Fairbanks Alaska

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. Fairbanks is located in the Fairbanks Recording District. The area encompasses 31 sq. miles of land and 1 sq. miles of water. Interior Alaska experiences seasonal temperature extremes. Winter temperatures average -12; summer temperatures average 61. Temperatures have been recorded as low as -78 in mid-winter, and as high as 93 in summer. Average annual precipitation is 11.3 inches. Ice fog is common during the winter. Fairbanks experiences 21 hours of daylight between May 10th and Aug. 2nd each summer, and less than 4 hours of daylight between Nov. 18th and Jan. 24th each winter.

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. 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 after Indiana Senator Charles Fairbanks, who later became vice-president. In 1903, Judge Wikersham moved the seat of the Third Judicial District from Eagle to Fairbanks. The population of the area continued to increase 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, electric lights and steam heat. He also opened and became President of 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.

9.2% of the population are Alaska Natives. Fairbanks is the second largest city in Alaska. The community is primarily non-Native, though diverse.

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 are also a significant part of the economy. Including Eielson Air Force Base and Fort Wainwright personnel, 50% of the employment is in government services. The University of Alaska Fairbanks is a major employer. Approximately 325,000 visitors pass through Fairbanks each summer. The success of Fort Knox, operated by Fairbanks Gold Mining, has sparked aggressive exploration by a number of mining companies. Fort Knox poured its first gold on December 20, 1997, and produces 350,000 ounces of gold per year with 250 permanent employees. 126 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 (formerly the North Slope Haul road) 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.

Organizations

Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce
250 Cushman Street #2D
Fairbanks, AK 99701
Phone 907-452-1105
Fax 907-452-4190

City of Fairbanks
800 Cushman Street
Fairbanks, AK 99701
Phone 907-459-6772
Fax 907-459-6710
Email: fbxmayor@polarnet.com



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Source: Department of Community & Economic Development