Delta Junction, Alaska

File:DeltaJunction.jpg]]

{{Main|Alaska Highway}}

During World War II, the United States aided the Soviet Union against Germany by sending airplanes and supplies authorized by the Lend-lease Act to the Soviet Union through Alaska into the Russian Far East. The Alaska Highway was built to connect an existing road in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada, with the Richardson Highway in Alaska, a distance of {{convert|2290|km|mi|abbr=on}}.

The Alaska Highway met the Richardson Highway at a point {{convert|12|km|mi|abbr=on}} south along the Delta River from Big Delta. The place where the highways met became known as Delta Junction. Allen Field was constructed {{convert|5|mi|km}} south of Delta Junction for use in sending supplies to Russia. The Glenn Highway was built from Anchorage to what is now Glennallen, where it met the Richardson Highway. This connection created a motor route between Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska.

After World War II, a U.S. army base, Fort Greely, was built next to the air field. The base, and a huge tract of land around it, was used for training soldiers for cold weather combat during the Cold War with the former Soviet Union. In 1957, the Richardson Highway was paved. About this time, portions of the Alaska Highway were also paved. The army base and tourism brought on the highways, caused a boom in the area's economy and the commercial center of the area moved from Big Delta to Delta Junction. Some people also began farming and raising livestock in the Delta Junction area. This farming required new techniques to accommodate the short growing season and the cold and dark winters of interior Alaska.

Delta Junction was incorporated on December 19, 1960.{{cite report |title=Delta Junction (Alaska) Region Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy |url=https://deltajunction.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/completeceds.pdf |publisher=Delta Regional Economic Development Council |date=November 2004 |page=7}} Oil was discovered in the North Slope of Alaska in 1968. In 1974, construction began on the pipeline to transport the oil from the North Slope to Valdez. The pipeline construction also aided the economy of the area. Delta Junction experienced a temporary boom, similar to the gold rush, that resulted in a wave of new residents and businesses in the community. Cost of living during this period was well above the national average due to transportation costs, as well as gouging. Prostitution and bars flourished — as did churches and religious communes.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Tanana Valley was designated as a potential agricultural area for Alaska. The state of Alaska then made large tracts of land available to future farmers for purchase. Significant was establishment of the "Barley Project" east of the city. Plans were made to grow barley, ship it to Valdez via a future rail terminal, and from there ship it overseas to Asia. Though farms were established and a storage facility constructed in Valdez, the railroad never came, essentially resulting in the failure of the project.

Political pressure and growing costs resulted in the project being defunded upon change in governors. Today, these original farms are primarily used as pasture or for hay production though barley, potatoes, carrots, and even wheat are still grown with limited commercial success. With the availability of a nearby meat processing facility (Delta Meat and Sausage Company), many farmers turned to cattle with limited success. In addition, the area is now known for production of exotic meats such as yak, bison, and elk.

In 1971, the George Parks Highway between Anchorage and Fairbanks was completed. This highway followed the railroad route and was a shorter route for motorists traveling between Anchorage and Fairbanks than the Glenn and Richardson Highway route. Many travelers used the new highway, bypassing Delta Junction. In 1977, pipeline construction ended. The Cold War also ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. These events caused a decline in the economy of Delta Junction.

During the 1990s and 2000s, immigrants from the former Soviet republics came to the area, significantly changing the makeup of the local population. Fort Greely was included on the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) list in 1995. From 1995 to 2002, Fort Greely was gradually re-aligned through a gradual drawdown in both military and civilian personnel. Once BRAC was complete in 2002, Fort Greely remained open but was staffed with fewer than 100 military and civilian personnel. During this time the remaining workers were either associated with public works functions or the Cold Regions Test Center, which continued testing on the installation. Headquarters for both the Cold Regions Test Center and the Northern Warfare Training Center moved to Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks in 2002. Base housing and numerous surplus buildings remained vacant, though the Army continued heating and maintaining them.

