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Deltana
| Current Population: |
2,233
(2008 Estimated Population (not Certified))
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| Incorporation Type: |
Unincorporated |
| Borough Located In: |
Unorganized |
| Taxes: |
No taxing authority
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| Location
and Climate |
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Deltana is southeast of Delta Junction on the Alaska Highway, near the convergence of the Richardson and Alaska Highways, approximately 100 miles southeast of Fairbanks. It lies at the foot of Panoramic Peak. The community
lies at approximately 63.853710° North Latitude
and -145.223070° West Longitude.
(Sec. 21, T012S, R013E, Fairbanks Meridian.)
Deltana is located in the
Fairbanks Recording District.
This area of Interior Alaska experiences seasonal extremes. The average low temperature in January is -11 degrees Fahrenheit. The average high during July is 69 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature extremes ranging from a low of -63 to a high of 92 degrees Fahrenheit have been recorded. Average annual liquid equivalent precipitation is 12 inches, which includes an average annual snowfall of 37 inches. |
Topographic
map of
Deltana
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 City. 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. 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. It became known as Buffalo Center in 1927, for the American bison that were transplanted here in the 1920s. In 1942, construction of the Alaska Highway began, and a military base (later Ft. Greely) was completed 5 miles to the south. In 1946, a dairy farm was established; beef cattle were brought in during 1953 by homesteaders. Construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline between 1974 and 1977 brought a dramatic upswing to the population and economy. In 1978, the State began Delta Agricultural Project I, creating 22 farms averaging 2,700 acres each. In 1982, the Delta II project formed 15 additional farms, averaging more than 1,600 acres each. Tracts of 2,000 to 3,600 acres were sold by lottery, and State loans were made available to purchase and clear the land. The 70,000-acre Delta Bison Range was created in 1980 to confine the bison and keep them out of the barley fields.
The population of the community consists of 3.8%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Deltana is a relatively large area, with over 650 homes. Residents are primarily non-Native.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 669, and vacant housing units numbered 130.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 98.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 583 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
12.75 percent,
although
48.54 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $50,066, per capita income was $18,446, and
15.08 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Households have individual wells, ranging from 150 to 350 feet deep, and septic systems. 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.
Electricity is provided by Golden Valley Electric Association.
There are no state operated schools located in the community.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Delta Junction Family Medical Center (907-895-5100) in Delta or Fairbanks Memorial Hospital (907-452-8181).
Auxiliary health care is provided by Delta Junction Rescue Squad (907-895-4356), Rural Deltana Volunteer Fire (907-895-5036), and Delta Junction Family Medical Center.
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| Economy
and Transportation |
Several state and federal highway maintenance staff are located in Delta. There are also a number of small businesses which provide a variety of services. Nearly 40,000 acres are farmed in the Delta area, producing barley, other grains and forage, potatoes, dairy products, cattle and hogs. The Fort Greely missile project, the Delta/Greely School District and Alyeska Pipeline Services are the major employers. It is anticipated that new jobs will be created with the development of the Pogo mine. Pogo is expected to be operational by mid-2006. It is a world-class gold deposit located in the upper Goodpaster River valley 85 miles east-southeast of Fairbanks and 38 miles northwest of Delta Junction. Pogo is expected to produce an average of 400,000 ounces of gold per annum over a 10-year mine life. The mine will operate 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Teck-Pogo Inc. will construct and operate Pogo. During construction of the mine and access road, scheduled to take 25 to 33 months, the work force will number about 700. During operation, Pogo will employ about 300 workers.
Deltana is accessible by the Alaska and Richardson Highways. Buses provide transportation to Fairbanks and Whitehorse. The City of Delta Junction airstrip is located nearby. There are five other privately-owned airstrips in the vicinity. Snowmobiles are used for recreation. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
Community Non-Profit -
Deltana Community Corporation
P.O. Box 930
Delta Junction, AK 99737
Phone 907-895-4150
Fax 907-895-5190
E-mail kathyjp@wildak.net
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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