No! I mean Houston, Alaska

Houston was established as a railroad town in 1917, the same year as Wasilla. Old railroad maps mark the original townsite as "Houston siding," a small station with two or three buildings named after William Cannon Houston, a congressional leader who shepherded the Alaska Railroad Act through the United States Congress.

Today, Houston is an incorporated city, but still a small town. During the trans-Alaska pipeline construction boom, the town's name caused confusion among workers from other, smaller, oil-producing states. The confusion prompted locals to display bumper stickers that read "No, Damn it! Houston, Alaska."

Today, visitors to Houston are greeted by a wood relief welcome sign carved by Valley sign artist Mike McVay. The sign depicts a salmon jumping, a bear, spruce trees, two snow-covered mountain peaks and a rising sun above -- as if to say: "Houston has bright future, but we'd like to keep the trees, fish and critters in tact, thank you."

Houston resident Carol Johnston said fresh air is one good reason to live in the community along the banks of the Little Susitna River. Houston is far from the Matanuska River and Knik Arm dust that plagues so many southcentral towns.

"We don't have the wind as bad as some, and the air quality is better here," Johnston said.

Johnston is one of the organizers of the Houston Founder's Day, a community highlight that comes around every year on the third Saturday in August. More than 1,000 people reportedly came to Founder's Day last year and enjoyed carnival games, a picnic, fireworks show and other family-style activities.

"Founder's Day brings everyone together. It's not like at the big fairs where you won't know everyone or talk to each other. It's more like an old-fashioned small-town barbecue. People who haven't seen each other for awhile will sit and visit," Johnston said.

The Little Susitna River passes through Houston, and boasts some of the best salmon fishing in Southcentral Alaska. Both the city of Houston and the State of Alaska have campgrounds near the town's center. A great summer trip is to float a raft or canoe down the Little Su from the campground next to Houston City Hall to Burma Landing. Currently, only small boats can launch at the campground, but there are plans to one day build an expanded boat ramp.

Houston residents have easy access to Susitna Valley trails during winter for snowmachining, mushing and skiing. The city has plans for a new trailhead which will provide motorized and equestrian access to the foothills of the Talkeetna Mountains, Hatcher Pass and the Historic Willow Creek mining district.