The Tiny Alaska Town Where Nearly the Entire Population Lives in One Building
A woman living in one of the most unusual towns in America has revealed what life is like in a place where roughly 75 percent of residents all live under the same roof.
Jamie Loan, 36, moved to the small Alaska town of Whittier seven years ago with her husband Kyle, 37, after buying a waterfront apartment. Most locals live inside the city’s 14 story residential building.
Jamie, who was born in Florida but moved to Alaska at age four, says winters in Whittier can be harsh, with temperatures dropping to as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius.
“We decided to move to Whittier because it was a good middle point between coastal areas,” she explained. “Plus, housing is incredibly affordable and we were able to buy a waterfront apartment for the price of a used car.”
Despite viral claims online that everyone in Whittier lives in the same building, Jamie says this is just a myth.
In reality, about 75 percent of the population lives inside the Begich Towers Condominium (BTI), a 14 story building originally constructed in 1957 to house members of the United States Army. The remaining residents live in nearby homes or smaller buildings around town.
Whittier, accessible mainly through a single mountain tunnel, has fewer than 300 residents and is known for its extreme weather, breathtaking scenery, and unique community lifestyle. The BTI building contains not only apartments but also offices, a church, a small store, and facilities that allow residents to stay indoors during the harshest winter days.
