Matanuska, << mat uh NOOS kuh, >> Valley lies in south-central Alaska, near Anchorage. High mountains to the north and warm ocean currents from Cook Inlet to the south help prevent extreme temperatures in the valley.
The Matanuska Valley was the site of a large-scale farming experiment begun by the federal government during the Great Depression. In 1935, the government established 202 economically depressed families from Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin on farms in the Matanuska Valley. Dairy farming, poultry raising, and vegetable growing became important activities there. The valley became the chief center of Alaska’s relatively small agricultural activity. The farm operations began to decline in the 1960’s, when reliable air freight service from farming areas outside Alaska was established. Today, the Matanuska Valley remains Alaska’s chief farming center. However, many of the valley’s residents are now employed in jobs in Anchorage.