Re-alignment of Fort Greely resulted in heated discussion throughout the Delta Junction community over a proposal to site a privately operated state prison within surplus buildings on Fort Greely. Eventually, the city of Delta Junction entered into a contract with Allvest Corporation to operate this prison. Plans for the prison eventually fell through. Allvest Corporation subsequently sued Delta Junction for $1{{nbsp}}million for breach of contract.

Shortly after BRAC was complete, the United States government announced plans to build a missile defense installation at Fort Greely. The installation was then divided into two parts operated by two different commands — U.S. Army Garrison Alaska and Space and Missile Defense Command. The main post retained the name Fort Greely and is operated by the Space and Missile Defense Command. Outlying range, training and impact areas were absorbed by Fort Wainwright and were renamed Donnelly Training Area.

From 2002 to 2005, Delta Junction experienced an economic boom similar to the pipeline days as Fort Greely became fully operational again and the missile test bed was constructed. National firms such as Boeing, Bechtel, and Brown and Root, as well as regional firms including Chugach opened up offices on the installation, under contract to the government. Construction of the Pogo Gold Mine just north of Delta Junction, near the Goodpaster River, also contributed significantly to the economic fortune of the city. Mineral deposits near Tangle Lakes, south of Delta Junction, will likely result in additional development of mining in the area.

"Big Delta" lies at the intersection of the Delta River and the Tanana River. The city of Delta Junction sits on the Delta River at the intersection of the Richardson Highway and the terminus of the Alaska Highway. The city and Delta community lie within the fertile Tanana River valley. Three mountain ranges—the White Mountains to the north, the Granite Mountains to the southeast, and the Alaska Range to the southwest—and the Delta River to the west surround the city.

Once overlain by glaciers, the geology is marked by glacial moraines as well as alluvial deposits from the Delta and Tanana Rivers. Numerous mineral deposits are found in the vicinity of Delta Junction ranging from gold to molybdenum to coal. A prominent natural feature on the landscape is Donnelly Dome, located within the Donnelly Training Area of Fort Wainwright (formerly a part of nearby Fort Greely until 2001), to the south of Delta Junction. This dome was formed as a glacier coming from the Alaska Range split in two, carving away sides of a former mountain.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|17.3|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

=== Climate ===

File:Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020) - Delta Junction Area,AK (ThreadEx).svg

As is typical of the Alaska Interior, Delta Junction has a subarctic climate (Köppen Dwc), closely bordering on a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk). The average high temperature is below freezing from mid-October thru late March, and during the height of winter cold, as the town is located in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 2a, the coldest conditions of the year typically bottom out in the {{convert|-45|to|-50|F|C}} range,{{cite web|title=USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map|url=http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/#|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227032333/http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/|archive-date=February 27, 2014|access-date=September 1, 2020 |quote=Input zip code 99737 |publisher=Agricultural Research Center, PRISM Climate Group Oregon State University}} with sub-{{convert|0|°F|0}} highs a common occurrence. Precipitation averages at only {{convert|11.62|in|0}} annually, and over half of this total occurs from June to August.

Snow, which typically falls from October to April and sometimes May and September, is generally not heavy due to the dry climate, and averages {{convert|54|in|cm}} per season. Extreme temperatures have ranged from {{convert|−63|°F|0}} on January 30, 1947, up to {{convert|92|°F|0}} on June 15, 1969. Delta Junction has an unofficial record low of {{convert|-72|°F|0}} set on January 6, 1975 (as seen on the big thermometer in the town center) but the Delta Junction weather station and NOAA refuse to acknowledge this record as legitimate, as such temperatures are atypical for the region and atypical temperature readings are usually inaccurate.

The coldest daily maximum on record from Delta Junction was an extremely cold {{convert|-55|F|C}} in January 1975. During an average year between 1991 and 2020, the coldest maximum averaged {{convert|-39|F|C}}. Summer nights are seldom warm but nevertheless did not fall below {{convert|70|F|C}} in August 1999 and August 6, 2024. During an average year the warmest low is {{convert|61|F|C}}.

