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Nenana
(nuh-NAN-uh)
For Photos of Nenana click here
| Current Population: |
479
(2008 DCCED Certified Population)
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| Incorporation Type: |
Home Rule City |
| Borough Located In: |
Unorganized |
| Taxes: |
Sales: 4%,
Property: 12.0 mills, Special: None
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| National Flood Insurance Program Participant: |
Yes |
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| Location
and Climate |
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Nenana is located in Interior Alaska, 55 road miles southwest of Fairbanks on the George Parks Highway. Nenana is located at mile 412 of the Alaska Railroad, on the south bank of the Tanana River, just east of the mouth of the Nenana River. It lies 304 road miles northeast of Anchorage. The community
lies at approximately 64.563890° North Latitude
and -149.093060° West Longitude.
(Sec. 14, T004S, R008W, Fairbanks Meridian.)
Nenana is located in the
Nenana Recording District.
The area encompasses 6.0
sq. miles of land and 0.1 sq. miles
of water.
Nenana has a cold, continental climate with an extreme temperature range. The average daily maximum during summer months is 65 to 70 °F; the daily minimum during winter is well below 0 °F. The highest temperature ever recorded is 98 °F; the lowest is -69 °F. Average precipitation is 11.4 inches, with 48.9 inches of snowfall annually. The river is ice-free from mid-May to mid-October. |
Topographic
map of
Nenana
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| Nenana is in the western-most portion of Tanana Athabascan territory. It was first known as Tortella, an interpretation of the word "Toghotthele," which means "mountain that parallels the river." The Nenana Valley of Central Alaska is the site of one of the earliest archaeological sites in North America, dating between about 11,000 and 12,000 years. The first non-Native explorers to enter the Tanana Valley were Allen, Harper, and Bates in 1875 and 1885. However, the Tanana people were accustomed to contact with Europeans, due to trading journeys to the Village of Tanana, where Russians bartered western goods for furs. The discovery of gold in Fairbanks in 1902 brought intense activity to the region. In 1903, a trading post/roadhouse was constructed by Jim Duke to supply river travelers and trade with Natives. St. Mark's Episcopal Mission and School was built upriver in 1905. Native children from other communities, such as Minto, attended school in Nenana. A post office opened in 1908. By 1909, there were about 12,000 residents in the Fairbanks area, most drawn by gold mining activities. In 1915, construction of the Alaska Railroad doubled Nenana's population. The Nenana Ice Classic - a popular competition to guess the date and time of the Tanana River ice break-up each spring - began in 1917 among surveyors for the Alaska Railroad. The community incorporated as a city in 1921. The railroad depot was completed in 1923, when President Warren Harding drove the golden spike at the north end of the 700-foot steel bridge over the Tanana River, which created a transportation link to Fairbanks and Seward. During the 1925 diphtheria epidemic in Nome, serum from Anchorage was transported to Nenana by train before being sent by dogsled to Nome. According to local records, 5,000 residents lived in Nenana during this time; however, completion of the railroad was followed by an economic slump. The population in 1930 was recorded at 291. In 1961, Clear Air Force S ation was constructed 21 miles southwest, and many civilian contractors commuted from Nenana, so a road was constructed south to Clear. In 1967, the community was devastated by one of the largest floods ever recorded in the valley.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Nenana Native Association.
The population of the community consists of 47.3%
Alaska Native or part Native.
The population of Nenana is a diverse mixture of non-Natives and Athabascans. The majority of residents participate in subsistence activities. Several Iditarod sled dog race competitors and former champions are residents of Nenana. The community has a health clinic, mental health clinic, fire department, public library, and State Troopers office. It is home to the Nenana District Court system. Golden Valley Electric has their Railbelt office located in Nenana. The Nenana Student Living Center, one of three statewide boarding facilities for high school students, has students from around the state; it attracts students due to its extensive programs, academic quality, and vocational studies.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 210, and vacant housing units numbered 39.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 26.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 170 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
23.77 percent,
although
52.25 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $33,333, per capita income was $17,334, and
17.83 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Water is derived from a deep well, treated, and then distributed throughout the community via circulating loops. A piped gravity system collects sewage, which is treated at a secondary treatment plant. Most of the city is connected to the piped water and sewer system -- 215 homes and the school are served. The remaining homes have individual wells and septic systems. Refuse is collected by a private firm and hauled to the Denali Borough regional landfill, located south of Anderson.
