(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Homer Alaska is a town located in Kenai Peninsula Borough of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population was 5,364.

Geography
Homer is on the shore of Kachemak Bay on the southwest side of the Kenai Peninsula. Its most distinguishing feature is the Homer Spit, a narrow 4.5 mile (7 km) long gravel bar that extends into the bay, on which is located the Homer Harbor.

Much of the coastline as well as the Homer Spit sank dramatically during the Good Friday Earthquake in March of 1964. After the earthquake, very little vegetation was able to survive on the Homer Spit.

History
Archeological digs indicate that early Alutiq people probably camped in the Homer area although their villages were on the far side of Kachemak Bay.

Coal was discovered in the area in the 1890s. The Cook Inlet Coal Fields Company built a town, dock, coal mine, and a railroad at Homer. Coal mining in the area continued until World War II. There are an estimated 400 million tons of coal deposits still in the area.

Homer was named for Homer Pennock, a gold mining company promoter, who arrived in 1896 on what is now the Homer Spit and built living quarters for his crew of 50 men. However, gold mining was never profitable in the area.

Currently, tourism, sport fishing, commercial fishing and logging are important industries in the Homer area.

Transportation
Homer is the Southernmost town on the Alaska highway system. It is also part of the Alaska Marine Highway (the Alaskan ferry system). A regional airport lies near the coast as well, with two local airlines: Homer Air, and Smokey Bay Air flying scheduled routes, as well as Era Aviation and PenAir. Homer constructed its first traffic light in 2005.