Tanacross, Alaska
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Tanacross, Alaska
|native_name = Taats’altęy
|settlement_type = CDP
|nickname =
|motto =
|image_skyline =
|imagesize =
|image_caption =
|image_flag =
|image_seal =
|pushpin_map = USA Alaska
|mapsize = 250px
|pushpin_map_caption = Location of Tanacross, Alaska
|image_map1 =
|mapsize1 =
|map_caption1 =
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = Alaska
|subdivision_type2 = Census Area
|subdivision_name2 = Southeast Fairbanks
|government_footnotes =
|government_type =
|leader_title = State senator
|leader_name = Click Bishop (R)
|leader_title1 = State rep.
|leader_name1 = Mike Cronk (R)
|established_title =
|established_date =
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_km2 = 209.10
|area_land_km2 = 204.89
|area_water_km2 = 4.21
|area_total_sq_mi = 80.73
|area_land_sq_mi = 79.11
|area_water_sq_mi = 1.62
|population_as_of = 2020
|population_footnotes =
|population_total = 144
|population_density_km2 = 0.70
|population_density_sq_mi = 1.82
|timezone = Alaska (AKST)
|utc_offset = -9
|timezone_DST = AKDT
|utc_offset_DST = -8
|elevation_footnotes =
|elevation_m =
|elevation_ft =
|coordinates = {{coord|63|22|34|N|143|21|25|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type = ZIP code
|postal_code = 99776
|area_code = 907
|blank_name = FIPS code
|blank_info = 02-75050
|blank1_name =
|blank1_info =
|website =
|footnotes =
|pop_est_as_of =
|pop_est_footnotes =
|population_est =
|unit_pref = Imperial
}}
Tanacross (Taats’altęy[http://www.uaf.edu/anla/collections/map/names/ UAF: Alaska Native Place Names] in Tanacross Athabascan) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 136, down from 140 in 2000. It hosts an air tanker base.{{cite web|url=http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=tanacross,+ak&ie=UTF8&ll=63.372063,-143.325405&spn=0.029198,0.11158&t=h&z=14 |title=Google map showing the airfield |accessdate=August 28, 2008 }}
History
File:Landing Fields - Alaska - Tanana Crossing - NARA - 68159056 (cropped).jpg
Tanacross, initially founded as a telegraph station called Tanana Crossing (also known as St. Timothy's).{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rr9RAQAAMAAJ&q=tanacross&pg=PA49 | title=Geological Survey Professional Paper| year=1949}} The name was shortened to Tanacross before 1940. The village was initially located on the north bank of the Tanana River. An airstrip was built on the south bank during the mid-1930s and upgraded for military use during World War II in 1941–42. Thousands of troops deployed through Tanacross during the period. The airfield was closed after the war. In 1972, the town itself relocated south across the river due to water contamination. In 1979, the old village burned due to an uncontrolled grass fire.{{Cite web|url=http://www.explorenorth.com/library/communities/alaska/bl-Tanacross.htm|title = The History of Tanacross, Alaska - ExploreNorth}}
Geography
Tanacross is located at {{coord|63|22|34|N|143|21|25|W|type:city}} (63.376206, -143.356991).{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of {{convert|81.2|sqmi|km2}}, of which, {{convert|80.0|sqmi|km2}} of it is land and {{convert|1.1|sqmi|km2}} of it (1.38%) is water.
Climate
Tanacross has a dry-winter continental subarctic climate (Köppen Dwc).
{{Weather box
|location = Tanacross
|single line = Y
| Jan record high F = 43
| Feb record high F = 44
| Mar record high F = 52
| Apr record high F = 70
| May record high F = 82
| Jun record high F = 91
| Jul record high F = 90
| Aug record high F = 90
| Sep record high F = 78
| Oct record high F = 62
| Nov record high F = 40
| Dec record high F = 45
| year record high F = 91
| Jan high F = -5.1
| Feb high F = 8
| Mar high F = 23.5
| Apr high F = 41.9
| May high F = 56.6
| Jun high F = 69.6
| Jul high F = 71.9
| Aug high F = 67.9
| Sep high F = 52.9
| Oct high F = 32.4
| Nov high F = 7.1
| Dec high F = -4.6
| year high F = 35.2
| Jan low F = -25.8
| Feb low F = -16.7
| Mar low F = -8.6
| Apr low F = 13.6
| May low F = 29.4
| Jun low F = 41.3
| Jul low F = 43.7
| Aug low F = 39
| Sep low F = 29
| Oct low F = 12.5
| Nov low F = -11.5
| Dec low F = -22.9
| year low F = 10.2
| Jan record low F = -74
| Feb record low F = -75
| Mar record low F = -60
| Apr record low F = -32
| May record low F = 0
| Jun record low F = 23
| Jul record low F = 25
| Aug record low F = 21
| Sep record low F = -5
| Oct record low F = -32
| Nov record low F = -56
| Dec record low F = -70
| year record low F = -75 | precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 0.28
| Feb precipitation inch = 0.34
| Mar precipitation inch = 0.08
| Apr precipitation inch = 0.2
| May precipitation inch = 1.04
| Jun precipitation inch = 2.43
| Jul precipitation inch = 1.8
| Aug precipitation inch = 1.66
| Sep precipitation inch = 1.13
| Oct precipitation inch = 0.69
| Nov precipitation inch = 0.51
| Dec precipitation inch = 0.89
| year precipitation inch = 11.05
| Jan precipitation days = 3
| Feb precipitation days = 3
| Mar precipitation days = 1
| Apr precipitation days = 2
| May precipitation days = 5
| Jun precipitation days = 9
| Jul precipitation days = 9
| Aug precipitation days = 8
| Sep precipitation days = 6
| Oct precipitation days = 6
| Nov precipitation days = 4
| Dec precipitation days = 4
| Jan snow inch = 3.3
| Feb snow inch = 3.7
| Mar snow inch = 1.5
| Apr snow inch = 2.4
| May snow inch = 0.8
| Jun snow inch = 0
| Jul snow inch = 0
| Aug snow inch = 0
| Sep snow inch = 1.4
| Oct snow inch = 7
| Nov snow inch = 4.7
| Dec snow inch = 8.2
| year snow inch = 33
|source 1 = {{cite web
|url=http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?ak8987 |title=TANACROSS, AK (508987) |accessdate=November 22, 2015 |publisher=Western Regional Climate Center }}
|date=November 2015
}}
Demographics
{{US Census population
|1920= 101
|1930= 80
|1940= 135
|1950= 137
|1960= 102
|1970= 84
|1980= 117
|1990= 106
|2000= 140
|2010= 136
|2020= 144
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 6, 2013}}
}}
Tanacross first appeared on the 1920 U.S. Census as the unincorporated village of "Tanana Crossing." In 1940, the name was combined to form "Tanacross." It was made a census-designated place (CDP) in 1980.
As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 140 people, 42 households, and 28 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|1.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 53 housing units at an average density of {{convert|0.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 8.57% White, 88.57% Native American, 1.43% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. 1.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 42 households, 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.33 and the average family size was 3.93.
In the CDP, the age distribution of the population shows 30.7% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.9 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $22,083, and the median income for a family was $31,250. Males had a median income of $71,250 versus $24,583 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $9,429. There were 22.6% of families and 33.3% of the population living below the poverty line, including 43.6% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.
Education
Tanacross is part of the Alaska Gateway School District. Tanacross School, a K-8 campus, and serves community students.
References
{{Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska}}
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Category:Census-designated places in Alaska
Category:Census-designated places in Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska
Category:Census-designated places in Unorganized Borough, Alaska