Hometown Guide
Residents in Seward enjoy job opportunities, a strong sense of community, and recreational activities for folks at every level. This thriving community is nestled within a wilderness paradise of fishing streams and untouched forests, hiking trails, and pristine rivers and lakes. With great schools, a library and museum, galleries, restaurants, and more year-round recreational opportunities than you can imagine, Seward is not only a great place for business, it is a great place to live.
The following curated links and resources have been compiled for residents.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Seward is a home-rule city located within the Kenai Peninsula Borough. In its council-manager form of government, the city manager is appointed by an elected seven-member council along with a City Attorney and City Clerk. Visit cityofseward.us for more information.
The Mayor and six city council members exercise all legislative and policy-making powers of the city and perform all duties and obligations imposed upon the city by law. The city council is elected by the citizens of Seward to serve and meet every second and fourth Monday of the month in the City Council Chambers on 410 Adams Street at 7:00 PM. The meetings must adjourn by 10:30 PM.
BOROUGH GOVERNMENT
Seward is located within the Kenai Peninsula Borough which was incorporated in 1964 as a second-class borough. An elected Mayor serves as the chief administrator who works with an elected 9-member legislative assembly, of which Seward has one seat. The Borough is responsible for area-wide education, solid-waste management, planning and zoning, taxation, and assessment. Local service area boards provide hospital, fire, emergency, and recreation services. Visit www.kpb.us for more information.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Law enforcement services include a city police department that also provides school drug awareness education, animal licensing and control, motor vehicle registration, drivers licensing, a 14-inmate jail, and 24-hour dispatch for the Seward Volunteer Ambulance Corp, Seward Volunteer Fire, Bear Creek Volunteer Fire, Moose Pass Volunteer Fire, Alaska State Troopers, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Forest and National Park Service, the Alaska Railroad, and Seward city departments.
The Seward Police Department is the hub in emergency situations, coordinating all emergency services and civil defense. with radio communication with Alaska State Troopers, local fire departments and the ambulance corps. Dispatch monitoring includes marine VHF, National ‘weather Service, 911, and emergency DB channel. Alaska State Troopers serve outlying/unincorporated areas.
FIRE PROTECTION
Seward’s fire protection services surpass current and projected levels of demand. Two full-time fire officers direct a 20-member volunteer force serving the city of Seward. Outlying areas are served by the Bear Creek Fire Service Area where a rural fire department of volunteers operates under the Kenai Peninsula Borough. Emergency medical services are provided by the Seward Volunteer Ambulance Corps, staffed by trained EMTs with a physician sponsor.
MOTOR VEHICLE SERVICES
The Seward DMV is a City of Seward Office contracted with the State of Alaska to provide motor vehicle services to the Seward area. This is a limited employee office and the hours are subject to change. Please check the office telephone recording prior to coming in by calling 907-224-4037. Forms and further information can be found on the Alaska DMV website. Seward DMV does not charge the additional $10 fee for coming into the office.
VOTING INFORMATION
Seward and Lowell Point Voters Polling Place is City Hall, 410 Adams Street
Absentee voting for all Seward area citizens is the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 410 Adams Street (corner of 5th & Adams) for two weeks prior to each election.
Bear Creek Precinct voters continue to use the Bear Creek Fire Hall on election day.
Do you need special assistance to vote? Any person housebound during any election can send a friend to pick up a ballot or ask the clerk's office to come to your house with a Special Needs Ballot. Visit the City Clerk's Office or call 224-4046 to arrange this or receive more information.
PUBLIC LANDS, PARKS & RECREATION
With Kenai Fjords National Park as our backyard, Chugach National Forest our neighbor, and Caines Head State Park to the south, Seward offers ample ground to play. The waters of Resurrection Bay attract pleasure-boaters, anglers, sailors, kayakers, and those who enjoy strolling the beaches.
With numerous year-round local trails, Seward residents enjoy getting out-of-doors, whether on foot, by bicycle, horse, cross-country skis, or snowmachine. Seward’s parks offer camping, hiking, fishing, picnicking and more. Public outdoor spaces include a brand-new bike park, skate park, playgrounds, and several outdoor pavilions, perfect for family and group get-togethers.
KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK VISITOR CENTER
1212 4th Ave
(907) 422-0500
EXIT GLACIER NATURE CENTER
24620 Herman Leirer Rd
(907) 422-0535
CHUGACH NATIONAL FOREST SEWARD RANGER DISTRICT OFFICE
33599 Ranger Station Spur (Mile 23.5)
(907) 288-3178
Alaska State Parks parking passes are available at the Seward Visitor Center.
For information about recreation programs offered by the City of Seward, see the Seward Parks and Recreation Department website.
HEALTH & WELLNESS RESOURCES
Seward has a thriving health and wellness community. Resources include medical and health facilities; hospital and emergency room, pharmacy and prescription services; activity and fitness facilities; long-term care, and robust social services. Other local health and wellness services include dental, family practice, physical therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, bodywork, counseling, and spa/salon services.
Public ball fields and the high school’s gym support a number of intramural sports leagues, and the high school swimming pool offers public access. Programs like weight lifting, racquetball volleyball and more are offered at the AVTEC gymnasium. Visit our health and wellness listings here.
SEWARD BOAT HARBOR, SMIC & MARINE SERVICES
Seward welcomes a variety of vessels that make up our commercial fishing fleet: long-liners, purse-seiners, and gill-netters. The area has over 100 charter fishing boats and a dozen tour boats to help you enjoy the Kenai Fjords National Park and beyond. We are the proud home port of the US Coast Guard Cutter Mustang and we routinely welcome members of the US Naval Fleet.
Established in 1964, Seward’s Harbor has grown and continues to develop today. We are a full-service port with 50-ton and 330-ton Travelifts, a 5,000-ton Syncrolift, vessel repair yards, potable water, power utilities, hardware stores, grocery stores, restaurants, hotels and many other amenities to meet every need.
The Seward Marine Industrial Center (SMIC) is located on the eastern side of Resurrection Bay, approximately 6 miles (by road) from the City of Seward, Alaska. The area encompasses 15 square miles along the coast, with direct access to the Gulf of Alaska and the ice-free Port of Seward. The SMIC basin is dredged to an approximate depth of -21 feet MLLW, while the depth adjacent to the North Dock is -25 feet MLLW.
The Seward Marine Industrial Center offers upland storage and maintenance/repair areas for vessels. SMIC also has a 330-ton Marine TraveLift, run by the City of Seward, and a 5,000-ton Syncrolift, privately run by JAG Industrial. There are several acres of land which are available for lease through the City of Seward. The area is open for business 365 days a year with a range of private businesses available for marine services and supply.
Seward offers a plethora of marine industry services. Visit our Maritime page to learn more.
CEMETERY
Seward has four cemeteries in use today - City Cemetery, American Legion, Masons and Pioneers of Alaska. Regardless of which cemetery you choose, you are required to have a Burial Permit from the city. All city cemeteries are required to comply with the city code, at a minimum, and some have additional requirements. When you apply for a Burial Permit with the City Clerk’s office, you will be asked to identify your cemetery of choice. City Clerk's Office: (907) 224-4046
