Editing Seward, Alaska

{{Short description|City in Alaska, United States}}
{{About|the city on the Kenai Peninsula|the peninsula in western Alaska|Seward Peninsula|other uses|Seward (disambiguation){{!}}Seward}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name                   = Seward
| native_name                     = Qutalleq
| settlement_type                 = [[City (Alaska)|City]]
| nickname                        = "Gateway to the Kenai Fjords"
| motto                           = "Alaska Starts Here" 
| image_skyline                   = Seward Alaska aerial view.jpg
| image_caption                   = Aerial view of Seward
|  imagesize                       =
| image_flag                      = Flag of Seward, Alaska.svg
| image_seal                      = Flag of Seward, Alaska.gif
| image_map             = Seward_Municipal_Map.png
| map_caption           = Location in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska
| image_map1                      = 
| mapsize1                        = 
| map_caption1                    = 
| 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               = [[Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska|Kenai Peninsula]]
| government_type                 = Council-manager
| leader_title                    = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name                     = [[Sue McClure]]
| leader_title1                   = [[Alaska Senate|State senator]]
| leader_name1                    = [[Gary Stevens (politician)|Gary Stevens]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
| leader_title2                   = [[Alaska House of Representatives|State rep.]]
| leader_name2                    = [[Louise Stutes]] (R)
| established_title               = Established
| established_date                = 1903
| established_title2              = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date2               = June 1, 1912<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=138}}</ref>
| area_magnitude                  = 
| area_total_sq_mi                = 21.89
| area_total_km2                  = 56.69
| LandArea_sq_m                   = 
| area_land_km2                   = 36.16
| WaterArea_sq_m                  = 
| area_water_km2                  = 20.54
| area_urban_sq_mi                = 
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 13.96
| area_water_sq_mi                = 7.93
| area_urban_km2                  = 
| area_metro_sq_mi                = 
| area_metro_km2                  = 
| population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_note                 = 
| population_footnotes            = 
| population_total                = 2717
| population_metro                = 
| population_urban                = 
| population_density_km2          = 75.15
| population_density_sq_mi        = 194.63
| timezone                        = Alaska
| utc_offset                      = &minus;9
| timezone_DST                    = Alaska
| utc_offset_DST                  = &minus;8
| coordinates                     = {{coord|60|07|28|N|149|26|00|W|region:US-AK_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_m                     = 0
| elevation_ft                    = 0
| website                         = {{URL|www.cityofseward.us}}
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code                     = 99664
| 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                      = 02-68560
| blank1_name                     = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info                     = {{GNIS 4|1414598}}
| footnotes                       = Source of coordinates <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>
| pop_est_as_of                   = 
| pop_est_footnotes               = 
| population_est                  = 
| unit_pref                       = Imperial
| 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>
}}

'''Seward''' ([[Alutiiq language|Alutiiq]]: {{lang|ems|Qutalleq}}; [[Denaʼina language|Dena'ina]]: ''Tl'ubugh'') is an incorporated [[home rule]] city in [[Alaska]], United States. Located on [[Resurrection Bay]], a [[fjord]] of the [[Gulf of Alaska]] on the [[Kenai Peninsula]], Seward is situated on Alaska's southern coast, approximately {{convert|120|mi}} by road from Alaska's largest city, [[Anchorage, Alaska|Anchorage]].

With a population of 2,717 people as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],
<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> Seward is the fourth-largest city in the [[Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska|Kenai Peninsula Borough]], behind [[Kenai, Alaska|Kenai]], [[Homer, Alaska|Homer]], and the borough seat of [[Soldotna, Alaska|Soldotna]]. The city is named for former [[United States Secretary of State]] [[William H. Seward]], who orchestrated the United States' [[Alaska Purchase|purchase of Alaska]] from the [[Russian Empire]] in 1867 while serving in this position as part of President [[Andrew Johnson]]'s administration.

Seward is the southern terminus of the [[Alaska Railroad]] and the historic starting point of the original [[Iditarod Trail]] to [[Interior Alaska]], with Mile 0 of the trail marked on the shoreline at the southern end of town.

