Soldotna, Alaska AK Hotels/Motels/Lodging

This is the current conditions weather report for Soldotna. The report was made 20 minutes ago, at 12:36 UTC. The wind was blowing at a speed of 5 miles per hour / 7.4 kilometers per hour from the eastnortheast (070°). The temperature was 10°F / -12°C, with a dew-point at 10°F / -12°C. The temperature felt like 3°F / -16°C. The atmospheric pressure was 29.47 inHg / 999 hPa. The relative humidity was 92%. The skies were overcast.

Soldotna is a city in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 3,759. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the city had a population of 4,087. It is the seat of the Kenai Peninsula Borough.

In 1947, after World War II, United States government allowed settling of land on parts of the Kenai Peninsula under the Homestead Act. Veterans of the United States armed services were given a 90-day preference over non-veterans in selecting land and filing for property. Also in that year, the Sterling Highway right-of-way was cleared of trees from Cooper Landing to Kenai. The location of present-day Soldotna was selected as the site for the highway's bridge crossing the Kenai River.

The construction of the Sterling Highway provided a link from the Soldotna area to the outside world. More homesteads were taken and visitors came to fish in the area. The Soldotna post office opened in 1949 and other businesses opened in the next few years.

Oil was discovered in the Swanson River region in 1957, bringing some new economic development to the area. In 1960, Soldotna was incorporated as a city with a population of 332.

Sport fishing and tourism are currently the mainstays of the economy in Soldotna. It also receives some economic advantage from being the seat of the Kenai Peninsula Borough. Tourist visit to see glaciers, fish for king salmon, red salmon, silver salmon, and many others.

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