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Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States, and perhaps the most fascinating. Few people are aware of how huge Alaska actually is. At over twice the size of Texas, it dwarfs every other state, and Rhode Island could fit into Alaska 425 times. Despite its large land area, however, its population is only about 650,000, making Alaska the least population-dense in the nation as well as the largest in land area.
Purchased by Secretary of State William Seward from Russia for a mere 2 cents an acre, Alaska became the 49th state in 1959. For a time, the purchase of Alaska was known as “Seward’s Folly,” but this soon stopped when gold and oil were both discovered in the state that today remains among the richest in natural resources.
Alaska is a great place to live for the adventurous. About one-third of the state lies within the Arctic Circle, its Mt. McKinley is the highest point in North America, residents can go dog sledding during the winter (this is actually the official state sport), and Alaska is occasionally called “America’s Last Frontier.”
The state’s average July high is 63 degrees, and during January the average low drops to a frigid 8 degrees. If you enjoy chilly weather, unexplored terrain, and plenty of snow, you can become an Alaska homeowner for an average cost of $210,000 (the average 2004 Alaska home sale price).