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‘One of the most isolated towns’ in America where most residents live under one roof
Home>News>US News
Published 12:59 21 Jul 2024 GMT+1

‘One of the most isolated towns’ in America where most residents live under one roof

The isolated town is so small that most of the people who live there all live in one apartment building

Kit Roberts

Kit Roberts

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Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Nomadic Introvert

Topics: News, US News, Weather, YouTube, Alaska

Kit Roberts
Kit Roberts

Kit joined UNILAD in 2023 as a community journalist. They have previously worked for StokeonTrentLive, the Daily Mirror, and the Daily Star.

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One of the most isolated towns in the US is so small that more than 90 percent of its inhabitants live under one roof.

Now, before you get carried away, no this is not some Anglo-Saxon hall type arrangement - it's one large apartment block which is home to most of the city.

The town has a network of tunnels underground. (Hasan Akbas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The town has a network of tunnels underground. (Hasan Akbas/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Not only that but the building is even connected to other community hubs such as shops and schools by a series of underground tunnels.

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A tunnel is also the only way to access the town by land as well, containing both road and rail links.

So, it's not just that most people live under one roof, a lot of the amenities you would need to get by in the community are also available there as well.

YouTuber Nomadic Introvert documented her visit to the town where she showed off its unique layout.

After all, not small towns can boast a miles long underground tunnel network.

So what is this 'town under one roof' with a unique approach to town planning?

It's called Whittier and is located on Alaska's south coast.

The town has a harbour and deepwater port, and is also a port of call for passing cruise ships.

Historically, it was used by explorers from both the US and Russia, though it wasn't until the construction of the tunnel that it was easily accessible by land.

But Whittier is perhaps best known for the one apartment block which houses most of its inhabitants.

This is called Begich Towers, and is actually a former army barracks which was repurposed into a residential block.

Nomadic Introvert said: "This town is so unique... [because] a majority of [the people] lives under one roof and one building.

The building that houses most of the city's residents. (Hasan Akbas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The building that houses most of the city's residents. (Hasan Akbas/Anadolu via Getty Images)

"In this building, there's a post office, a grocery store, tunnels that connect schools... laundry... housing of course. There's everything in there [so] there's literally no reason to leave the building."

Given Whittier's location very far north and the resulting weather, it's probably not a bad thing to not have to go outside, especially in winter.

Despite its location, Whittier also sees a lot of tourists, with the harbour deep enough to accommodate cruise ships.

The YouTuber said: "I could only imagine being a resident in this building and having tourists come with cameras and filming as you're trying to shop and things like that."

Would you be able to live in a place like Whittier?

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