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Valdez is located on the north shore of Port Valdez and is the northernmost ice-free port and the end of the transalaska pipeline. A deepwater fjord in Prince William Sound, the town of about 4,500 (5.9% of the population is Alaska Natives) lies 120 air miles east of Anchorage. The Port of Valdez was named in 1790 by Senor Fidalgo for the celebrated Spanish naval officer Antonio Valdez y Basan due to the excellent ice-free port. A town developed in 1898 as a debarkation point for men seeking a route to the Klondike gold fields. Valdez soon became the supply center of its own gold mining region, and incorporated as a City in 1901. Tsunamis generated by the 1964 earthquake destroyed the original city, killing several residents. The community was rebuilt in a more sheltered location nearby. During the 1970's, construction of the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline terminal and other cargo transportation facilities brought rapid growth to Valdez. Shortly after midnight on March 24, 1989, the 987-foot tanker Exxon Valdez struck Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska. What followed was the largest oil spill in US history, occurring in what was widely considered one of the most pristine natural environments in North America. The tanker was carrying approximately 53 million gallons of crude oil. Within a few days, it had spilled almost 11 million gallons of the oil into Prince William Sound. In a few short days after the spill, the population of the town tripled and became the center for the massive oil-spill cleanup after the "Exxon Valdez" disaster. Valdez has one of the highest municipal tax bases in Alaska as the southern terminus and loading point of oil extracted from Prudhoe Bay on the North Slope. Four of the top ten employers in Valdez are directly connected to the oil terminus. Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. employs nearly 300 persons. Valdez is a major seaport, with a $48 million cargo and container facility. City, state, and federal agencies combined provide significant employment. Seasonal
commercial fishing and tourism have spurred the retail and service
sectors. The number of visitors is growing - over 65 cruise ships
docked in Valdez in 1998. Currently, 49 residents hold commercial
fishing permits and Valdez is home to one of the largest fishing
derby’s in the state. Today, visitor attractions include the
history of the region, salmon and halibut fishing charters, hiking
trails, heli skiing, backcountry skiing, the Chugach Mountains,
kayaking in Prince William Sound, whale watching, glacier cruises,
and much more. |
