This along with the fact that very few of their citizens ever migrated to Alaska because it was very dangerous territory. Now unfortunately for them, great resources were discovered such as gold and oil, so the land value went up substantially.
Alaska finally became a state in 1959 and just so you know, Russia is just 55 miles from Alaska. They actually own some islands that are even closer but they're uninhabitable, thus why Sarah Palin said she could see Russia from Alaska. Democrats and the media wore her out over her claim, but she was right, and wouldn't you know it, they never came back to apologize for attacking her. Surprised? I think not.