Delta Junction Alaska

Current Population:	1,039 (2006 DCCED Certified Population)
Incorporation Type:	2nd Class City
Borough Located In:	Unorganized
Taxes:	Sales: None, Property: None, Special: None

Location and Climate

Delta Junction is located at the convergence of the Richardson and Alaska Highways, approximately 95 miles southeast of Fairbanks.

The City developed along the east bank of the Delta River, south of its junction with the Tanana River.

It offers spectacular views of the Alaska Range.

The community lies at approximately 64.037780° North Latitude and -145.732220° (West) Longitude. (Sec. 23, T010S, R010E, Fairbanks Meridian.) Delta Junction is located in the Fairbanks Recording District. The area encompasses 17.3 sq. miles of land and 0.0 sq. miles of water.

This area of Interior Alaska experiences seasonal extremes.

The average low temperature in January is -11 degrees Fahrenheit.

The average high during July is 69 degrees Fahrenheit.

Temperature extremes ranging from a low of -63 to a high of 92 degrees Fahrenheit have been recorded. Average annual liquid equivalent precipitation is 12 inches, which includes an average annual snowfall of 37 inches.

Organizations with Local Offices

Chamber of Commerce - Delta Chamber of Commerce

P.O. Box 987

Delta Junction, AK 99737

Phone 907-895-5068

Fax 907-895-5141

E-mail deltacc@deltachamber.org

Web http://www.deltachamber.org

City - City of Delta Junction

P.O. Box 229

Delta Junction, AK 99737

Phone 907-895-4656

Fax 907-895-4375

E-mail city@ci.delta-junction.ak.us

Web http://www.ci.delta-junction.ak.us

Community Non-Profit - Delta Greely Community Coalition

P.O. Box 780

Delta Junction, AK 99737

Phone 907-895-1081

Fax 907-895-4219

E-mail dgcc@knix.net

Media - Delta Wind

P.O. Box 986

Delta Junction, AK 99737

Phone 907-895-5115

E-mail deltawind@wildak.net

School District - Delta/Greely School District

P.O. Box 527

Delta Junction, AK 99737-0527

Phone 907-895-4658

Fax 907-895-4246

E-mail dodb@dgsd.k12.ak.us

Web http://www.dgsd.k12.ak.us

Regional Organizations

Regional Native Health Corporation - Tanana Chiefs Conference

122 First Avenue, Suite 600

Fairbanks, AK 99701-4897

Phone 907-452-8251

Fax 907-459-3850

E-mail hbrown@tananachiefs.org

Web http://www.tananachiefs.org

Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care

Households have individual wells, ranging from 150 to 350 feet deep, and septic systems. Some residents use rain catchment systems. The Delta School has its own well water system. The City owns a sewage pit.

Almost all homes are fully plumbed.

Businesses and residences are dispersed over a large area, so a community system is not practical.

Refuse is collected by a private firm, Delta Sanitation, and is deposited in the City-owned permitted landfill. Delta Sanitation leases the landfill from the City.

The laundromat, Delta Laundry, is also operated privately.

Electricity is provided by Golden Valley Electric Association.

There are 4 schools located in the community, attended by 1,051 students.

Local hospitals or health clinics include Delta Junction Family Medical Center (907-895-5100), Delta Junction Public Health Center (907-895-4292), and Fairbanks Memorial Hospital (907-452-8181).

The clinic is a qualified Emergency Care Center.

Delta Junction is classified as an isolated town/Sub-Regional Center, it is found in EMS Region 1C in the Interior Region.

Emergency Services:

Emergency Services have highway and airport access.

Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service and volunteers Auxiliary health care is provided by Delta Rescue Squad/Ambulance (907-895-4356/895-4656) or Rural Deltana Volunteer Fire (895-5036), and Fairbanks Memorial Hospital (907-452-8181).

Economy and Transportation

In 2004, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed construction of the Missile Defense Testbed at Fort Greely. The sixth and final interceptor missile planned for Fort Greely for 2004 was installed in its underground silo on November 11, 2004.

