Quicknation    Alaska Eagle River

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Eagle River is a neighborhood community suburb in the Municipality of Anchorage, between Fort Richardson and Chugach State Park. About 30,000 people live in the Eagle River and Chugiak areas, on both sides of the Glenn Highway. [1]

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The 2000 census found a population of 18,000 in Eagle River and an additional 10,000 in the settlements northeast of Eagle River — Chugiak, Birchwood, Peters Creek, Thunderbird Falls and Eklutna. Many personnel from Fort Richardson and Elmendorf Air Force Base live in Eagle River, and many of the area's civilian residents commute to Anchorage jobs.

The town sits along the Eagle River, east of the Glenn Highway, at the edge of Chugach State Park which itself lies in the Chugach Mountains. The Eagle River Nature Center, sitting at an entrance to the park, is 12 miles up Eagle River Road. A state campground is located where the Glenn Highway crosses the river, and a state prison is nearby.

Popular activities include rafting the river, hiking, skiing and exploring the local mountains. One of the more popular local hikes is up Mount Baldy, overlooking the town. The historic Crow Pass Trail, which runs 26 miles from the Eagle River Nature Center and ends near the town of Girdwood, remains a favorite backpacking trip. There is no fishing to speak of in the river, but anglers do gather at Fire and Mirror lakes.

Eagle River is the shopping hub between Anchorage and Palmer-Wasilla. Chugiak High School is northeast of town while Eagle River High School is on the Southern end.

Community events include the Highland Games and the Bear Paw Festival.

Eagle River's average temperatures in January range from 6 to 20 degrees; in summer, temperatures range from 50 to 70. Annual precipitation is 15.9 inches, with 69 inches of snowfall.

The name Eagle River was first reported in 1939 by the U.S. Geological Survey. The Eagle RiverChugiak area was settled by homesteaders and prospered on agricultural activities. The Eagle River post office was established in 1961.

In spite of local opposition, Chugiak and Eagle River became annexed to the Municipality of Anchorage, when the City of Anchorage and the Greater Anchorage Area Borough were unified in 1975.