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Northway
also see Northway Village
For Photos of Northway click here
For a Map of Northway click here
| Current Population: |
88
(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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Northway is located on the east bank of Nabesna Slough, 50 miles southeast of Tok. It lies off the Alaska Highway on a 9-mile spur road, adjacent to the Northway airport. It is 42 miles from the Canadian border in the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge. Northway presently consists of three dispersed settlements: Northway Junction, at milepost 1264, Northway, at the airport, and the Native village, 2 miles north. The community
lies at approximately 62.961670° North Latitude
and -141.937220° West Longitude.
(Sec. 26, T014N, R018E, Copper River Meridian.)
Northway is located in the
Fairbanks Recording District.
Northway lies in the Continental climate zone, with long, cold winters and relatively warm summers. Temperatures range from -27 to 70. The average low temperature in January is -27; the average high during July is 69 . Extreme temperatures have been recorded from -72 to 91. Average precipitation is 10 inches per year; snowfall is 30 inches annually. |
Topographic
map of
Northway
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| The area around Northway was first utilized by semi-nomadic Athabascans who pursued seasonal subsistence activities in the vicinity of Scottie and Gardiner Creeks and Chisana, Nabesna, and Tanana Rivers. The Native settlement of Northway Village is located 2 miles south of Northway. The Native village was named in 1942 after Chief Walter Northway, who adopted his name from a Tanana and Nabesna riverboat captain. The development and settlement of Northway was due to construction of the airport during World War II. The Northway airport was a link in the Northwest Staging Route, a cooperative project between the U.S. and Canada. A chain of air bases through Canada to Fairbanks were used to supply an Alaska defense during World War II, and during the construction of the Alcan Highway. A post office was first established in 1941.
The population of the community consists of 82.1%
Alaska Native or part Native.
The area was traditionally Athabascan, though road construction and the airport have brought a permanent non-Native population.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 40, and vacant housing units numbered 10.
Vacant housing units used
only seasonally numbered 6.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 32 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
13.51 percent,
although
62.35 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $59,375, per capita income was $16,429, and
21.05 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| Over half of households are not plumbed. Due to high groundwater and deep permafrost, individual water wells and septic systems often freeze. The Northway Village Council operates the local washeteria.
Electricity is provided by Alaska Power Company.
There is one school located in the community,
attended by 48
students.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Northway Village Clinic at Northway Village (907-778-2283).
Northway is classified as an isolated village, it is found in EMS Region 1C in the Interior Region. Emergency Services have highway and airport access. Emergency service is provided by volunteers
Auxiliary health care is provided by Northway First Responder Service (778-2343/2311) or Northway Clinic at native village.
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| Economy
and Transportation |
Most wage employment is with facilities or services for the airport. An FAA Flight Service Station and U.S. Customs office are located at the airport. A motel, cafe, bar and pool hall, grocery store, and electric utility provide some employment. Fire fighting, construction and trapping also income. Subsistence is important to the Native population.
Northway is connected to the Alaska Highway by an unpaved road. Scheduled buses are available, and trucking services deliver freight to the community. There is a State-owned 3,304' long by 100' wide gravel-dirt runway, with an FAA station and U.S. Customs office. Regular flights are available to Fairbanks, as well as charter services. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
Village Council -
Northway Village
P.O. Box 516
Northway, AK 99764
Phone 907-778-2287
Fax 907-778-2220
E-mail dnnvc@yahoo.com
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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