Population Homer: 5454 Kachemak City: 458  (2006 Census)
Percentage Alaska Native 6.2% Homer; 10% Kachemak City (2000 Census)
Seasonal Population There is a significant increase in the summer population due to summer employment in the tourism and fishing industries.
Local Housing Units (total, occupied & vacant)

Homer: 1873 total; 274 vacant, 129 of those vacant because of seasonal use

Kachemak City: 219 total; 50 vacant, 31 of those vacant because of seasonal use (2000 Census)

Brief History The Homer area has been home to Kenaitze Indians for thousands of years. In 1895 the U.S. Geological Survey arrived to study coal and gold resources. Prospectors bound for Hope and Sunrise disembarked at the Homer Spit. The community was named for Homer Pennock, a gold mining company promoter, who arrived in 1896 and built living quarters for his crew of 50 on the Spit. Their plans were to mine the beach sands along Cook Inlet, from Homer to Ninilchik. The Homer post office opened shortly thereafter. In 1899, Cook Inlet Coal Fields Company built a town and dock on the Spit, a coal mine at Homer's Bluff Point, and a 7-mile-long railroad which carried the coal to the end of Homer Spit. Various coal mining operations continued until World War I, and settlers continued to trickle into the area, some to homestead in the 1930s and 40s, others to work in the canneries built to process Cook Inlet fish. Coal provided fuel for homes, and there is still an estimated 400 million tons of coal deposits in the vicinity of Homer. The City government was incorporated in March 1964. After the Good Friday earthquake in 1964, the Homer Spit sunk approximately 4 to 6 feet, and several buildings had to be relocated.
  While commercial fishing has long been the mainstay of the Homer economy, tourism has become increasingly important. Homer is known as an arts community and is also a gateway community in relation to more remote destinations such as Kachemak Bay State Park and Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. Activities and events such as the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby and Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival draw many participants.
Present-day Economy Homer is primarily a fishing, fish processing, trade and service center, and enjoys a considerable seasonal visitor industry. It has also become a popular retirement community. During summer months, the population swells with students and others seeking fisheries employment. Sport fishing for halibut and salmon contribute significantly to the economy. 541 area residents hold commercial fishing permits. The fish dock is equipped with cold storage facilities, ice manufacturing and a vacuum fish-loading system. The Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center is popular for tourism and also serves as the headquarters for the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. The National Park Service maintains a regional office. Government and health care are major employers.
Local Jobs Homer is reported to support 1849 jobs according to the 2000 Census, but since the population has significantly incresed since then, employment has also.
Subsistence The subsistence lifestyle in Homer is not the prevailing lifestyle, but there are some activities that take place.
Unemployment Rate 9% (2000 Census)
Median Household Income $42,821