History of Palmer

In 1935, under President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal, the Federal Emergency Relief Administration established the Matanuska Colony. From the drought-starved Midwest, 203 families traveled by train and ship to reach the fledgling colony. Their housing was in a tent city for that first Alaskan summer. Each family drew lots of individual 40-acre tracts and a farming adventure began. Back in 1935, those original Valley Colonists already knew this fertile valley could produce a rich agrarian heritage, making Palmer the only Alaskan community to develop an agricultural lifestyle.

Agriculture

Today, Palmer is a garden hub for the state, and the unique microclimate produces amazing giant vegetables, found on display annually at the home of the Alaska State Fair. Palmer agriculture today provides food to communities across the State of Alaska.

The pedestrian-friendly downtown is filled with shops and boutiques with books, arts and crafts, and offerings from local artists, businesses, services, and farmers. Come taste the hometown flavor of small-town Alaska. Walk, drive or just stop and enjoy the summer flowers in bloom in the historic downtown center.

Events

In the summer, residents, and visitors play at our world-class 18-hole golf course, hike in the mountains, raft our rivers, leisurely stroll through the gardens and Visitor Center Museum, and enjoy outdoor music, food, farm and craft vendors at the Friday Fling market and fair. Palmer is the seat of the Matanuska Susitna Borough government. The borough spans 23,000 square miles, about the same size as West Virginia.

Transformation

Today, Palmer is in the midst of a significant metamorphosis. The town has experienced a population surge as thousands of people are moving to the Palmer area to enjoy the safe and pleasant quality of life. In less than 20 years, the heart of the Matanuska Valley has transformed from a peaceful rural area to a rural bedroom community, and most recently, to an increasingly self-sufficient, commercial employment center.

History of Palmer

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