Alaska's history is the story of people, mainly Natives, Russians, and Americans, who have lived on and used the land. it is the story of how the people have adapted to and altered the natural environment. The people have used a very small portion of the land in-tensely. Lifestyles have varied from region to region as dictated by the land, climate, and resources. Activities have included fur trapping, fishing, mining, farming, and logging. The story also includes how people have dealt with other people.

The population of Alaska in 1980 was counted at 401,851 . More than half of the people counted lived in Southcentral Alaska, in or near the city of Anchorage. Most of the rest of Alaska is and has been sparsely populated. Its people are and have been separated by vast distances and geographic barriers.