Delta Junction was known as the "Windy City" and "Little Chicago" by many soldiers on Fort Greely.{{Citation needed|date=March 2013}} In Delta Junction itself, but not in the nearby areas, wind blows many days from the south down the Delta River from the Gulf of Alaska, bringing river silt in the summer and snowdrifts in the winter. There are usually several days in the winter when the temperature is in the range of −40 °F/°C when a wind (known as a Chinook wind) begins to blow. A few minutes later, the temperature climbs to above the freezing mark. When the wind stops, the temperature returns to colder ranges.

Delta Junction's prevailing winds are from the east.{{Citation needed|date=March 2013}}

{{Weather box

|location = Delta Junction, Alaska (Big Delta Army Airfield), 1991–2020 normals,{{efn|Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.}} extremes 1917–present

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 54

|Feb record high F = 51

|Mar record high F = 58

|Apr record high F = 72

|May record high F = 90

|Jun record high F = 92

|Jul record high F = 91

|Aug record high F = 90

|Sep record high F = 79

|Oct record high F = 74

|Nov record high F = 52

|Dec record high F = 55

|Jan avg record high F = 36.0

|Feb avg record high F = 39.9

|Mar avg record high F = 43.7

|Apr avg record high F = 59.5

|May avg record high F = 73.1

|Jun avg record high F = 81.9

|Jul avg record high F = 82.3

|Aug avg record high F = 78.3

|Sep avg record high F = 66.1

|Oct avg record high F = 53.0

|Nov avg record high F = 35.7

|Dec avg record high F = 35.7

|year avg record high F = 84.6

|Jan high F = 6.1

|Feb high F = 15.6

|Mar high F = 24.7

|Apr high F = 44.2

|May high F = 58.7

|Jun high F = 68.2

|Jul high F = 69.7

|Aug high F = 64.5

|Sep high F = 53.3

|Oct high F = 33.3

|Nov high F = 14.9

|Dec high F = 9.4

|year high F = 38.5

|Jan mean F = -1.0

|Feb mean F = 7.3

|Mar mean F = 14.2

|Apr mean F = 33.9

|May mean F = 48.5

|Jun mean F = 58.5

|Jul mean F = 60.7

|Aug mean F = 55.6

|Sep mean F = 44.8

|Oct mean F = 26.5

|Nov mean F = 8.2

|Dec mean F = 2.4

|year mean F = 30.0

|Jan low F = -8.0

|Feb low F = -0.9

|Mar low F = 3.6

|Apr low F = 23.5

|May low F = 38.2

|Jun low F = 48.7

|Jul low F = 51.7

|Aug low F = 46.7

|Sep low F = 36.4

|Oct low F = 19.6

|Nov low F = 1.4

|Dec low F = -4.6

|year low F= 21.4

|Jan avg record low F = -40.1

|Feb avg record low F = -30.9

|Mar avg record low F = -23.2

|Apr avg record low F = -1.0

|May avg record low F = 25.6

|Jun avg record low F = 37.3

|Jul avg record low F = 43.0

|Aug avg record low F = 33.5

|Sep avg record low F = 20.4

|Oct avg record low F = -5.5

|Nov avg record low F = -24.1

|Dec avg record low F = -32.5

|year avg record low F = -43.9

|Jan record low F = −63

|Feb record low F = −60

|Mar record low F = −49

|Apr record low F = −37

|May record low F = −1

|Jun record low F = 26

|Jul record low F = 32

|Aug record low F = 22

|Sep record low F = −2

|Oct record low F = −39

|Nov record low F = −47

|Dec record low F = −62

|precipitation colour=green

|Jan precipitation inch = 0.21

|Feb precipitation inch = 0.23

|Mar precipitation inch = 0.18

|Apr precipitation inch = 0.20

|May precipitation inch = 0.76

|Jun precipitation inch = 2.18

|Jul precipitation inch = 2.37

|Aug precipitation inch = 2.02

|Sep precipitation inch = 0.90

|Oct precipitation inch = 0.59

|Nov precipitation inch = 0.41

|Dec precipitation inch = 0.23

|year precipitation inch = 10.28

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 2.2

|Oct snow inch = 13.0

|Nov snow inch = 13.1

|Dec snow inch = 6.7

|Jan snow inch = 5.8

|Feb snow inch = 6.4

|Mar snow inch = 3.1

|Apr snow inch = 2.8

|May snow inch = 1.1

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|year snow inch = 54.2

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 inch

|Jan precipitation days = 5.9

|Feb precipitation days = 5.1

|Mar precipitation days = 3.7

|Apr precipitation days = 3.7

|May precipitation days = 7.9

|Jun precipitation days = 12.9

|Jul precipitation days = 14.0

|Aug precipitation days = 12.8

|Sep precipitation days = 8.5

|Oct precipitation days = 7.8

|Nov precipitation days = 7.4

|Dec precipitation days = 6.3

|year precipitation days = 96.0

|unit snow days = 0.1 inch

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 1.5

|Oct snow days = 9.7

