A remote Alaskan town that’s so small the entire population lives in a single building has taken the internet by storm with its extremely unique housing situation.
Whittier, which has a population of just 263 people as of 2023, is located on the coast of the Passage Channel, about 60 miles from Anchorage. It is known for its extremely humid climate and severe lack of buildings and amenities.
So much so that nearly every member of Whittier’s small population resides in a single high-rise, the Begich Towers Condominium, giving the area the nickname “the city under one roof.”
Over the years, Whittier’s unique housing configuration has attracted a large amount of public interest, with TikTok and YouTube users posting videos about the Alaskan location.
Nikki Delventhal recently called the area “the weirdest town” she’s ever seen.
“I discovered the weirdest town in Alaska,” Delventhal says in her TikTok video. “This is Whittier, a town where the population lives under one roof. Not only that, they don’t even have to leave.”
Inside the building is a post office, a corner store, a laundromat, a church, a tunnel to the school and an indoor playground, Delventhal explains. At one point there was also a police station in the place.
“Now Whittier is locked between water and steep mountains, and the only way to get there is through a 2.5-mile, one-way tunnel that closes at night,” Delventhal explains as he drives by. “You could literally get stuck in here.”
Residents have until 22:30 to go home. After that, the tunnel is closed and they are left out in the cold for the night.
The naturally sheltered bay outside the building was used by the U.S. military, and the building was used to house military families in the 1950s, Delventhal continues.
“Whittier was established by the US military during World War II, as the location was nestled between mountains and shrouded in dense cloud cover making it difficult to spot the port city,” the city’s website states.
“The federal railroad to Portage Valley was completed in 1943 and was the primary unloading point for cargo, troops, and subordinates of the Alaska Command. The Port of Whittier was, and continues to be, an ice-free, deep-water port, located strategically located in Anchorage and Interior Alaska.
“The military remained active in Whittier until 1960 with a total population of about 1,200 people. The population dropped dramatically after the military left, and yet enough brave souls remained that the city of Whittier incorporated in 1969.
“Today, fewer than 272 people reside in this small but mighty city, which supports the Alaska State Ferry, the Alaska Railroad, freight transportation, commercial fishing, Whittier Harbor, recreation and tourism.”
Adds Delventhal: “In the 1960s, they left and Whittier became an independent town with the infrastructure of a military base. And most of the city has since lived in the 14-story building with nearly 200 apartments. Your daily traffic is not on the road, but in the elevator. Can you imagine living in the same building for your entire city?”
The city was not always so dependent on a building. In fact, another high-rise used to serve as an alternative residence for the residents of the area.
However, that building, called the Buckner Building, was abandoned after most of the military families left the area.
“The Buckner Building was constructed to provide housing, recreation and medical services for 1,250 Army personnel from approximately 1950-1953,” a local government website reveals.
“The building served essentially as a city within a 273,660 square meter structure, including a shooting range, dry cleaners, theater, bank, barbershop, commissary, post exchange, art shop, snack bar, officers’ club, service club, hall bowling alley, library, bakery, classrooms, radio and television stations, office premises, dental clinic and hospital until 1960.
“The property then passed into private ownership in the 1970s, suffered vandalism and fell into disrepair.”
Whittier is relatively close to Anchorage, where residents often go for a night on the town.
In the summer, the sun shines in Whittier 22 hours a day.
While the town’s population is relatively small, it attracts very few visitors each year, thanks to the incredible views its remote location offers.
“Situated at the head of the Passage Channel, Whittier is by far the most visited gateway to the enchanting wilderness of Prince William Sound,” the city’s website states. “The actual city also has historical significance. … During the beautiful summer months, Whittier welcomes over 700,000 visitors annually.”
Commenters on TikTok weighed in, joking, “How interesting. Where did you two meet? The elevator.”
Another wrote: “One of my favorite zombie book series ended in Whittier. It was the perfect backdrop for the apocalypse.”
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Image Source : nypost.com