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History 

From 1964 to 1975, the City of Anchorage and the Greater Anchorage Area Borough (GAAB) operated as separate and often conflicting local governments. Service gaps and jurisdictional conflicts created confusion – police, zoning, and building code enforcement varied widely depending on location, from even one side of a street to another.

Serious official interest in unifying the Anchorage area under a single government dates back to at least 1965. In 19​69–1971, an Anchorage Area Charter Commission drafted a proposal to unify the City and Borough, but the electorate rejected it. However, a new Greater Anchorage Area Borough Charter Commission formed in 1975, revised the charter, and presented a more streamlined and inclusive version to voters – this time, with success. ​


Watch

Hosted by the Mayor's Office in 2025, the Muniversity series invites the MOA community to dive deeper into our history and the legacy our community has built over five decades. Watch recordings of the weekly lunch n' learn discussions below.





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​Listen

Learn the history of our community as told by our neighbors. Thanks to community partners, enjoy a selection of podcasts featuring neighbors telling stories of our history. 


Read

​Important Dates

  • AD 500 – 1000: Dena'ina people move into Southcentral Alaska; the Native Village of Eklutna is the oldest inhabited area in Anchorage, dating back 800 years
  • 1915: the federal government sells the first lots for the new town of Anchorage, the designated base for the Alaska Railroad
  • 1920: the City of Anchorage incorporates and over time, manages police, fire, zoning, and other municipal services in the urban core
  • 1961: The Eklutna Native Village government office is organized by the traditional people of Eklutna Village; the tribe becomes federally recognized by the Indian Tribal Governmental Tax Status Act of 1982
  • 1964: the Greater Anchorage Area Borough (GAAB) is created and oversees regional services like planning and solid waste outside city limits.
  • 1969–1971: an Anchorage Area Charter Commission drafts a proposal to unify the City and Borough, but the electorate rejected it
  • 1975: a new Greater Anchorage Area Borough Charter Commission is formed, revises the charter, and presents a more streamlined and inclusive version to voters – this time, with success
  • September 1975: in a special election, voters approve the measure to merge the City of Anchorage and the Greater Anchorage Area Borough
  • September 16, 1975: the Borough government certifies the results of the special election and the new Municipal Mayor and Assembly are sworn in – creating the Municipality of Anchorage
  • 1975-2025: a lot happens! Check out www.muni.org/50 to learn more about the people, groups and events that shaped our modern history
  • 2021: the Municipality of Anchorage and the Native Village of Eklutna establish official government-to-government relations, one of the first of its kind in the country
  • Fall 2025: The 50th Anniversary celebration of the Municipality of Anchorage

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907-343-4311 PO Box 196650, Anchorage, AK 99519-6650​​