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Talkeetna Alaska
Location and Climate
Located at the junction of the Talkeetna and Susitna
Rivers, it lies 120 miles north of Anchorage at mile 226.7
of the Alaska Railroad. The Talkeetna Spur Road runs 14
miles east off of the George Parks Highway. Talkeetna is
located in the Talkeetna Recording District. The area
encompasses 3 sq. miles of land and 0 sq. miles of water.
January temperatures average 4 to 23; July can vary from 47
to 68.
History, Culture and Demographics
The Talkeetna and Chulitna Rivers join the Susitna River
at Talkeetna, an Indian word meaning "where the rivers
join." Originally the site of a Tanaina Indian village,
Talkeetna was established as a mining town and trading post
in 1896, before either Wasilla or Anchorage existed. A gold
rush to the Susitna River brought prospectors to the area,
and by 1910, Talkeetna became a riverboat steamer station.
In 1915, Talkeetna was chosen as the site for the Alaska
Engineering Commission, who would build the Alaska Railroad,
and the community peaked near 1,000. World War I and
completion of the railroad in 1919 dramatically decreased
the population. Several of its old log buildings are
historical landmarks, and Talkeetna was placed on the
National Register of Historic Places in April 1993. During
1998, the community petitioned the Local Boundary Commission
for incorporation as a home rule city.
1.6% of the population are Alaska Natives. Talkeetna is a
non-Native community that is popular for its recreational
fishing, hunting, boating, flightseeing, skiing and dog
mushing. Local businesses provides services to Mount
McKinley climbers.
Economy and Transportation
As the take-off point for fishing and flightseeing
trips, and a staging area for Mount McKinley climbing
expeditions, Talkeetna provides air taxi, helicopter,
outfitters, and related services. 14 residents hold
commercial fishing permits.
Talkeetna has a State-owned 3,500' paved runway and is
accessible by a road off the George Parks Highway. The
taxiway was repaved during 1997. There are three additional
airstrips in the vicinity, including one owned by the U.S.
Bureau of Land Management. A new Alaska Railroad depot was
completed in August 1997.
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Communities
Source: Department of Community & Economic
Development
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