==History==
[[File:Fourth Ave, Seward, Alaska, August 16, 1907 (COBB 149).jpeg|thumb|right|Fourth Avenue, August 1907]]
[[File:Dog sled team and driver, with cargo, Seward, ca 1914 (THWAITES 240).jpeg|thumb|caption reads "Ready for The Long Mush, Seward, Alaska"  (click photo for further information) ca 1914]]

{{Expand section|date=February 2015}}
In 1793, [[Alexander Andreyevich Baranov|Alexander Baranov]] of the [[Shelikhov-Golikov company]] (precursor of the [[Russian-American Company]]) established a [[fur trade]] post on [[Resurrection Bay]] where Seward is today and had a three-masted vessel, the ''[[Phoenix (1794)|Phoenix]]'', built at the post by James Shields, an English shipwright in Russian service.<ref>{{cite book |last= Haycox |first= Stephen W. |title= Alaska: An American Colony |year= 2002 |publisher= University of Washington Press |isbn= 978-0-295-98249-6 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=8yu3pYpzLdUC |page= 82}}</ref>

The 1939 [[Slattery Report]] on Alaskan development identified the region as one of the areas where new settlements would be established through Jewish [[immigration]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kizzia |first1=Tom |title=Part 3: 'Alaska wants no misfits' |url=https://www.adn.com/past-projects/article/alaska-wants-no-misfits/1999/05/18/ |work=Anchorage Daily News |date=May 18, 1999}}</ref> This plan was never implemented.

[[File:Alaska - Seward - NARA - 23942503.jpg|thumb|right|Port of Seward, 1940s]]
Seward was an important port for the military buildup in Alaska during [[World War II]].  [[Fort Raymond (Alaska)|Fort Raymond]] was established in Seward along the Resurrection River to protect the community.  An Army airfield built in Seward during the war later became [[Walseth Air Force Base]]. Both of the military facilities were closed shortly after the end of the war.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.adn.com/our-alaska/article/veteran-recalls-wwii-duty-remote-alaska-outpost/2012/11/09/|title=Veteran recalls WWII duty in remote Alaska outpost|website=adn.com|access-date=June 30, 2017}}</ref>

A large portion of Seward was damaged by shaking and a local [[tsunami]] during the [[1964 Alaska earthquake]], destroying all evidence of [[KIBH|one radio station]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.usc.edu/dept/tsunamis/alaska/1964/webpages/1964seward.html|title=Effects of the 1964 Tsunami on Seward Alaska|website=usc.edu|access-date=May 28, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010124231600/http://www.usc.edu/dept/tsunamis/alaska/1964/webpages/1964seward.html|archive-date=January 24, 2001}}</ref>

[[File:Seward Alaska aerial view.jpg|thumb|left|Aerial view of Seward, Alaska, in the 1990s, looking north. The mouth of the [[Resurrection River]] and the base of [[Mount Marathon]] are visible.]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|21.5|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|14.4|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|7.1|sqmi|km2}} (32.93%) is water.

The northern city limits are demarcated by the lower reaches of the [[Resurrection River]], but extend east past the river's mouth at the northern end of Resurrection Bay to include parts of the bay's extreme northeastern shore, including the beach at the mouth of [[Fourth of July Creek (Kenai Peninsula, Alaska)|Fourth of July Creek]] and the grounds of [[Spring Creek Correctional Center]] just inland. To the south, the city limits extend to the unincorporated community of [[Lowell Point, Alaska|Lowell Point]], while the east and west sides of the city are constrained by Resurrection Bay and the steep slopes of [[Mount Marathon]].

Nearby settlements include the aforementioned [[Lowell Point, Alaska|Lowell Point]] to the south, as well as the [[census-designated place]]s of [[Bear Creek, Alaska|Bear Creek]] and [[Moose Pass, Alaska|Moose Pass]] further north. The nearest incorporated city is [[Soldotna, Alaska|Soldotna]], about 90 miles (by road) to the northwest.

===Climate===
Depending on the isotherm, Seward has a subpolar [[oceanic climate]] (Köppen ''Cfc'') or a [[subarctic climate]] (Köppen ''Dfc''), but it experiences relatively moderate temperatures compared to the rest of the state throughout the year due to the influence of the nearby [[Gulf of Alaska]]. Only one month, January, sees an average daily high temperature below freezing, and temperatures below zero degrees [[Fahrenheit]] are rare. The oceanic influence also imparts a high level of precipitation, with the heaviest amounts occurring during the fall and winter months.

