FAQ
Everything you need to know about Homer

Q: Is Homer really named after Homer Simpson?

A: We get asked that a lot, but no, Homer is named after Homer Pennock. In 1896, 51 people with the Alaska Gold Mining Company settled on the Homer Spit and had to come up with a name. As Della Banks, the only woman in the group, later wrote, "J.E. Guillbault exclaimed, 'Why not call it "Homer" after you, Pennock?' Everyone agreed. Thus Homer was named after a not-too-successful promoter." Pennock went on to seek his fortune in the Yukon Gold Rush, and eventually wound up in New York City, where he's buried.

Q: What's the Spit?

A: Drive up East Hill Road and hang a left to the top of Skyline Drive. See that little wiggly piece of land sticking out into the bay? That's the Spit.

Q: What's the elevation of the Spit?

A: High tide or low tide? Let's see, if you're standing on the beach on a normal tide -- oh, about zero.

Q: Where the heck is Homer, anyway?

A: There's the city of Homer and then the greater Homer area. The actual city limits run from the top of Baycrest Hill (that's the killer view as you come into town) to where East End Road meets Kachemak Drive, with a population of about 5,400 people, including the town grump. The greater Homer area from Diamond Ridge to Fritz Creek is 8,300 people. Add in the Kachemak Bay and Cook Inlet villages of Seldovia, Halibut Cove, Nanwalek and Port Graham, and then throw in Anchor Point, Ninilchik and points in between, you're talking a big small town of about 13,000 people on what we call the lower Kenai Peninsula.

Q: I just love Tom Bodett's books. Where can I visit him?

A: Try Maine. A lot of people who made Homer famous, like Jewel, no longer live here.

Q: That Sarah Palin's quite a gal. What kind of mayor was she for Homer?

A: Ahem. You're thinkin' of Wasilla, a town a little bit bigger than Homer about 300 miles up the road. Our mayor is James Hornaday, recently elected to his third term and a former judge. Todd Palin's aunt and grandmother live in Homer, though.

Q: How many hours of daylight does Homer get?

A: From June 18-22, Homer gets 18 hours and 44 minutes daily of beautiful sunshine. From Dec. 19-22, we get 18 hours and 1 minute of glorious starry skies, and the sun sort of hovers on the southern horizon for 5 hours and 59 minutes.

Q: Outside magazine said of Homer's climate: "Cold. Get over it." How bad is it?

A: Homer's extremes run from 81 degrees Fahrenheit in July to minus 24 in January. The average July and August temperatures are a high of 60 and a low of 45 -- perfect for shorts. OK, shorts with longjohns, like you'll see kayakers wearing. Tired of scorching summers? Come to Homer.

Q: How can you spot a Homerite?

A: Easy: look for the worn and battered XtraTuf rubber boots.

Q: Is Homer really "too rough and too weird to be a tourist trap?"

A: That's what the New York Times said. Parts of Homer might be a bit scruffy around the edges, but we like to think we clean up nice.