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Knik-Fairview
(kuh-NICK); formerly Knik
| Current Population: |
12,989
(2008 Estimated Population (not Certified))
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| Incorporation Type: |
Unincorporated |
| Borough Located In: |
Matanuska-Susitna Borough |
| Taxes: |
Sales: None,
Property: 9.98 mills (Borough), Special: 5% Bed Tax (Borough); 5.29% Tobacco Excise Tax (Borough)
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| National Flood Insurance Program Participant: |
Yes |
| Coastal Management District: |
Matanuska-Susitna Borough |
|
| Location
and Climate |
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Knik-Fairview is on the northwest bank of the Knik Arm of Cook Inlet, 37 road miles northwest of Anchorage in the Mat-Su Borough. It lies south of Wasilla, Big Lake and Meadow Lakes, off of Knik-Goose Bay Road and Fairview Loop Road. The community
lies at approximately 61.540780° North Latitude
and -149.593730° West Longitude.
(Sec. 24, T016N, R003W, Seward Meridian.)
Knik-Fairview is located in the
Palmer Recording District.
The average temperatures in January range from -28 to 39; in July, 44 to 83. Annual precipitation is 16.5 inches, including 48 inches of snowfall. |
Topographic
map of
Knik-Fairview
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| Knik is a Dena'ina (Tanaina) Athabascan Indian name meaning "fire," which originally applied to several villages at the head of Cook Inlet. A Russian Orthodox mission was in Knik as early as 1835. The primary village was listed as "Kinik" in the 1880 U.S. Census. During the 1880s, George Palmer's Store thrived off of the local fur trade. Gold found in Interior Alaska in 1908 brought prospectors and supplies to disembark at Knik. Construction of the Iditarod Trail brought mail from Knik to Nome, and shipments of gold by dog team to meet the boat at Knik. At its peak between 1913 and 1915, the town was home to 500 people during the summer and 1,000 during the winter. Knik had four docks, two general stores, two hotels, one saloon, one drug store, two physicians, one barber shop, and a grade school. It is said that more Dena'ina lived in Knik than did white settlers and miners. When the Alaska Railroad bypassed Knik in 1915, residents relocated to Anchorage and Wasilla. Camp 13 of the Matanuska Colony, with 6 farms, was established along Fairview Road in 1935. Land was also homesteaded by veterans after World War II and the Korean War. Most of the historic docks and commercial district were destroyed in the 1960s when Knik-Goose Bay Road was constructed. Low housing costs, the semi-rural lifestyle, and a tolerable commute to Anchorage have supported growth in the Mat-Su Valley.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Knik Tribe.
The population of the community consists of 8.7%
Alaska Native or part Native.
This community is relatively large, with over 2,600 homes. The population is diverse. Knik is a check-point for the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, and is called the "Dog Mushing Center of the World." High-school students are bused to Wasilla. Knik has long been home to Tanaina Athabascans.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 2,593, and vacant housing units numbered 218.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 61.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 2,789 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
13.45 percent,
although
44.38 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $52,113, per capita income was $20,895, and
11.1 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Most households use individual water wells, septic systems and are fully plumbed. There are several privately-operated piped systems. Many homes have access to piped natural gas for heating. The Borough landfill in Palmer is used, and private refuse collection is available.
Electricity is provided by Matanuska Electric Association.
There are 2 schools located in the community,
attended by 805
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Valley Hospital in Palmer (907-746-8600) or Anchorage hospitals.
Knik is classified as a highway village, it is found in EMS Region 2C in the Mat-Su Region. Emergency Services have highway, coastal, and helicopter access, and are within 30 minutes of a higher-level satellite health care facility. Emergency service is provided by volunteers
Auxiliary health care is provided by Valley Hospital in Palmer or Anchorage hospitals.
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| Economy
and Transportation |
Agriculture and gravel extraction occur locally. Most residents are employed in Palmer, Wasilla or Anchorage in a variety of retail, services, city, borough, state, or federal government positions.
The George Parks Highway, Glenn Highway, and other local roads connect the area to Anchorage, the remainder of the state and Canada. The Alaska Railroad serves the Fairbanks to Seward route. The Wasilla and Palmer airports provide scheduled commuter and air taxi services. Float planes land at Wasilla Lake, Jacobsen Lake and Lake Lucille. There are ten additional private airstrips in the vicinity. Commercial jet flights are operated out of Anchorage International Airport. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
Community Non-Profit -
Friends of Old Knik
Knik, AK
Web http://www.knik.org/
Community Non-Profit -
Knik-Fairview Community Council
P.O. Box 877476
Wasilla, AK 99687-7476
Phone 907-373-4670
E-mail jkward@gci.net
Village Corporation -
Knikatnu, Incorporated
P.O. Box 872130
Wasilla, AK 99687-2130
Phone 907-376-2845
Fax 907-376-2847
E-mail knikcorp@gci.net
Village Council -
Knik Tribe
P.O. Box 871565
Wasilla, AK 99687
Phone 907-373-7991
Fax 907-373-2161
E-mail kniktribe@mtaonline.net
Regional
Organizations
Borough - Matanuska-Susitna Borough
350 East Dahlia Avenue
Palmer, AK 99645
Phone 907-745-4801
Fax 907-745-9845
E-mail john.duffy@matsugov.us; lonnie.mckechnie@matsugov.us
Web http://www.matsugov.us/
Regional Native Corporation - Cook Inlet Region, Inc.
P.O. Box 93330
Anchorage, AK 99509-3330
Phone 907-274-8638
Fax 907-279-8836
E-mail info@ciri.com
Web http://www.ciri.com/
Regional Native Health Corporation - Southcentral Foundation
4501 Diplomacy
Anchorage, AK 99508
Phone 907-729-4955
Fax 907-729-4972
E-mail katherineg@scf.cc
Web http://www.southcentralfoundation.com
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