{{Weather box
|location = Seward, Alaska ([[Seward Airport]]), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1997–present
|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 61
|Feb record high F = 50
|Mar record high F = 57
|Apr record high F = 74
|May record high F = 80
|Jun record high F = 88
|Jul record high F = 87
|Aug record high F = 86
|Sep record high F = 76
|Oct record high F = 62
|Nov record high F = 54
|Dec record high F = 52

|Jan avg record high F = 44.6
|Feb avg record high F = 44.5
|Mar avg record high F = 47.7
|Apr avg record high F = 56.3
|May avg record high F = 69.3
|Jun avg record high F = 74.0
|Jul avg record high F = 78.1
|Aug avg record high F = 73.6
|Sep avg record high F = 67.7
|Oct avg record high F = 55.6
|Nov avg record high F = 47.0
|Dec avg record high F = 44.8
|year avg record high F = 79.9

|Jan high F = 31.3
|Feb high F = 34.3
|Mar high F = 37.3
|Apr high F = 45.4
|May high F = 53.4
|Jun high F = 59.0
|Jul high F = 62.2
|Aug high F = 62.0
|Sep high F = 55.7
|Oct high F = 45.7
|Nov high F = 36.1
|Dec high F = 33.2
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 26.2
|Feb mean F = 28.9
|Mar mean F = 31.1
|Apr mean F = 38.8
|May mean F = 46.3
|Jun mean F = 52.3
|Jul mean F = 56.2
|Aug mean F = 55.8
|Sep mean F = 49.6
|Oct mean F = 40.2
|Nov mean F = 31.4
|Dec mean F = 28.2
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 21.1
|Feb low F = 23.5
|Mar low F = 24.9
|Apr low F = 32.2
|May low F = 39.2
|Jun low F = 45.7
|Jul low F = 50.2
|Aug low F = 49.6
|Sep low F = 43.4
|Oct low F = 34.7
|Nov low F = 26.6
|Dec low F = 23.2
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 4.7
|Feb avg record low F = 8.1
|Mar avg record low F = 11.7
|Apr avg record low F = 21.8
|May avg record low F = 31.2
|Jun avg record low F = 37.7
|Jul avg record low F = 43.3
|Aug avg record low F = 42.7
|Sep avg record low F = 34.9
|Oct avg record low F = 25.7
|Nov avg record low F = 14.5
|Dec avg record low F = 9.1
|year avg record low F = 1.6

|Jan record low F = -6
|Feb record low F = -15
|Mar record low F = 2
|Apr record low F = 10
|May record low F = 28
|Jun record low F = 35
|Jul record low F = 39
|Aug record low F = 38
|Sep record low F = 29
|Oct record low F = 15
|Nov record low F = 5
|Dec record low F = -1

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 6.47
|Feb precipitation inch = 6.35
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.85
|Apr precipitation inch = 4.29
|May precipitation inch = 3.50
|Jun precipitation inch = 2.34
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.11
|Aug precipitation inch = 5.39
|Sep precipitation inch = 9.90
|Oct precipitation inch = 8.69
|Nov precipitation inch = 7.60
|Dec precipitation inch = 8.22
|year precipitation inch =

|Jan snow inch = 12.9
|Feb snow inch = 12.6
|Mar snow inch = 10.5
|Apr snow inch = 3.7
|May snow inch = 0.3
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.5
|Nov snow inch = 8.2
|Dec snow inch = 15.7
|year snow inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 13.6
|Feb precipitation days = 13.8
|Mar precipitation days = 12.4
|Apr precipitation days = 14.2
|May precipitation days = 13.5
|Jun precipitation days = 11.1
|Jul precipitation days = 13.4
|Aug precipitation days = 15.2
|Sep precipitation days = 17.1
|Oct precipitation days = 16.6
|Nov precipitation days = 14.0
|Dec precipitation days = 15.9

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 5.8
|Feb snow days = 5.0
|Mar snow days = 4.7
|Apr snow days = 2.2
|May snow days = 0.1
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.8
|Nov snow days = 3.9
|Dec snow days = 6.7

|source 1 = NOAA (average snowfall/snow days 1981&ndash;2010)<ref name=NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00026438&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access (1991&ndash;2020)
|access-date = September 12, 2022
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USW00026438&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access (1981&ndash;2010)
|access-date = September 12, 2022
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=afc
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data
|access-date = September 12, 2022
}}
</ref>
}}