|Nov snow days = 10.0

|Dec snow days = 7.2

|Jan snow days = 6.6

|Feb snow days = 6.5

|Mar snow days = 4.6

|Apr snow days = 2.5

|May snow days = 0.4

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|year snow days = 49.0

|humidity colour = green

|Jan humidity = 68.9

|Feb humidity = 72.0

|Mar humidity = 66.9

|Apr humidity = 63.9

|May humidity = 55.6

|Jun humidity = 58.9

|Jul humidity = 65.9

|Aug humidity = 69.8

|Sep humidity = 71.8

|Oct humidity = 78.9

|Nov humidity = 73.4

|Dec humidity = 74.3

|year humidity = 68.4

|Jan dew point C = -26.8

|Feb dew point C = -20.0

|Mar dew point C = -16.3

|Apr dew point C = -7.8

|May dew point C = -1.8

|Jun dew point C = 5.2

|Jul dew point C = 8.2

|Aug dew point C = 6.6

|Sep dew point C = 1.3

|Oct dew point C = -7.4

|Nov dew point C = -18.2

|Dec dew point C = -22.9

|source 1 = NOAA (relative humidity and dew point 1961-1990, snowfall and snowy days 1981–2010){{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=afg

|title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = September 1, 2020}}

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00026415&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access

|access-date = September 4, 2023

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230904045228/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00026415&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|archive-date = September 4, 2023

}}

{{cite web

|url = ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/1981-2010/products/station/USW00026415.normals.txt

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = Station Name: AK BIG DELTA AIRPORT

|access-date = November 1, 2019

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230904045039/ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/1981-2010/products/station/USW00026415.normals.txt

|archive-date = September 4, 2023}}{{cite web

|url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP1/70267.TXT

|title = WMO Climate Normals for BIG DELTA/ALLEN AAF AK 1961–1990

|access-date = September 4, 2023

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230904043119/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP1/70267.TXT

|archive-date = September 4, 2023}}

}}

;Notes:

{{notelist}}

{{US Census population

|1970= 703

|1980= 945

|1990= 652

|2000= 840

|2010= 958

|2020= 918

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

Delta Junction first appeared on the 1970 U.S. Census as an incorporated city.

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }} of 2000, there were 840 people, 312 households, and 208 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|48.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 422 housing units at an average density of {{convert|24.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 91.43% White, 1.07% Black or African American, 4.05% Native American, 0.95% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 2.38% from two or more races. 0.83% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Delta Junction has the highest percentage of Ukrainian people in the United States, with 16.4% of residents having been born in Ukraine and an even higher total number having Ukrainian ancestry.{{cite web |url=http://www.city-data.com/top2/h65.html |title=Top 101 cities with the most residents born in Ukraine (population 500+) |publisher=city-data.com |access-date=August 12, 2008}} According to the 2000 Census, 19.64% of the general population and 31.10% of those aged 5–17 used either Russian or Ukrainian as home language.[http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&SRVY_YEAR=2000&geo=&state_id=2&county_id=&mode=place&lang_id=&zip=&place_id=18620&cty_id=®ion_id=&division_id=&ll=&ea=y&order=&a=y&pc=1 Modern Language Association - Delta Junction, Alaska] Delta Junction is home for a sizable community of Russian Orthodox Old Believers.

Of the 312 households, 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.32.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 32.6% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $43,500, and the median income for a family was $58,250. Males had a median income of $50,469 versus $25,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,171. About 12.3% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.8% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.

