|02|33800}}
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = {{GNIS4|1416613}}
| website            = [http://www.houstonak.us/ www.houstonak.us]
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 2022
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref>https://www.akml.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Houston.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=August 2024}}</ref>
| population_est     = 2,100
| unit_pref          = Imperial
}}

'''Houston''' is a city in [[Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska|Matanuska-Susitna Borough]], [[Alaska]], United States. It is part of the [[Anchorage, Alaska]] [[Anchorage metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. It is located roughly 33 miles from downtown Anchorage, though it is a 57-mile drive between the two points.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.houstonak.us/community/history.php |access-date=January 5, 2024 |website=www.houstonak.us |language=en}}</ref> The population was 1,975 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], up from 1,912 in 2000.<ref name="2020 Census Data">{{cite web|url = https://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/cen/2020-census-data.html|title = 2020 Census Data - Cities and Census Designated Places|format = Web|publisher = State of Alaska, Department of Labor and Workforce Development|access-date = October 31, 2021}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:W Parks Hwy.jpg|alt=View of a highway surrounded by forest.|left|thumb|View from aboard an [[Alaska Railroad]] train, looking at the George Parks Highway near its crossing of the Little Susitna River]]
Houston is located at {{coord|61|36|30|N|149|46|25|W|type:city}} (61.608309, -149.773719).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> This places it along the [[George Parks Highway]] and the [[Little Susitna River]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|23.9|sqmi|km2}}, of which, {{convert|22.4|sqmi|km2}} of it is land and {{convert|1.1|sqmi|km2}} of it (4.89%) is water.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1970= 69
|1980= 370
|1990= 697
|2000= 1202
|2010= 1912
|2020= 1975
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

As of the census of 2020 and the 2022 [[American Community Survey]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |date=2020 |title=U.S. Census website - Houston city, 2020 |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Houston_city,_Alaska?g=160XX00US0233800#populations-and-people |access-date=January 5, 2024 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> there were 1,975 people and  726 households. The population density was {{convert|82.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 581 housing units at an average density of {{convert|25.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 80.4% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 1.4% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 4.0% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]] or [[Alaska Natives|Alaska Native]], 1.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], and 0.2% [[Native Hawaiians|Native Hawaiian]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]]. Another 9.1% were from two or more races, and 4% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

In the 726 households, 39.9% were married couples, 30.6% were a male householder with no spouse, and 20.9% were a female householder with no spouse. The average household size was 2.21. The average family size, however, was 2.85: 411 of the 726 households were categorized as families. About 20%, or 145, family households included children under 18 years old.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 20.3% under the age of 18, and 15% over the age of 65, some of whom live alone (14.2% of all householders living alone were over age 65). The median age was 43.3 years old. For women, the median age was higher than the overall median age at 47.7 years old. There are also far more men than women as for every 100 females, there were 128.8 males.

The [[median income]] for a [[Household income in the United States|household]] in the city was $53,750, and the median income for a family was $75,096. Males had a median income of $40,417 versus $28,207 for females.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Individual median earnings by sex |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT5Y2022.B20002?t=Earnings%20(Individuals):Income%20and%20Poverty&g=160XX00US0233800 |access-date=January 5, 2024 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> The [[per capita income]] for the city was $35,792. About 20% of the population fell below the [[poverty line]], including 33.3% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Poverty and income data |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2022.S1701?g=160XX00US0233800 |access-date=January 5, 2024 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

A number of Houston residents are also [[veteran]]s: 14% of residents are veterans,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Veterans in Houston city, Alaska |url=https://data.census.gov/vizwidget?g=160XX00US0233800&infoSection=Veterans |access-date=January 5, 2024 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> compared to 10.1% of Alaska's population as a whole and 6.2% of Americans more generally.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Veterans in US |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST1Y2022.S2101?t=Veterans |access-date=January 5, 2024 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

==History==
{{Expand section|date=January 2024}}
Houston Siding was first listed on a blueprint map of the [[Alaska Railroad]] in 1917 as part of the growing mining operations in the area. It was heavily used by the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] during [[World War II]], after which the mines were abandoned.<ref name=":0" />

Houston was incorporated as a third-class city in 1966, and later re-designated as a second-class city in 1973.

