About Valdez
Set in the central part of Alaska, Valdez is a small town, home to 3,715 residents as of the latest Census estimates.
Officially, Valdez is an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 212.91 square miles, giving it wide-open spaces and a spread-out, rural feel at roughly 17 residents per square mile.
📰 Valdez News Today
- North Pole Angler Takes Lead In Valdez Silver Derby With Biggest Derby Fish Since 2010 Alaska Sporting Journal · Aug 17
- Late pink salmon arrival offers hope for Southeast Alaska fleet nationalfisherman.com · Aug 12
- Silver Bay wraps up operations at Alaska plant, citing low salmon volume intrafish.com · Aug 7
- Alaska Auto Rental Opens in Valdez Auto Rental News · May 8
- Today in Alaska history: 49 years since oil reached Valdez in TAPS Alaska Story · Jul 28
Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.
What Makes Valdez Unique
- A top-25 city in Alaska by population (#15 of 149 incorporated places).
- Unusually large footprint: 212.91 sq mi of land — bigger than many US counties' seats.
- One of the northernmost communities in the lower 48 states.
- Alaska living: vast wilderness, midnight sun in summer, and true frontier spirit.
Why People Love It Here
- Small-town pace of life: less traffic, more community, and neighbors who wave.
- Housing dollars stretch further here than in the nearest metro.
- Well connected: 1+ neighboring communities within 18 miles.
🍽️ Where to Eat in Valdez
- Klondike Coffee (café)
- Mike's Palace Ristorante — pasta
- Nat Shack — tex-mex
- Roadside Potatohead Valdez
- The Fat Mermaid — american
- The Wheelhouse Restaurant and Sports Bar — american
- Alaska Halibut House — seafood
- Aunty Yum Yum Real Thai Food — thai
- Ernesto's Latin Cuisine
- Old Town Burger
Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.
🎡 Fun Things to Do
- Dock Point Trail · Attraction
- Maxine & Jesse Whitney Museum · Museum
- Valdez Museum · Museum
- Lighthouse with Sea Lion · Attraction
- Solomon Gulch Hatchery Visitor Self Guided Tour · Attraction
- Valdez, Alaska Arch · Attraction
Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.
🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Valdez
- Dock Point reviews ★
- Glacier View Park reviews ★
- Goldfields Softball Complex reviews ★
- Meyring Park North reviews ★
- Meyring Park South reviews ★
- Ruth Pond Park reviews ★
Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.
🏫 Schools in Valdez
- George H. Gilson Middle School
- Hermon Hutchens Elementary
- Valdez High School
- Valdez Home School
Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.
🏥 Hospitals & Healthcare
- Providence Valdez Medical Center · 24/7 ER · Critical Access Hospitals
Medicare-registered hospitals with official CMS star ratings.
⚡ Quick Facts
StateAlaska
TypeCity
Population (2024)3,715
Rank in state#15 of 149
Land area212.91 sq mi
Density17/sq mi
Coordinates61.0836, -146.3172