The fastest growing county (borough) in Alaska is Matanuska-Susitna. Its a little north of Anchorage. It grew 35.7% between 4/1/00 and 7/1/06, by far the biggest increase in AK. I assume it is like a suburban area for Anchorage.
Correct.
I didn't think too many people know that. The Mat-Su borough is growing almost as fast as Arizona is. Eagle River is a community in the far northeastern part of Anchorage. I would say that is more of a suburb to Anchorage than the Mat-Su borough. But a lot of Anchorage residents are moving out there. Something like 30% of the workers in Wasilla and Palmer (the biggest cities in that borough) commute to Anchorage.
Also, one of those "bridges to nowhere" was going to be another connection between Anchorage and the Mat-Su.