DATE OF STATEHOOD: January 3, 1959; 49th state
CAPITAL: Juneau
MOTTO: North to the Future
STATE SONG: “Alaska’s Flag†(words by Marie Drake; music by Elinor Dusenbury)
STATE TREE: Sitka spruce
STATE FLOWER: Forget-me-not
STATE BIRD: Willow ptarmigan
POPULATION (2000 census): 626,932; 48th among the states
AREA: 1,700,139 sq km (656,424 sq mi); the largest state;
includes 222,871 sq km (86,051 sq mi) of inland water
COASTLINE: 10,686 km (6640 mi)
HIGHEST POINT: Mt. McKinley, 6194 m (20,320 ft)
LOWEST POINT: Sea level, at the Pacific coast
ELECTORAL VOTES: 3
U.S. CONGRESS: 2 senators; 1 representative
GOVERNOR: Frank Murkowski (Rep.)
Took office December 2002