Location | Population | Economy | Cost of Living | Climate | Geography | Transportation
Location
the Interior (64.83° N, 147.7° W). The city of Fairbanks occupies 33.7 square miles of interior Alaska in the Tanana Valley and sits along the Chena and Tanana Rivers. It is 358 miles north of Anchorage and 125 miles south of the Arctic Circle. It is the largest city in the interior region and is the second largest in Alaska.
Population
Being the second largest city in Alaska by population, Fairbanks is the heart of the Interior. It is a regional hub concentrating the major economic resources of Alaska: intellectual capital, natural resources industry, transportation infrastructure and quality community life.
| |
Fairbanks |
North Pole |
Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB) |
| 2003 |
30,379 |
1,635 |
83,123 |
| 2004 |
31,151 |
1,658 |
86,904 |
| 2005 |
31,324 |
1,778 |
87,650 |
SOURCE: Fairbanks North Star Borough Community Research Quarterly:
“A Socio-Economic Review.” Summer 2006, Vol. XXIX, No. 2
Economy
The Fairbanks economy is based on tourism, the state’s oil revenue and federal government expenditures for the military, administration of federal agencies and research grants. As Alaska’s second largest city, Fairbanks is an important trading, transportation and military center. Residents of nearby North Pole, Fort Wainwright Army Post, Eielson Air Force Base and surrounding areas come to Fairbanks for shopping, entertainment and employment. The key industries in Fairbanks are: oil & gas, mining, education, tourism, construction and military.
Cost of Living
The American Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association (ACCRA) Cost of Living Index measures inter-city difference in costs of consumer goods and services appropriate for a mid-management standard of living. Taxes and non-consumption expenditures are not covered. Updated Spring 2005. (National Average = 100%)
| |
Fairbanks,
Alaska |
Sarasota,
Florida |
Cheyenne,
Wyoming |
Tacoma,
Washington |
Farmington,
New Mexico |
| Groceries % |
134.3 |
99.9 |
106.0 |
118.5 |
102.3 |
| Health % |
140.5 |
105.6 |
96.7 |
122.8 |
99.9 |
| Housing % |
130.1 |
119.8 |
106.8 |
96.9 |
97.0 |
| Miscellaneous % |
118.9 |
98.1 |
100.1 |
101.1 |
102.0 |
| Transportation % |
112.2 |
112.2 |
101.4 |
101.2 |
97.9 |
| Utilities % |
142.8 |
92.6 |
115.6 |
106.6 |
100.3 |
| All Items % |
126.8 |
105.7 |
104.4 |
103.6 |
100.0 |
Climate
The Interior and Fairbanks are known to have some of the most extreme weather conditions in the country due to significant changes in solar heat throughout the year. The winters are very long, usually lasting from late September to mid-April. From November to March, daylight ranges from ten to less than four hours daily and temperatures can drop to 50 degrees below zero. The summers are very warm, often reaching 80 degrees Fahrenheit and sometimes reaching the 90’s. The sun is above the horizon eighteen to twenty-one hours per day. August and September tend to be the rainier months and snow tends to fall the last week of September leading back into the winter season.
The following table represents the average temperature and average amount of sunlight each month.
January -8 °
4hrs, 2min |
February - 2 °
6hrs, 58min |
March 11 °
10hrs, 8min |
April 31 °
13hrs, 37min |
May 49 °
15hrs, 3min |
June 60 °
20hrs, 34min |
July 62 °
21hrs, 24min |
August 57 °
18hrs, 10min |
September 45 °
14hrs, 37min |
October 25 °
11hrs, 18min |
Novemer 4 °
7hrs, 50min |
December -6 °
4hrs, 42min |
| Longest day, June 21; Sunrise: 1:59am, Sunset: 11:47pm |
| Shortest Day, December 21; Sunrise: 10:58am, Sunset: 2:41pm |
| Highest Recorded Temperature |
96 ° |
| Lowest Recorded Temperature |
-62 ° |
| Average Annual Precipitation |
10.7 inches |
| Average Annual Snowfall |
70.1 inches |
| Average Number of Days Above 60° |
110 |
| Average Number of Days Below 0° |
116 |
| Average High Temperature |
37 ° |
| Average Low Temperature |
17 ° |
*The above climate statistics are from weatherbase.com.
*Sunrise to sunset based on U.S. Naval Observatory, Astronomical Applications Dept., 2006 Statistics
*All above temperatures are listed in degrees Fahrenheit
Geography
Fairbanks is Alaska’s second largest community and residents commonly refer to it as the “Golden Heart of Alaska.” Due to its central location, Fairbanks has become the transportation, trade and service center for the vast Interior region encompassing some 200,000 square miles. The community was founded a century ago on the banks of the winding Chena River, which drains into the Tanana River immediately south of town. The Chatanika, Chena, and Salcha River drainages define the area surrounded by rolling hills to the north, east and west of the urban centers.
The Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB), a local government unit similar to a county, covers 7,361 square miles and has 82,840 residents. Within the Borough are two cities, Fairbanks and North Pole as well as several unincorporated communities. The Tanana Valley surrounds Fairbanks at an elevation of 436 feet above sea level and rises east to about 2,000 feet at the Canadian border. Fairbanks has stunning views of the Alaska Range to the south, including Mt. McKinley, and the White Mountains to the north. By air, Fairbanks is approximately three and a half hours north of Seattle and fifty minutes from Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city. The Borough is also the northern terminus of the Alaska Railroad with access to the ports of Seward, Whittier and Anchorage. Other than the Glenn and Sterling Highways, all major Alaskan highways meet at or near Fairbanks. FSNB’s location in Alaska, along the transpolar air routes (64º50’ latitude, about the same as Oslo, Norway) makes it logistically attractive to air cargo airlines and the military; by air Fairbanks is less than nine hours from both Europe and Asia.