Other notable events in the city's history include:

* On August 30, 1972, [[George Boney]], the chief justice of the [[Alaska Supreme Court]] and at the time the youngest chief justice of any U.S. state supreme court, died in Houston (at Cheri Lake) in a boating accident which resulted in drowning.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 31, 1972 |title=Chief Justice George Boney Of Alaska Supreme Court |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/08/31/archives/chief-justice-george-boney-of-alaska-supreme-court.html |access-date=January 5, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
* On June 3, 1996, the [[Miller's Reach Fire|Miller's Reach wildfire]] covered more than {{convert|37000|acre|ha|0}} in Houston and adjacent [[Big Lake, Alaska|Big Lake]]. Property loss included 454 buildings; it cost over $16 million USD.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Media |first=Ellen Lockyer, Alaska Public |date=June 10, 2016 |title=Big Lake recognizes 20th anniversary of Miller's Reach fire |url=https://alaskapublic.org/2016/06/10/big-lake-recognizes-20th-anniversary-of-millers-reach-fire/ |access-date=January 5, 2024 |website=Alaska Public Media |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Legal firework sales==

Houston, Alaska is home to the Gorilla Fireworks Stand along its [[Parks Highway]], providing a wide range of pyrotechnic explosions and products to the public.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schreck |first=Carly |title=Residents flock to Houston ahead of New Year's Eve celebration |url=https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2022/12/31/residents-flock-houston-ahead-new-years-eve-celebration/ |access-date=January 24, 2023 |website=alaskasnewssource.com |date=December 31, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The city allows the sale of fireworks, which are prohibited throughout the [[Mat-Su Borough]] and [[Anchorage, Alaska|Anchorage]], and the sales taxes generated from those help pay for emergency services. These stands are the only place to purchase fireworks legally in [[Southcentral Alaska]], and provide entertainment to many residents and visitors of the state. Taxes from fireworks sales at Houston's parks highway stands cover 10-15% of the city fire department's budget.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hollander |first=Zaz |date=September 28, 2014 |title=Houston bolsters fire department with fireworks tax take |url=https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/article/houston-bolsters-fire-department-fireworks-tax-take/2014/01/01/ |access-date=January 24, 2023 |website=Anchorage Daily News |language=en}}</ref>

Fireworks buyers are charged a 2% sales tax, plus an additional 2% tax.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fritts |first=Janelle |date=July 3, 2019 |title=Fireworks Sales Spark an Explosion of Taxes and Fees |url=https://taxfoundation.org/fireworks-taxes-2019/ |access-date=January 24, 2023 |website=Tax Foundation |language=en-US}}</ref> This policy was approved by the voters of Houston in 2010, and was made permanent by the City Council. The additional tax was meant to “promote increased public safety”, and all the tax take goes to the fire department.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chapter 8.05 Fireworks Control |url=https://www.codepublishing.com/AK/Houston/html/Houston08/Houston0805.html |access-date=January 24, 2023 |website=www.codepublishing.com}}</ref>

==Cannabis legalization==

In 2014, Alaska voters [[Cannabis in Alaska|approved]] the legalization of [[Cannabis (drug)|recreational marijuana]] and its retail sale. However, local governments were given the right to ban commercial grow operations or pot sales within city limits.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Laurel |last=Andrews |date=July 30, 2016 |title=Here's how many cannabis plants Alaskans can now legally possess at home |url=https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2016/07/29/heres-how-many-cannabis-plants-alaskans-can-now-legally-possess-at-home/ |access-date=January 24, 2023 |website=Anchorage Daily News |language=en}}</ref> While [[Palmer, Alaska|Palmer]] and [[Wasilla, Alaska|Wasilla]] originally banned marijuana sales and grow operations, Houston attempted to bolster its city revenues by allowing marijuana commerce.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hollander |first=Zaz |date=April 16, 2016 |title=Struggling to get by, Houston declares itself open for cannabusiness |url=https://www.adn.com/cannabis-north/article/houston-has-no-problem-being-open-marijuana-business/2016/04/16/ |access-date=January 24, 2023 |website=Anchorage Daily News |language=en}}</ref> The mayor of Houston, Virgie Thompson, believed that cannabis excise and sales taxes could cover expenses for a new city police force.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Ellen |last=Lockyer |date=March 16, 2016 |title=Houston at the forefront of Mat-Su marijuana legislation |url=https://alaskapublic.org/2016/03/16/houston-at-the-forefront-of-mat-su-marijuana-legislation/ |access-date=January 24, 2023 |website=Alaska Public Media |language=en-US}}</ref>

Houston issued the first limited grow room license in the [[Matsu Valley]] to Lacey and [[Ron Bass (Entrepreneuer)|Ron Bass]] in 2016. In 2021, marijuana tax revenue alone comprised over 33% of Houston's total collected taxes.<ref>https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/Portals/4/pub/OSA/taxable%20reports/2021%20Alaska%20Taxable%20Report%20FINAL%20January%2025%20Errata.pdf?ver=2022-01-25-125017-950 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>

==Notable person==
* [[James Leroy Bondsteel|James Bondsteel]] (1947–1987), [[Medal of Honor]] recipient, lived in Houston until his death in 1987

==See also==
* [[List of cities in Alaska]]

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
* {{commons category-inline}}

{{Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Anchorage metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Cities in Alaska]]
[[Category:Cities in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska]]