Electricity is provided by Golden Valley Electric Association.
There are 2 schools located in the community,
attended by 1,110
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Nenana Clinic (907-832-5247); Valley Family Health Services (907-832-5600).
Specialized Services: Railbelt Mental Health & Addiction Services. Nenana is classified as a highway town/Sub-Regional Center, it is found in EMS Region 1C in the Interior Region. Emergency Services have highway, river and airport access. Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service, volunteers and a health aide
Auxiliary health care is provided by Nenana Volunteer Fire/EMS (832-5632) or Fairbanks hospitals.
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| Economy
and Transportation |
Over 40% of the year-round jobs are government-funded, including the city, tribe, Nenana School District, Yukon-Koyukuk School District, and DOT highway maintenance. As the center of rail-to-river barge transportation center for the Interior, Nenana has a strong seasonal private-sector economy. Crowley Marine is the major private employer in Nenana, providing supplies and fuel to over 40 villages along the Tanana and Yukon Rivers each summer. The city also attracts independent travelers with fuel and supplies, the Alaska Railroad Museum, the Golden Railroad Spike Historic Park and Interpretive Center, the historical St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Iditarod dog kennels, and the Alfred Starr Museum & Cultural Center. The Nenana Ice Classic administration provides short-term employment for nearly 100 locals. 21 residents hold commercial fishing permits. The majority of Native households rely on subsistence foods, such as salmon, moose, caribou (by permit), bear, waterfowl, and berries.
Nenana has excellent air, river, road, and railroad access. The George Parks Highway provides road access to Fairbanks and Anchorage. The railroad provides daily freight service. The Nenana Municipal Airport offers a 4,600' long by 100' wide asphalt, lighted runway, in addition to a gravel runway that doubles as winter ski strip, measuring 2,520' long by 80' wide air strip. There is also a float pond with parking basins. The Nenana Port Authority operates the dry cargo loading and unloading facilities, dock, bulkhead, and warehouse. The Tanana River is shallow, with a maximum draft for loaded river barges of 4.5 feet; by comparison, the Yukon River has very few shallow areas. There is a public boat launch that provides parking, restrooms, and direct access to the Nenana and Tanana Rivers. Daily buses to Fairbanks and Anchorage are available year-round. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
Chamber of Commerce -
Nenana Valley Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 124
Nenana, AK 99760
Phone 907-832-5442
E-mail miles@mtaonline.net
Web http://www.nenanahomepage.com
City -
City of Nenana
P.O. Box 70
Nenana, AK 99760
Phone 907-832-5441/5501
Fax 907-832-5503
E-mail nenana1@nenana.net
Web http://www.nenana.org
Community Non-Profit -
Goldstream Community Association
HC 33 Box 31440
Nenana, AK 99760
Phone 907-832-2021
Fax 907-457-7487
School District -
Nenana City School District
P.O. Box 10
Nenana, AK 99760-0010
Phone 907-832-5464
Fax 907-832-5625
E-mail supt@nenanasd.org
Web http://www.nenanasd.org/default.aspx
Village Corporation -
Toghotthele Corporation
P.O. Box 249
Nenana, AK 99760
Phone 907-832-5461
Fax 907-832-1077
Village Council -
Nenana Native Association
P.O. Box 356
Nenana, AK 99760
Phone 907-832-5461
Fax 907-832-1077
E-mail nibor652004@yahoo.com
Regional
Organizations
Regional Native Corporation - Doyon, Limited
1 Doyon Place, Suite 300
Fairbanks, AK 99701-2941
Phone 907-459-2000
Fax 907-459-2060
E-mail info@doyon.com
Web http://www.doyon.com
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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