Inside Whittier, Alaska — the city where everyone lives in one building

A remote Alaskan town that is so small, the entire population lives in one single building, has captivated the internet with its incredibly unique housing situation.

Whittier, which has a population of just 263 people as of 2023, is located on the coast of the Passage Canal, about 60 miles from Anchorage. It’s known for its incredibly wet climate—and its stark lack of buildings and amenities.

So much so that almost every member of Whittier’s minuscule population resides in a single high-rise building, the Begich Towers Condominium, earning the area the nickname “the town under one roof.”

Over the years, Whittier’s unique housing setup has drawn a huge amount of public interest, with TikTok and YouTube users posting videos about the Alaskan locale.

Nikki Delventhal recently dubbed the area “the strangest city” she has ever seen.

“I discovered the strangest city in Alaska,” Delventhal says in her TikTok video. “This is Whittier, a city where the population lives under one roof. Not only that, they don’t even have to leave.”

Inside the building sits a post office, a corner store, a laundromat, a church, a tunnel to school, and an indoor playground, Delventhal explains. At one point there was even a police station on site.

“Now Whittier is locked between water and steep mountains, and the only way to get there is between a 2.5-mile, one-way tunnel that closes down at night,” Delventhal explains as she drives through. “You could literally get stuck here.”

Residents have until 10:30 p.m. to get home. After that, the tunnel is closed and they are left out in the cold for the night.

The naturally protected bay outside the building was used by the U.S. Army and the building was used to house Army families in the 1950s, Delventhal continues.

“Whittier was established by the U.S. Army during World War II as the location was nestled amidst mountains and blanketed by thick cloud cover making discovery of the port city difficult,” the town’s website states.

“The Federal railroad to Portage Valley was completed in 1943 and was the primary debarkation point for cargo, troops, and dependents of the Alaska Command. The Port of Whittier was, and continues to be, an ice-free, deepwater port strategically located to Anchorage and Interior Alaska.

“The military remained active in Whittier until 1960 with a total population of about 1,200 people. The population dramatically decreased after the military left and yet sufficient hardy souls remained that the City of Whittier incorporated in 1969.

“Today, less than 272 people reside in this tiny yet mighty town, which supports the Alaska State Ferry, the Alaska Railroad, freight barging, commercial fishing, the Whittier Harbor, recreation and tourism.”

Delventhal adds: “In the 1960s, they left and Whittier became an independent city with the infrastructure of a military base. And the majority of the city has been living in the 14-story building with almost 200 apartments ever since. Your everyday traffic isn’t on the road, it is in the elevator. Could you imagine living in the same building of your entire town?”

The town was not always so dependent on one building. In fact, another high-rise once once served as an alternative residence for the people who live in the area.

However, that building, named the Buckner Building, was abandoned after the majority of military families left the area.

“The Buckner Building was built to provide housing, recreation and medical services to 1,250 Army personnel from approximately 1950 to 1953,” a local government website reveals.

“The building served as essentially a city within a 273,660 sq feet structure, including a shooting range, dry cleaner, theater, bank, barber shop, commissary, post exchange, craft shop, snack bar, officer’s club, serviceman’s club, bowling alley, library, bakery, classrooms, radio & TV stations, office space, dental clinic and hospital until 1960.

“The property then went into private ownership in the 1970s, suffered vandalism, and fell into disrepair.”

Whittier is relatively close to Anchorage, where residents often go for a night on the town.

In the summer, the sun shines in Whittier 22 hours a day.

While the town’s population is incredibly small, it does attract a fair few visitors each year, thanks to the incredible views its remote location offers.

“Situated at the head of Passage Canal, Whittier is by far the most visited gateway to the mesmerizing wilderness of Prince William Sound,” the town’s website states. “The current city abounds in historical significance, too. … During the beautiful summer months, Whittier welcomes over 700,000 annual visitors.”

Commenters on TikTok weighed in, with one joking, “So interesting. Where did you two meet each other? The elevator.”

Another wrote, “One of my favorite zombie book series ended up in Whittier. It was the perfect backdrop for the apocalypse.”