Inside the town where almost everyone lives inside the same building
Topics: US News
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: WordRidden; CC BY/Instagram/@buenasrutasbuenavida
Topics: US News
Do you ever feel your town or city is a bit small and there are a lot of people crammed into a small cul-de-sac?
Well, one town in Alaska has the majority of its population in just one building. Yes, you heard that right.
Whittier is a town at the head of the Passage Canal in the US state of Alaska. At around 60 miles southeast of Anchorage, the largest Alaskan city, 90 percent of Whittier's residents astonishingly like in a single building.
Begich Towers is a 14-story building that 180 of the 200 residents in the town live in.
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The former army barracks doesn't just offer accommodation to its residents, though, as it also has a post office, a shop, police station, health clinic, and even a bed and breakfast for tourists visiting the area.
For the children, the local school is even connected to the building with a underground tunnel.
The unique building has received a huge amount of publicity in recent months and years as people became aware of its stance in this small town.
CNN did a report on the snowy town's building in 2015, highlighting all the facilities available for residents.
The report also highlighted while all residents may not get along at times, there is a real sense of family in the building and they are always there for each other when times are bad.
The California Magazine also visited the town in 2015 and had mixed opinions on the 14-story block tower.
"There were bulletin boards along the hallway entrance," the report said. "It's concrete blocks that look like cinder block, and they were all painted pale yellow.
"It did remind me of, you know, my principal's office."
The report also spoke on how difficult it was to find the town, saying your best bet to visit Whittier is by sea. However, you can visit by road but that might be tricky.
The road takes form of one-lane tunnels through mountains, which at any given time runs just one way.
"It's still a fairly inaccessible town. Plus, at night, they close the tunnel completely," the report said.
Weather is seemingly a big issue at this Alaskan town as in the winter, winds regularly top 60mph - so you can see why everything is under one roof at Begich Towers.
Since the original reports from bug outlets such as CNN, the town of Whittier has seen travel vloggers and other outlets visit. It may be dividing opinion, but Whittier is certainly still in the spotlight.
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