Fairbanks is a Home Rule City in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, United States. It is the largest city in
the Interior region of Alaska, and second largest in the state. It is the principal city of the 'Fairbanks, Alaska
Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses all of Fairbanks Northstar Borough. At the 2000 census,
the
population of the city was 30,224. The population of Fairbanks and vicinity is 82,840. The nearby College
is
home to the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the oldest college in Alaska.
Geography and climate
Geography
Fairbanks is located at 64.837780° North, -147.71639° West (Sec. 10, T001S, R001W, Fairbanks Meridian)
GR1. Fairbanks is located in the Fairbanks Recording District.
Fairbanks is located in the heart of Alaska's Interior, on both shores of the Chena River, near its confluence
with
the Tanana 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.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 84.6 km sq (32.7 mi sq). 82.5 km
sq (31.9 mi sq)
of it is land and 2.1 km sq (0.8 mi sq) of it (2.48%) is water.
Climate
Downtown Fairbanks from the Chena River.The Interior, home of Fairbanks and Denali National Park, has
some
of the most extreme weather in the world with rapid temperature swings, thunderstorms with hail and
lightning and
snow in the summer. Winters are very long, lasting from late September to mid-April. They are very cold
and dry,
with temperatures sometimes dipping down to -65 °F (-51.1 °C). Usually the temperature is below zero,
almost for
entire months. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Fairbanks was -66 °F (-54.4 °C) on January 14,
1934.
The average January low is -19 °F (-28.3 °C) and the average January high is -2 °F (-18.8 °C). Winter
snowfall
averages around 67.40 inches per year. During the winter months, if the temperature drops below -20 °F (-
28.9 °C),
ice fog can occur. The summers are usually very warm, with temperatures often reaching into the 80s °F
and
sometimes reaching into the 90s °F. The average July low is 53 °F (11.6 °C) and the average July high is
72 °F
(22.2 °C). The highest temperature ever recorded in Fairbanks was 99 °F (37.2 °C) on July 28, 1919.
Thunderstorms with hail and lightning can occur in summer. August and September can be rainy, and
snow
often starts falling in September. The average precipitation is 10.34 inches per year. Fairbanks is known for
its
lingering summer days. The sun is up for 21 hours and 49 minutes on the 21st of June with 24 hours of
usable
daylight. Conversly, the sun is up for 3 hours and 42 minutes on the 21st of December with 6 hours and 33
minutes of usable daylight.
People and culture
Media
Fairbanks' leading newspaper is the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. The local residents have nicknamed the
paper the "News-Minus." A few other periodicals also serve Fairbanks and the Fairbanks North Star Borough:
The Ester Republic, the Northstar Weekly, the Sun Star, and recently the Anchorage Press.
Fairbanks is also served by television and radio. Fairbanks major television affiliates are KATN
(ABC)-(KIMO retransmission), KFXF (FOX/UPN), KUAC (PBS)-"AlaskaONE" with some KMXT-only
programming, KTVF (NBC/UPN) and K13XD (CBS). UHF station KDMD-LP-(i)-Fairbanks.
Leading radio stations include AM Stations KFAR 660-talk radio, New Northwest Broadcasters,
KCBF 820-ESPN Radio Network, New Northwest Broadcasters, KFBX 970-Clear Channel
Communications and KJNP 1170-(registered in North Pole, Alaska). FM Stations KUAC 89.9-National
Public
Radio, KSUA 91.5-University of Alaska, Fairbanks, KXLR 95.9-classic rock, New Northwest Broadcasters,
KYSC 96.9-soft rock, KWLF 98.1-"Wolf98", top 40, New Northwest Broadcasters, KJNP 100.3-(registered in
North Pole, Alaska), KAKQ 101.1-"Magic", pop music, Clear Channel Communications, KIAK 102.5-country
music,
Clear Channel Communications, KUWL 103.9-"Kool FM", oldies, New Northwest Broadcasters, (registered
in
College, Alaska) and KKED 104.7-rock music, Clear Channel Communications.
After a conflict in the summer of 2005 between management and some listeners of KUAC-FM, a group
calling
itself Fairbanks Open Radio formed with the goal of founding a new public radio station that would
encourage
community involvement in its programming.
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 in some areas of the city, although many Fairbanks residents must
haul their own garbage to "transfer stations" where trash and garbage are picked up and taken to the dump.
Collected refuse is hauled to the Class 1 Borough landfill on South Cushman Street. Garbage services are
funded by a tax that is paid by resident property owners regardless of whether or not they are eligible for
garbage collection services in their area. Fort Wainwright operates its own landfill.
Electricity is provided by Golden Valley Electric Association.
There are 20 schools, attended by 10,119 students. There are both public and private schools. Most private
schools are run by religious organizations. (i.e., private Catholic schools.)
Local hospitals or health clinics include Fairbanks Memorial Hospital; Interior Community Health Center;
Chief
Andrew Isaac Health Center; Bassett Army Community Hospital/Fort Wainwright. The hospitals are qualified
acute care facilities and State-certified Medevac services. Specialized Care: FNA Regional Center for
Alcohol
& Other Addictions. 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 Department; Airport Fire
Department; University Fire Department; Chena Goldstream Fire & Rescue; Steese Area Volunteer Fire;
Guardian Flight Critical-Care Air Ambulance; Warbelow's Air Ambulance; Fort Wainwright Fire/Emergency.
Economy and transportation
As the regional service and supply center for the Alaska Interior, Fairbanks offers a diverse economy,
including
city, borough, state, and federal government services; and 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 Highway, George Parks Highway, Steese Highway, and
Elliott Highway, connecting the Interior to Anchorage, Canada, and the lower 48 states. The Dalton
Highway
to Prudhoe Bay begins about 75 miles (about 120 km) 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 foot (3,597 meter) 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.[1]
Fairbanks was a major shipping center via waterway for the rest of the Interior, but in modern times water
transportation is primarily recreational or used for subsistence hunting and fishing access.
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Where is the best place to eat in Fairbanks, Alaska and why?
Chili's because they have great spicy food they also have food for kids
- B.N.B.
The Turtle Club is the best place to eat. This is a dinner house that
specializes in prime rib and seafood and if you ask anyone in
town they'll tell you it's the best place for either of those. It is a
small menu but what they do have they do the best.
- Melanie C.
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