Ryan McFarland

The library has a bookshelf full of free books just outside their doors.  Yesterday Cena and i borrowed the BBC version of The Office (season 1) and i snagged a few books on the way out.  One was Almanac of the 50 States 2003 Edition.  Here is how Alaska ranks on some of the more interesting statistics as compared to other states (and D.C.).

#1 for total area in square miles (616,240) and more than double the size of Texas.

#4 for federally owned land (behind NV, UT and ID) which is a good reason for getting the pork.

#51 for population in 1970 and yet #47 for population in 2002 (more than ND, VT, DC and WY).

#51 for persons per square mile (1.1 which is five times #50 - WY).  DC has 9,313 people/sq. mile.

#2 for average cost per day in the hospital ($1,341 in 1995).

#1 on expenditures for public schools per capita ($2,165 in 2001).

#1 on highest unemployment rate in 2000 (6.6% - but the bush can be a hard place to find work).

#1 for median household income ($57,363 average between 99-01).