Construction and maintenance of the military facilities, mining, agriculture, tourism and their support industries form the backbone of the area economy. An Alaska Railroad spur from Fairbanks to Delta Junction has been proposed to transport material to the missile defense site. This could facilitate other types of industry in Delta Junction, as the railroad could transport agricultural products out of the area as well as promote tourist travel into the area by rail.

Many people in Delta Junction supplement their food supply by hunting the moose, caribou, Dall sheep and bison in the area, as well as fishing. A few operate small gold mines or hunt or trap fur-bearing animals for extra income. Delta Junction, like most Alaskan communities, has a small airstrip where charter flights are available for sightseeing, hunting and fishing. Due to limited shopping availability, many residents travel to Fairbanks via the Richardson Highway to purchase goods and services. Though Delta has a clinic, primary medical care is also in Fairbanks.

Delta Junction is home to Alaska Range Dairy, the only dairy in Alaska.{{cite journal |last1=Bohnert |first1=Karen |title=The Last Frontier: The Story of Alaska's Only Dairy |journal=Dairy Herd Management |date=November–December 2024 |volume=61 |issue=7 |pages=10–12}}

The area around Delta Junction is home to a number of parks. Just north of the city is the Quartz Lake State Recreation Area. South of the city is the Clearwater State recreation Site, a {{convert|27|acre}} park with a campground and access to the Delta Clearwater River.[http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/northern/clearwatersrs.htm Clearwater SRS] Alaska Department of Natural Resources

Further south is the Delta State Recreation Site, a {{convert|23|acre}} park directly across from the Delta River. It has a campground, a nearby airstrip, and views of the Alaska Range.[http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/northern/deltasrs.htm Delta SRS], Alaska Department of Natural Resources The Donnelly Creek State Recreation Site is an isolated {{convert|46|acre}} park in an alpine environment. The park has a campground and is considered a prime spot for wildlife viewing and is adjacent to the calving grounds for the bison herd.[http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/northern/donnellycksrs.htm Donnelly Creek SRS], Alaska Department of Natural Resources

In the early 1980s, the {{convert|90000|acre|km2|adj=on}} Delta Junction Bison Range, south of the Alaska Highway and between Ft. Greely and the Little Gerstle River was established.{{Cite web|last=|title=Plains Bison Management|url=http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=plainsbison.management|url-status=live|access-date=November 19, 2021|website=Alaska Department of Fish and Game|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110412004405/http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=plainsbison.management |archive-date=April 12, 2011 }} The range is managed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to provide fall habitat for bison to reduce farm depredations and to provide habitat for other wildlife. The herd is now kept at several hundred animals by the annual issuance of hunting permits.

Public education in Delta Junction is provided by the Delta-Greely School District, which combines the city with neighboring communities such as Big Delta, Deltana, Fort Greely Gerstle River School, and Healy Lake. In 2007, Delta Junction Elementary School was named a National Blue Ribbon School.{{cite web |publisher=US Department of Education |title=2007 No Child Left Behind - Blue Ribbon Schools: All Public Elementary Schools |page=9 |url=http://www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/2007/public-elementary.pdf |access-date=March 1, 2011}}

• Ben Grossmann (born 1977), grew up in Delta Junction, 2012 Academy Award winner for his work on Hugo

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website}}
• [https://deltajunction.us/delta-community-library/ Delta Community Library]
• {{Ballotpedia}}
• [https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=59840 Delta Junction, Alaska] at the Historical Marker Database
• [http://www.deltanewsweb.com Delta News Web]

{{Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska}}

{{subject bar|portal1=1950s|portal2=Alaska|portal3=Cities|commons=Category:Delta Junction, Alaska|voy=Delta Junction}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Delta Junction, Alaska}}

Category:Bison herds

Category:1957 establishments in Alaska

Category:Cities in Alaska

Category:Cities in Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska

Category:Cities in Unorganized Borough, Alaska

Category:Populated places established in 1957

Category:Russian diaspora in the United States

Category:Tanana Athabaskans

Category:Ukrainian diaspora in the United States