*The above information was supplied by the Fairbanks North Star Borough, Economic Development Division.
From Fairbanks To....
| City |
Miles |
Kilometers |
| Anchorage |
358 |
577 |
| Artic Circle |
194 |
312 |
| Barrow |
501 |
806 |
| Delta Junction |
98 |
158 |
| Eagle |
379 |
610 |
| Fort Yukon |
124 |
200 |
| Haines |
653 |
1053 |
| Homer |
584 |
942 |
| Juneau |
622 |
1000 |
| Ketchikan |
855 |
1380 |
| Los Angeles, CA |
3590 |
5719 |
| Seattle, WA |
2313 |
3724 |
| Washington, D.C. |
4188 |
6743 |
| Paris, France |
4410 |
7100 |
| Tokyo |
3480 |
5600 |
Transportation
Alaska possesses three unique factors that helped shape its transportation system into what it is today: 1) with the exception of Hawaii, Alaska is the most remote state, 2) activity in Alaska is concentrated in urban areas due to the vast distances between population centers, 3) Alaska is within 9-10 flight hours from 90% of the industrialized world.
These factors forced Alaskans to establish a strong logistical system that would take advantage of Alaska’s strategic position and minimize the disadvantages of its remoteness. Today, more cargo planes land in Anchorage every day than anywhere else in the U.S.
Fairbanks International Airport (Airport Code: FAI)
The International Airport is strategically located to serve US and International markets with a foreign trade zone and the shortest flight distance to Asia, Europe and the East & West Coast.
The Fairbanks North Star Borough communities rely heavily on year-round air transportation. The Fairbanks International Airport provides regional air service for Borough residents. Jet traffic moves the bulk of time-sensitive goods. Fleets of smaller, mid-sized aircraft based in the Borough provide service to the surrounding communities.
Fairbanks International Airport
6450 Airport Way, Fairbanks, Alaska 99709
Phone: (907) 474-2500 / Fax: (907) 474-2513
www.dot.state.ak.us/faiiap
Air North Charter & Training
Phone: (907) 474-3999/ Fax: (907) 479-3246
www.flyairnorth.com
Alaska Airlines
Phone: (800) 252-7522
www.alaskaair.com
Arctic Circle Air Service, Inc
Phone: (907) 474-0112 / Fax: (907) 474-0116
www.arctic-circle-air.com
Bettles Air
Phone: (907) 479-7018 / Fax (907) 479-7028
Condor
www.condor.de
Delta
Phone: (800) 221-1212
www.delta.com
Everts Air Cargo
Phone: (907) 450-2300 / Fax: (907)474-4602
www.evertsair.com
FedEx
Phone: (800) 238-5355 / Fax: (907) 474-2039
www.gofedex.com
40-Mile Air, Ltd.
Phone: (907) 474-0018 / Fax: (907) 474-0774
Frontier Flying Service
(907) 474-0014
www.frontierflying.com
Northern Air Cargo
Phone: (907) 474-9606 / Fax: (907) 474-9451
www.nacargo.com
Northwest Airlines
Phone: (800) 225-2525
www.nwa.com
Shared Services Aviation
(BP/Conoco Phillips Charter)
Phone: (907) 474-9600 / Fax: (907) 474-0033
Warbelow’s Air Ventures
Phone: (907)474-0518 / Fax: (907)479-5054
www.warbelows.com
Wright Air Service, Inc
Phone: (907)474-0502 / Fax: (907)474-0375
www.wrightair.com
Alaska Railroad
Fairbanks is the northern terminus of the Alaska Railroad (ARRC) which connects Fairbanks to international seaports and provides passenger service to Anchorage and Denali National Park.
Rail transport is expected to play an increasingly important role in meeting the Borough’s future transportation needs. The Alaska Railroad, while officially a Class II freight railroad under the jurisdiction of the federal Surface Transportation Board, does not physically connect Borough communities with track in Canada or other states. Instead, the Borough relies on rail-barge connections to remain part of the North American freight rail system. However, as the northern terminus for the Alaska Railroad, the Fairbanks North Star Borough has rail access to the ocean ports of Seward, Whittier and Anchorage.
Business Services
Phone: (907) 265-2300
Toll Free: (800) 321-6518
327 W Ship Creek Ave
Anchorage, AK 99501
Passenger Services
Reservations & Information:
Phone: (907) 265-2494
Toll Free: (800) 544-0552
Train Arrivals/Departures: (907) 265-2688
Mon-Fri: 7:00am-5:00pm
Highways & Roads
Fairbanks is connected year-round to Canada and the “Lower 48”, and communities throughout Alaska. Denali National Park, Alaska’s top tourist attraction is just two hours south of Fairbanks. The Steese Highway leads north as far as the Yukon River, and the Elliot and Dalton Highway lead to northern communities, the Arctic Circle, and the world class Prudhoe Bay oil fields.
Excellent road accessibility links the Fairbanks North Star Borough to all of the state’s major highway systems. Accordingly, Fairbanks serves as the transportation hub for vehicle traffic and freight entering and leaving Interior Alaska.
Transportation/MACS
3175 Peger Rd, Fairbanks, AK 99701
Phone: (907) 459-1002
Transit Hot Line/Bus Schedules: (907) 459-1011
Vehicle Inspection & Maintenance: (907) 459-1005
Van Tran: (907) 459-1010
(Located at 501 Cushman St., Fairbanks, AK 99701)
Source: Fairbanks Economic Delvelopment Corporation and Alaska Economic Information System - Department of Community & Economic Development.