==Economy==
[[File:Seward harbor.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Boats in the harbor|Boats in the harbor, with the snow-capped peak of [[Mount Alice (Alaska)|Mount Alice]] across the bay to the east in the background]]Seward's local economy is largely driven by the [[commercial fishing]] industry and seasonal [[tourism]]. Many lodging facilities, restaurants and shops in the city cater mainly to tourists, and are only open for business during the summer tourist season, generally regarded as running from mid-May through mid-September. Other major employers in the city include the [[Alaska Department of Corrections|state-run]] Spring Creek Correctional Center, the [[Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development]]'s AVTEC vocational school, and the local [[Providence Health & Services]] branch, which also serves as the community's main medical center.

=== Fishing ===
Seward is the site of an annual salmon run which, in the 1920s, came to "countless millions" and supported a community of fisherman of mainly Scandinavian origin.  It was then the headquarters of the halibut fleet.<ref name=LThomas>{{cite book|title=The First World Flight|url=https://archive.org/details/firstworldflight0000thom|url-access=registration|last=Thomas|first=Lowell|publisher=Houghton Mifflin Company|date=1925|place=Boston & New York}}</ref>{{rp|67}}

Seward is among the most lucrative commercial fisheries ports in the United States, according to reports from the [[National Marine Fisheries Service]]. Per the most recent yearly data available, for 2016, commercial fishing boats in Seward offloaded approximately 13,500 tons of fish and shellfish, valued at about $42 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/commercial-fisheries/commercial-landings/other-specialized-programs/total-commercial-fishery-landings-at-major-u-s-ports-summarized-by-year-and-ranked-by-dollar-value/index|title=Total Commercial Fishery Landings At Major U. S. Ports Summarized By Year and Ranked By Dollar Value|website=st.nmfs.noaa.gov|language=en|access-date=September 20, 2018}}</ref> Over the course of the decade from 2007 to 2016, around $545 million in commercial seafood passed through Seward's harbor.

=== Tourism ===
Owing to its position at the southern terminus of the Alaska Railroad and well-developed road links to Anchorage and the rest of the Kenai Peninsula, Seward is both a major northern end-port for several major cruise ship lines that host Alaskan cruises, such as [[Norwegian Cruise Line|Norwegian]], [[Royal Caribbean International|Royal Caribbean]], [[Holland America Line|Holland America]], and [[Celebrity Cruises]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://crew-center.com/seward-alaska-cruise-ship-schedule-2018|title=Seward, Alaska Cruise Ship Schedule 2018 {{!}} Crew Center|website=crew-center.com|date=May 10, 2017 |language=en|access-date=September 20, 2018}}</ref> and a common destination for general Alaskan tourism. Seward also acts as the [[gateway community]] for [[Kenai Fjords National Park]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eating & Sleeping - Kenai Fjords National Park (U.S. National Park Service) |url=https://www.nps.gov/kefj/planyourvisit/eatingsleeping.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250225053431/https://www.nps.gov/kefj/planyourvisit/eatingsleeping.htm |archive-date=2025-02-25 |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=www.nps.gov |language=en}}</ref>

Seward also has a minor military installation and was the home port of the [[USCGC Mustang|USCGC ''Mustang''] until 2025].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 534
|1920= 652
|1930= 835
|1940= 949
|1950= 2114
|1960= 1891
|1970= 1587
|1980= 1843
|1990= 2699
|2000= 2830
|2010= 2693
|2020= 2717
|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|newspaper=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
Seward first appeared on the 1910 U.S. Census as an unincorporated village. It formally incorporated in 1912.

