The loneliest town in Alaska has less than 300 inhabitants: all its residents live under the same roof
The entire population of Whittier lives inside the Begich Towers building.
More information: The most hidden town in California has less than 30 inhabitants: it is disappearing into a salt lake
In the town of Whittier, Alaska, all the inhabitants, absolutely all of them, know their neighbors very well. But far from seeming a highly united town or with a strong community bond, the truth is that the "closeness" that exists among its inhabitants is due to the fact that everyone lives under the same roof: the Begich Towers.
The history of this small town dates back to World War II, when the United States Army established it as a strategic military base. Its location, surrounded by mountains and with mostly cloudy weather, offered natural protection against enemy air attacks. Thus, a closed community was born, which over time adapted to civilian life after the military withdrawal in the 1960s.
During this period, the Buckner Building was also established, which became the heart of the town because it housed residences as well as a bowling alley and a hospital. However, abandonment and lack of maintenance led to its closure in the 1970s, which consolidated the Begich Towers as the main inhabited structure in Whittier.
A refuge with history
In the Begich Towers building, the 272 residents of Whittier find not only their home, but also essential services such as a supermarket, laundry, church, and school, creating a self-sufficient community that has defied the passage of time and harsh weather conditions.
The 14-story building is connected through internal corridors, allowing residents to move without exposing themselves to the extreme cold. This element has also been a determining factor in the peculiar urban distribution of Whittier. With temperatures averaging around 0°C and constant snowfall, moving outdoors can be a challenge. Therefore, the city has adopted a lifestyle model in which residents can carry out their daily activities in the Begich Towers.
This uniqueness has attracted tourists and content creators, who have documented the experience of living in a place where it's practically unnecessary to go out on the street.
Beyond its walls: Whittier's tourist appeal
But beyond its small size, Whittier is also an attractive destination for nature lovers. During the summer, the city receives over 700,000 visitors who come in search of the beauty of Prince William Sound, an area full of glaciers, fjords, and wildlife. In addition, its deep-water port and railway connection to Anchorage make it a strategic point for trade and tourism in the region.
Access to Whittier is not easy. The city is connected to the rest of the world by the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, which only allows transit at specific times and closes every night at 10:30 p.m. This isolation reinforces the sense of community among the inhabitants, who have learned to coexist in a small space, where everyone knows each other and depends on each other.
*This article has been automatically translated using artificial intelligence
