Cordova, AK

Located on the eastern edge of Prince William Sound, Cordova is a close-knit coastal community of roughly 2,500 people about 150 miles southeast of Anchorage. The region has long-standing roots with the Native Village of Eyak and initially grew in the early 1900s as a railway port for copper mining before commercial fishing took center stage. Today, it is a working harbor town with a relaxed, down-to-earth pace, surrounded by rugged mountains, glaciers, and the vast wetlands of the Copper River Delta.

ATTRUnknown author Unknown author or not provided / Public domain

Like many coastal Alaska towns, Cordova is completely off the road system, so travel in and out happens by plane, state ferry, or boat. The local economy is heavily centered on commercial salmon and halibut fisheries, with steady year-round employment provided by the school district, regional medical center, Coast Guard, and U.S. Forest Service. Life here tends to revolve around the outdoors and local community traditions, with highlights including winter skiing on Mt. Eyak, the annual Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival in spring, and the summer Salmon Jam music festival.