Faster than a speeding dogsled, the town of Wasilla, Alaska, has rocketed into the pop culture vernacular. Town officials didn’t return our calls, but that didn’t stop us from gathering up some useful information from sources like the U.S. census and the official Wasilla web site to help you prepare for the inevitable release of Trivial Pursuit: Wasilla Edition.

Namesake:
The town is named after Dena'ina Athabascan Indian Chief Wasilla. There’s debate among as to the origin of the word “Wasilla” itself, but prominent theories peg its meaning as "breath of air" in the Dena'ina Athabascan language. An alternative theory: It’s the Russian version of “William.”

Previously known as:
Knik (in 1917 the settlement of Knik became part of present-day Wasilla).

Current Population:
7,028

Median Age:
29.7

Median family income:
$53,792

Average home selling price:
$151,082 (a steal compared to $221,148 in Anchorage, an hour’s drive)

Largest Employer:
Wal-Mart (341 residents employed)

Most popular crime:
Larceny (318 incidents in 2007)

Reason you may have heard of Wasilla before last month:
Until things warmed up in 2002, the town was the official starting point of the Iditarod dogsled race.

Cost of a movie ticket:
$9.22

Cost of a sled dog ride at the town’s Iditarod Headquarters: $5

-Winona Dimeo-Ediger

Winona Dimeo-Ediger is an intern at National Geographic magazine. She is a fashion blogger.

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