As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 2,830 people, 917 households, and 555 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|196.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,058 housing units at an average density of {{convert|73.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 72.1% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 2.4% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 16.7% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 1.8% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.2% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.9% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 5.9% from two or more races. 2.4% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 917 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 21.9% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 35.9% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 150.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 166.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $44,306, and the median income for a family was $54,904. Males had a median income of $36,900 versus $30,508 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $20,360. About 8.3% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Government and infrastructure==
{{Cleanup|date=September 2016|reason=For starters, this article is about Seward, the city, which has its own government.  The following section is merely a series of random statements designed solely to provide links.  In other words, we're offering readers the equivalent of [[clickbait]] in lieu of offering them real information.  Providing a link to a City of Seward document but otherwise not acknowledging the city government in this section?  Please.}}

The City of Seward employs a [[Council–manager government|council–manager]] style of government, with a seven-member city council elected by the citizens, as well as a council-appointed city manager, city attorney and city clerk, responsible for all local administration including police, fire, utilities, and harbor management.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cityofseward.us/index.aspx?nid=865|title=Seward, AK - Official Website - About our Government|website=cityofseward.us|language=en|access-date=September 20, 2018}}</ref> At the borough level, Seward is situated in Kenai Peninsula Borough District 6,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kpb.us/images/KPB/CLK/images/District6_Redistrict_2012.pdf|title=District6_Redistrict_2012.pdf|last=Kenai Peninsula Borough|date=2012|website=www.kpb.us/assembly-clerk/meet-the-assembly|access-date=September 20, 2018}}</ref> which has one seat on the nine-member borough council. This council oversees area-wide issues such as education, waste management, zoning and taxation assessment.[[File:SpringCreekEntrance.jpg|thumb|[[Spring Creek Correctional Center]]]]The [[United States Postal Service]] maintains a post office in Seward with zip code 99664.

In the [[Alaska House of Representatives]], the city is in the 29th District, represented by [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Ben Carpenter]].

In the [[Alaska Senate]], the city is in District O, represented by Republican [[Peter Micciche]].

==Education==
The [[Kenai Peninsula Borough School District]] operates schools in Seward, including Seward Elementary School, Seward Middle School, and [[Seward High School (Alaska)|Seward High School]].<ref>"[http://www.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/departments.aspx?id=276 Attendance Area Boundaries]." [[Kenai Peninsula Borough School District]]. Retrieved on September 27, 2010.</ref>

==Transportation==
{{More citations needed section|date=August 2010}}
[[File:AlaskaRailroadPassenger.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|A northbound Alaska Railroad passenger train idles at the Seward depot on June 30, 2010. Race Point on Mount Marathon is the high point on the right-hand side.]]
Seward is unusual among most small Alaskan communities in that it has road access in the [[Seward Highway]] from Seward to Anchorage, a National Scenic Byway and All-American Road, which also brings it bus service. Seward is also the southern terminus of the [[Alaska Railroad]] with the railroad serving the Port of Seward which is capable of accommodating ocean going vessels. This keeps the port busy with freight coming on and off the trains, but also makes Seward a primary end point for north-bound [[cruise ship]]s. Cruise ship passengers disembark and often take the train or bus farther north to Anchorage, [[Denali]], or other Alaskan attractions.  The Alaska Railroad operates passenger service into Seward on a seasonal basis via the 
''[[Coastal Classic]]'' train. In 2023, there were 87 cruise ship visits to Seward, bringing nearly 200,000 tourists to the town.<ref name=APM/>

The [[Alaska Railroad Corporation]] is planning to build a new cruise ship dock and terminal in Seward. The company signed a 30 year contract in 2024 with cruise ship line 
[[Royal Caribbean International]], which will provide the revenue necessary to pay off the bonds that will finance the $137 million project. The terminal building will be 60,000 square feet and the floating dock will be 748 feet long and able to accommodate all cruise ships that visit Alaska. Construction is expected to begin in autumn 2025, and the facility is expected to open in 2026.<ref name=APM>{{cite news | last =Diep | first =Jamie | title =Cruise company backs Alaska Railroad's plan to replace Seward dock | newspaper = [[Alaska Public Media]]| location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date =May 1, 2024 | url =https://alaskapublic.org/2024/05/01/cruise-company-backs-alaska-railroads-plan-to-replace-seward-dock/ | accessdate =October 24, 2024 }}</ref>

Seward is a very bike friendly community. A paved bike path runs from the downtown business district along the waterfront, through the harbor and along the highway to mile 4.5. Bikes are available for rent and there are guided bike tours of the area.

[[Alaska Marine Highway]] (ferry) service was discontinued at the end of the 2005. State ferry connections are now available in [[Whittier, Alaska|Whittier]] (90 miles North) or [[Homer, Alaska|Homer]] (150 miles by highway).

