Alaska
"The Last Frontier" became the 49th state on January 3, 1959.
Gold was discovered in 1896, starting the Alaska Gold rush.
Alaska was purchased from Russia for about two cents an acre in 1867.But, Alaska was not given its statehood until much later, when its vast oil was discovered.
Mining adds 32% to the state’s economy, the largest percentage of any
state. Petroleum furnishes 95% of
Alaska’s mining income. The Purdon
Bay is one of the world’s main petroleum producing areas using the famous
“Trans-Alaska Pipeline”. Alaska
also relies on production of natural gas, gold, zinc, tungsten, uranium, coal,
sand, gravel and crushed stone, lead, silver and
tin.