Whittier: Most Residents of This Alaskan Town with 'Freezing Temperatures and Frequent Animal Visitors' Live Under One Building

Whittier, Alaska, is a town with an extremely wet climate and weather that can bring freezing temperatures amid snowy, windy winters. The town and its bay welcome frequent animal visitors, ranging from black bears to mountain goats, porcupines, humpback whales, sea otters, harbor seals, and orcas during the summer months, according to the Whittier local government.

Whittier however, is widely known for something else; most of its residents live under one building. This bizarre setting earned its nickname the "one-house town" and the "town under one roof." Even commercial establishments such as a convenience store and laundromats, and public offices like the police department are inside the same building, as well as a school, health clinic, and church.

For clarity, locals can go outside and enjoy the scenery the town has to offer, including its remote wilderness and almost pristine environment. Whittier is situated in the northeast shore of the Kenai Peninsula and is located approximately 75 miles southeast of the Alaskan city of Anchorage. Furthermore, it sits at the head of the Passage Canal and is surrounded by mountains and icy glaciers.

Whittier The One-House Town

(Photo : Photo by Jessica Spengler via Wikimedia Commons)

Majority of the population of Whittier (incorporated in 1969) started to live in a 14-story building called Begich Towers since the 1970s, a time when residents of the town collectively decided to move to the establishment that was once called the Hodge. In 1973, the community voted in favor of purchasing military facilities, including the main area of Whittier and the Begich Towers.

The one-house town residents live specifically in the Begich Towers Condominium is an apartment building with 14 floors and 150 rooms, containing more than 200 or 85% of the locality's entire population. Prior to its incorporation, Whittier was originally built as a base by the United States Army during World War II. In the 1950s, the town appeared in US census as an unincorporated village.

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Wildlife and Environment

Whittier authorities state that the town has an array of wildlife, including avians such as bald eagles, great gray owls, and the peregrine falcon, in addition to the wild animal visitors mentioned earlier. The town also consists of 15,000 square miles of Prince William Sound, which is one of the world's richest wild marine fisheries.

Whittier also boasts different areas for recreational activities, with the town being accessible not only by sea but also by road or train. There are also wildlife viewing sites in the areas surrounding Whittier, which is today a popular destination for Anchorage residents, anglers, hunters, and tourists, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG).

The town under one roof is also susceptible to natural disasters, including earthquakes and tsunamis. This is in addition to the common weather hazards faced by Whittier such as heavy snow, chilling winds, and rainfall events, according to Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT).