Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Alaska's fastest-growing region: lots of land and rural lifestyle lure many from Anchorage.

• Author: Barbour, Tracy
• Position: REGIONAL REVIEW

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The Matanuska-Susitna Valley--generally called the Mat-Su Valley or simply "The Valley"--sits in the heart of Southcentral Alaska. Occupying more than 23,000 square miles, it constitutes the valleys of the Matanuska and Susitna rivers. The terrain features rolling low land, icy glaciers, and an abundance of lakes, rivers and streams. In addition, two of the most majestic mountain ranges in Alaska encompass the area. The glacier-rich Chugach Range marks the southern edge of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, while the towering Alaska Range stretches to the northwest.

With a population of about 80,000, the entire Mat-Su Borough is nearly the size of West Virginia. In terms of square miles and population, it is the third-largest borough in Alaska. Most of the borough's residents live in Wasilla, Palmer and Houston, with the rest residing in Big Lake, Willow, Talkeetna and other small communities. The Mat-Su is convenient to Anchorage and can be easily reached by car or the Alaska Railroad.

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The Mat-Su Borough is known as the home of the legendary Iron Dog snowmobile race from Wasilla to Nome to Fairbanks.

The region provides access to year-round recreation through cross-country skiing, four-wheeling, fishing and horseback riding and other outdoor activities. The borough has an extensive system for motorized and non-motorized trails, some of which stretch 1,000 miles to Nome, according to Mat-Su Borough Mayor, Dr. Curtis D Menard. Having grown up in a small community in upper Michigan along Lake Superior, Menard has a special appreciation for the rural area that has been his home since 1972. "I enjoy it for its openness and opportunities for outdoor activities," Menard said.

SPACE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PROXIMITY TO ANCHORAGE ARE KEY FACTORS IN GROWTH

For more than 15 years, the Mat-Su Borough has been Alaska's fastest growing region. Between 2000 and 2006, its population grew by 30 percent, compared to 9 percent for Anchorage and 7 percent for the state, according to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development's June 2007 Economic Trends.

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The trend is expected to continue. The Mat-Su Borough could become the second most populous area in the state by 2018, according to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The University of Alaska Anchorage projects that the borough's population could reach 176,000 in 2030 and become home to more than a third of the...