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Source: Alaska
Department of Community and Economic Development
Fairbanks, AK
| Current Population: |
29,954 (2004 State Demographer
estimate) |
| Incorporation Type: |
Home Rule City |
| Borough Located In: |
Fairbanks North Star Borough |
| Taxes: |
Sales: None, Property: 20.777 mills
(7.171 City/13.606 Borough areawide), Special: 5% Alcohol tax (City
only); 16% Tobacco tax (8% City/8% Borough); 8% Accommodations tax (City
only) |
| Location
and Climate |
| Fairbanks is
located in the heart of Alaska's Interior, on the banks of the Chena
River in the Tanana Valley. By air, Fairbanks is 45 minutes from
Anchorage and 3 hours from Seattle. It lies 358 road miles north of
Anchorage. The community lies at approximately 64.837780° North Latitude
and -147.71639° (West) Longitude. (Sec. 10, T001S, R001W, Fairbanks
Meridian.) Fairbanks is located in the Fairbanks Recording District.
The area encompasses 31.9 sq. miles of land and 0.8 sq. miles of
water. Interior Alaska experiences seasonal temperature extremes.
Average January temperatures range from -19 to -2; average July
temperatures range from 53 to 72. Annual precipitation is 11.5 inches,
with 67.8 inches of snowfall. Temperatures have been recorded as low as
-62 in mid-winter, and as high as 96 in summer. During the winter
months, if the temperature drops below -20 degrees Fahrenheit, ice fog
can occur. Fairbanks is known for its lingering summer days. When the
solstice arrives, there is more than 22 hours of daylight. |
| History, Culture and
Demographics |
| Koyukon Athabascans have lived in
this area for thousands of years. In 1901, Capt. E.T. Barnette
established a trading post on the Chena River - "Barnette's Cache." A
year later, gold was discovered 16 miles north of the post. The town
grew as the Chena steamboat landing brought many prospectors during the
Pedro Dome gold rush. Fairbanks was named in 1902 after Indiana Senator
Charles Fairbanks, who became Vice President of the U.S. from 1905-1909.
In 1903, Judge Wikersham moved the seat of the Third Judicial District
from Eagle to Fairbanks. The population of the area continued to
increase as Fairbanks became the hub of the Interior, with the addition
of the court, government offices, a jail, a post office, and the
Northern Commercial Company. Barnette was elected as the first Mayor of
the City of Fairbanks in 1903, and established telephone service, fire
protection, sanitation ordinances, electricity and steam heat. He also
founded the Washington-Alaska Bank. By 1910, the official population had
grown to 3,541, although more than 6,000 miners lived and worked their
claims on creeks north of town. Ladd Field (now Fort Wainwright) was
constructed in 1938. Construction of the Alcan Highway in the 1940s and
the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline in the 1970s fueled growth and
development.
The population of the community consists of 13.3% Alaska Native or
part Native. The Fairbanks area is the
second-largest population settlement in Alaska.
During the 2000 U.S. Census, total housing
units numbered 12,357, and vacant housing units numbered 1,282. Vacant
housing units used only seasonally numbered 121. U.S. Census data for
Year 2000 showed 14,463 residents as employed. The unemployment rate at
that time was 10.88 percent, although 34.92 percent of all adults were
not in the work force. The median household income was $40,577, per
capita income was $19,814, and 10.5 percent of residents were living
below the poverty level. |
|
Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Fifteen circulating pump stations
distribute treated water throughout the greater Fairbanks area. City
water, sewer and electric systems are operated by a private company. The
Chena power site has four steam turbines fueled by coal, and one
oil-fueled generator. Garbage collection services are provided by the
City for a fee, and refuse is hauled to the Class 1 Borough landfill on
South Cushman. Fort Wainwright operates its own landfill. Electricity is
provided by Golden Valley Electric Association. There are 20 schools
located in the community, attended by 10,119 students. Local hospitals
or health clinics include Fairbanks Memorial Hospital (452-8181);
Interior Community Health Center (455-4567); Chief Andrew Isaac Health
Center (451-6682); Bassett Army Community Hospital/Ft. Wainwright
(353-5563). The hospitals are qualified acute care facilities and
State-certified Medevac services. Specialized Care: FNA Regional Center
for Alcohol & Other Addictions (907-456-6251). Long Term Care: Fairbanks
Pioneers' Home; Denali Center. Fairbanks is classified as a small city.
It is found in EMS Region 1C in the Interior Region. Emergency Services
have highway, airport and floatplane access. Emergency service is
provided by 911 telephone service, paid EMS service, volunteers, a
health aide and the military Auxiliary health care is provided by
Fairbanks Fire Dept. (907-450-6500); Airport Fire Dept. (907-474-2500);
University Fire Dept. 907-(474-7721); Chena Goldstream Fire & Rescue
(907-479-5672); Steese Area Vol. Fire (907-457-1508/907-474-7721);
Warbelow's Air Ambulance (907-474-4683); Ft. Wainwright Fire/Emergency
(907-384-0774). |
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Economy and Transportation |
As the regional service and supply
center for Interior Alaska, Fairbanks offers a diverse economy,
including city, borough, state and federal government services,
transportation, communication, manufacturing, financial, and regional
medical services. Tourism and mining also comprise a significant part of
the economy. Including Eielson Air Force Base and Fort Wainwright
personnel, over one-third of the employment is in government services.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks is also a major employer.
Approximately 325,000 tourists visit Fairbanks each summer. The Fort
Knox hardrock gold mine produces 1,200 ounces daily with 360 permanent
year-round employees. 126 City residents hold commercial fishing
permits.
Fairbanks is at the confluence of the Richardson Hwy., George Parks
Hwy., Steese Hwy., and Elliott Hwy., connecting the Interior to
Anchorage, Canada and the lower 48 states. The Dalton Highway to Prudhoe
Bay begins about 75 miles north of town. Goods are transported to
Fairbanks by truck, air, and the Alaska Railroad. Regularly-scheduled
jet flights are available at the State-owned Fairbanks International
Airport. An 11,800' asphalt runway, heliport and seaplane landing strip
are available. A public seaplane base is also located on the Chena
River. In addition, there are several privately-owned airstrips and
heliports in the vicinity. |
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