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Delta Junction
For Photos of Delta Junction click here
For a Map of Delta Junction click here
| Current Population: |
1,058
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
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| Incorporation Type: |
2nd Class City |
| Borough Located In: |
Unorganized |
| Taxes: |
Sales: None,
Property: None, Special: None
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| National Flood Insurance Program Participant: |
Yes |
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| Location
and Climate |
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Delta Junction is located at the convergence of the Richardson and Alaska Highways, approximately 95 miles southeast of Fairbanks. The city developed along the east bank of the Delta River, south of its junction with the Tanana River. It offers spectacular views of the Alaska Range. The community
lies at approximately 64.037780° North Latitude
and -145.732220° West Longitude.
(Sec. 23, T010S, R010E, Fairbanks Meridian.)
Delta Junction is located in the
Fairbanks Recording District.
The area encompasses 17.3
sq. miles of land and 0.0 sq. miles
of water.
This area of Interior Alaska experiences seasonal extremes. The average low temperature in January is -11 °F. The average high during July is 69 °F. Recorded temperature extremes range from a low of -63 °F to a high of 92 °F. Average annual liquid equivalent precipitation is 12 inches, with an average annual snowfall of 37 inches. |
Topographic
map of
Delta Junction
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| Tanana Athabascan Indians occupied this site throughout most of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The peak of the Alaska gold rush was between 1898 and 1903. In 1899, the army sent parties to investigate the Susitna, Matanuska, and Copper River valleys to find the best route for a trail north from Valdez through the Copper River valley. By 1901, the army had completed the Trans-Alaska Military Road, which extended from Valdez to Eagle. In 1902, gold was discovered in the Tanana Valley, and, shortly after, a spur trail was created from Gulkana on the Valdez-Eagle route to the new mining camp in Fairbanks. This trail became the Valdez-Fairbanks Trail. The Sullivan Roadhouse was built in 1905 by John and Florence Sullivan on a part of the Valdez-Fairbanks Trail known as the Donnelly-Washburn Cut-Off. This section of the trail was considered by many to be too steep, so the Alaska Road Commission built a new road which was four miles from the Sullivan Roadhouse. The Sullivans tore the roadhouse apart and rebuilt it alongside the new road. Ongoing mining activity just north of Delta Junction in the Tenderfoot area and the Chisana Gold Strike of 1913 brought many prospectors and other travelers through the area. The Delta Junction area became known as Buffalo Center for the American bison that were transplanted here from the National Bison Range in Montana in the 1928. In 1942, construction of the Alaska Highway began, and Fort Greely military base was completed 5 miles to the south. In 1946, a dairy farm was established; beef cattle were brought in during 1953 by homesteaders. Delta Junction was incorporated as a second-class city in 1960. Construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline between 1974 and 1977 brought a dramatic upswing to the population and economy. In August 1978, the state initiated Delta Agricultural Project I, a 60,000-acre demonstration agricultural project. Twenty-two parcels, averaging 2,700 acres in size were sold by lottery. Delta Agri ultural Project II, an additional land release of 15 parcels totaling 25,000 acres, took place in early 1982. Success of the Delta Agricultural Projects has been highly variable. In 1979, the 90,000-acre Delta Bison Range was created to confine the bison and keep them out of the barley fields. About 10,000-16,000 people apply each year for an average of 70-100 permits to hunt Delta bison. Delta bison have been used to start three other herds in Alaska: Farewell herd (near McGrath), Chitna River herd, and the Copper River herd.
The population of the community consists of 5.6%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Delta Junction is strategically located to provide services to summer tourist traffic. The visitor's center is located the the "Triangle," where the alaska Highway meets the Richardson Highway. The community also has an elementary school, middle school, high school (with track and football field), career advancement center, outdoor skating rink, unheated skating facility, city park with ball fields, and some bike paths.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 422, and vacant housing units numbered 110.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 28.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 306 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
11.63 percent,
although
47.69 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $43,500, per capita income was $19,171, and
19.38 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Households have individual septic systems, which range from 150 to 350 feet deep. Some residents use rain catchment systems. The Delta School has its own well water system. Almost all homes are fully plumbed. Businesses and residences are dispersed over a large area, so a community system is not practical. Refuse is collected by a private firm, Delta Sanitation, and is deposited in the city-owned permitted landfill. The laundromat, Delta Laundry, is also operated privately. The city operates a sewage pit at the landfills site also.