[[Seward Airport]] (PAWD/SWD) is home to general aviation services and flight-seeing operators. Scheduled commercial service is available at [[Kenai Municipal Airport]] in [[Kenai, Alaska|Kenai]] and [[Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport]], both about {{convert|100|mi|km}} away. Bus connections are also available.

==International sister cities==
[[File:ObihiroPark.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|right|Obihiro Park, with [[gazebo]] given to the people of Seward in 1993. [[Resurrection Bay]] is in the background.]]

*{{flagdeco|Japan}} [[Obihiro]], [[Hokkaido]], Japan (1968)
*{{Flagicon|Japan}} [[Kushiro, Hokkaido]], Japan (1982)
*{{Flagicon|South Korea}} [[Yeosu]], South Korea (informal)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cityofseward.us/index.aspx?NID=888|title=Seward, AK - Official Website - Sister City Program|website=cityofseward.us|language=en|access-date=September 20, 2018|archive-date=September 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920195812/http://www.cityofseward.us/index.aspx?NID=888|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Notable people==
[[File:BennyBensonMemorial.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|right|[[Benny Benson]] Memorial at Milepost 1.4 of the Seward Highway in Seward, Alaska]]
*[[Benny Benson]] (1913–1972), [[Alaska Natives|Alaska Native]] and designer of what would become the [[Flag of Alaska|Alaskan state flag]]
* [[Lydia Jacoby]] (born 2004), [[2020 Summer Olympics]] [[Swimming at the 2020 Summer Olympics|swimming gold medalist]] and first Alaskan to qualify to compete in [[Swimming (sport)|swimming]] at an [[Olympic Games]]<ref>Bragg, Beth (June 15, 2021). Winner of the 100m breaststroke at the 2020 Olympics.  [https://www.adn.com/sports/2021/06/15/lydia-jacoby-a-17-year-swimmer-from-seward-is-headed-to-the-summer-olympics/ "Lydia Jacoby, a 17-year-old swimmer from Seward, is headed to the Summer Olympics"]. ''[[Anchorage Daily News]]''. Retrieved July 19, 2021.</ref><ref>OlympicTalk (June 15, 2021). [https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2021/06/15/olympic-swimming-trials-lilly-king-lydia-jacoby-alaska/ "For the first time, an Alaskan is in line to swim at the Olympics"]. ''[[NBC Sports]]''. Retrieved July 19, 2021.</ref><ref>Crouse, Karen (June 21, 2021). [https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/21/sports/olympics/swimming-manuel-dressel-ledecky.html "U.S. Swim Team Will Take 11 Teenagers to Tokyo Games"]. ''[[The New York Times]]''. Retrieved July 19, 2021.</ref>
*[[Harry Kawabe]] (1890–1969), [[Japanese Americans|Japanese-American]] businessman sent to internment camp during World War II

==Attractions and points of interest==
[[File:Seward, Alaska, 1959.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.35|Seward, Alaska, 1959]]
*[[Mount Marathon]] and its famous [[Mount Marathon Race]]
*[[Kenai Fjords National Park]] with its easily accessible [[Exit Glacier]]
*[[Alaska SeaLife Center]]
*[[Seward Silver Salmon Derby]]
*Seward Polar Bear Jump-Off
*[[Seward Spring Break Up Festival]]
*[[Seward Music and Arts Festival]], every year in September
*[[Balto Film Fest]], last weekend of July
*The ruins of the [[Jesse Lee Home for Children]]
*Boat tours to [[Holgate Glacier]] in Kenai Fjords National Park
*Seward lays claim to "The Fat Bike Capital of the World" as it has the most fat-bike owners per capita on Earth.<ref>Mechtenberg et al: Fat Bike usage and their impact on winter survivability and enjoyment rates throughout northern climates. 2017</ref>

==References==

{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Alaska}}
{{commons category}}
* {{wikivoyage inline|Seward}}
* [http://www.cityofseward.us/ City of Seward official website]
* [http://www.seward.com Seward Chamber of Commerce and Conference & Visitors Bureau]

{{Seward, Alaska}}
{{Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska}}

{{All-American City Award Hall of Fame}}

{{Alaska}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Seward, Alaska| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Alaska]]
[[Category:Cities in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska]]
[[Category:Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Alaska on the Pacific Ocean]]
[[Category:Flags designed by children and students]]