Electricity is provided by Golden Valley Electric Association.
There are 5 schools located in the community,
attended by 993
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Delta Junction Family Medical Center (907-895-5100), Delta Junction Public Health Center (907-895-4292), and Fairbanks Memorial Hospital (907-452-8181).
The clinic is a qualified Emergency Care Center. Delta Junction is classified as an isolated town/Sub-Regional Center, it is found in EMS Region 1C in the Interior Region. Emergency Services have highway and airport access. Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service and volunteers
Auxiliary health care is provided by Delta Rescue Squad/Ambulance (907-895-4356/895-4656) or Rural Deltana Volunteer Fire (895-5036), and Fairbanks Memorial Hospital (907-452-8181).
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| Economy
and Transportation |
In 2004, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed construction of the Missile Defense Testbed at Fort Greely, 5 miles south of Delta Junction. The Alaska National Guard's 49th Missile Defense Battalion continues to operate and secure the Ground-based Midcourse Missile Defense (GMD) system at Ft. Greely. Concurrently, the Missile Defense Agency is fielding additional GMD capability at Ft. Greely; this provides the US with substantial defensive capabilities. Ft. Greely has military status as a cold weather training site. It also contributes money each year to support the Delta Library. The Delta Junction area has received almost $20 million in federal funds related to the missile defense project. The money funded construction of several new facilities, including an elementary school, library, fire station, and community landfill. Pogo Mine added 250 new jobs to the area when it became operational in 2006. It is a world-class gold deposit located in the upper Goodpaster River Valley, which is 38 miles northeast of Delta Junction. Other major employers are the Delta/Greely School District and Alyeska Pipeline Services. Several state and federal highway maintenance staff are located in Delta. There are also a number of small businesses that provide a variety of services. Delta's location at the junction of two major highways has also brought development based on services to travelers. Nearly 40,000 acres are farmed in the Delta area, producing barley, other grains and forage, potatoes, dairy products, cattle, and hogs. Twenty residents hold commercial fishing permits. Moose, caribou, bear, sheep, and waterfowl are also hunted in this area. Wild buffalo are hunted by lottery only. Some private businesses provide buffalo and elk hunts. Lynx, fox, coyote, mink, and beaver are trapped. Ice fishing, skiing, and snow machining are winter sports, as well as dog sledding, which is used for recreational transportation and trapping.
Delta Junction is accessible by the Alaska and Richardson Highways. Buses provide transportation to Fairbanks and Whitehorse. The city offers a 2,400' long by 60' wide gravel airstrip with a 1,600' long by 60' wide dirt crosswind strip. Charter flight services are available. There are five other privately-owned airstrips in the vicinity. Plans are underway for joint use of the Allen Airfield on Fort Greely. Snowmobiles are used for recreation. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
Chamber of Commerce -
Delta Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 987
Delta Junction, AK 99737
Phone 907-895-5068
Fax 907-895-5141
E-mail deltacc@deltachamber.org
Web http://www.deltachamber.org
City -
City of Delta Junction
P.O. Box 229
Delta Junction, AK 99737
Phone 907-895-4656
Fax 907-895-4375
E-mail city@ci.delta-junction.ak.us; pwhite@ci.delta-junction.ak.us
Web http://www.ci.delta-junction.ak.us
Community Non-Profit -
Delta Greely Community Coalition
P.O. Box 780
Delta Junction, AK 99737
Phone 907-895-1081
Fax 907-895-4219
E-mail dgcc@knix.net
Media -
Delta Wind
P.O. Box 986
Delta Junction, AK 99737
Phone 907-895-5115
E-mail deltawind@wildak.net
School District -
Delta/Greely School District
P.O. Box 527
Delta Junction, AK 99737-0527
Phone 907-895-4657
Fax 907-895-4781
E-mail pjford@dgsd.k12.ak.us
Web http://www.dgsd.k12.ak.us
Regional
Organizations
Regional Native Health Corporation - Tanana Chiefs Conference
P.O. Box 129
Tok, AK 99780
Phone 907-883-5181
Fax 907-883-1114
E-mail rose.isaac@tananachiefs.org
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