Ten additional interceptors are planned for installation in 2005.

Delta Junction has received almost $20 million in federal funds related to the missile defense project, including money to build a new school now located at Greely.

It is anticipated that new jobs will be created with the development of the Pogo mine.

Pogo is expected to be operational by mid-2006. It is a world-class gold deposit located in the upper Goodpaster River valley 85 miles east-southeast of Fairbanks and 38 miles northeast of Delta Junction.

Pogo is expected to produce an average of 400,000 ounces of gold per annum over a 10-year mine life.

The mine will operate 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

Teck-Pogo Inc. will construct and operate Pogo.

During construction of the mine and access road, scheduled to take 25 to 33 months, the work force will number about 700.

During operation, Pogo will employ about 300 workers.

Other major employers are the Delta/Greely School District and Alyeska Pipeline Services.

Several state and federal highway maintenance staff are located in Delta.

There are also a number of small businesses that provide a variety of services.

Delta's location at the junction of two major highways has also brought development based on services to travelers.

Nearly 40,000 acres are farmed in the Delta area, producing barley, other grains and forage, potatoes, dairy products, cattle and hogs.

Four residents hold commercial fishing permits.

Buffalo are hunted by lottery only; moose, caribou, bear, sheep and waterfowl are also hunted in this area.

Delta Junction is accessible by the Alaska and Richardson Highways.

Buses provide transportation to Fairbanks and Whitehorse.

The City Airport offers a 2,400' long by 60' wide gravel airstrip with a 1,600' long by 60' wide dirt crosswind strip.

Charter flight services are available. There are five other privately-owned airstrips in the vicinity. Plans are underway for joint use of the Allen Airfield on Fort Greely.

Snowmobiles are used for recreation.

History, Culture and Demographics

Tanana Athabascan Indians occupied this site throughout most of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The peak of the Alaska gold rush was between 1898 and 1903.

In 1899 the Army sent parties to investigate the Susitna, Matanuska, and Copper River valleys to find the best route for a trail north from Valdez, through the Copper River valley.

By 1901, the Army had completed the Trans-Alaska Military Road, which extended from Valdez to Eagle City.

In 1902, gold was discovered in the Tanana Valley and, shortly after, a spur trail was created from Gulkana on the Valdez-Eagle route to the new mining camp in Fairbanks.

This trail became the Valdez-Fairbanks Trail.

The Sullivan Roadhouse was built in 1905 by John and Florence Sullivan on a part of the Valdez-Fairbanks Trail known as the Donnelly-Washburn Cut-Off.

This section of the trail was considered by many to be too steep, and the Alaska Road Commission built a new road which was removed from the Sullivan Roadhouse by a distance of four miles.

The Sullivans tore the roadhouse apart and rebuilt it alongside the new road.

Ongoing mining activity just north of Delta Junction in the Tenderfoot area, and the Chisana Gold Strike of 1913, brought many prospectors and other travelers through the area.

The Delta Junction area became known as Buffalo Center for the American bison that were transplanted here from the National Bison Range in Montana in the 1920s.

In 1942, construction of the Alaska Highway began, and Fort Greely military base was completed 5 miles to the south.

In 1946, a dairy farm was established; beef cattle were brought in during 1953 by homesteaders.

Delta Junction was incorporated as a second-class city in 1960.

Construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline between 1974 and 1977 brought a dramatic upswing to the population and economy.

In August 1978, the state initiated Delta Agricultural Project I, a 60,000-acre demonstration agricultural project. Twenty-two parcels, averaging 2,700 acres in size were sold by lottery. Delta Agricultural Project II, an additional land release of 15 parcels totaling 25,000 acres, took place in early 1982. Success of the Delta Agricultural Projects has been highly variable.

In 1980, the 70,000-acre Delta Bison Range was created to confine the bison and keep them out of the barley fields. About 6,000-11,000 people apply each year for an average of 40 permits to hunt Delta bison.

Delta bison have been used to start three other herds in Alaska.

The population of the community consists of 5.6% Alaska Native or part Native.

Delta Junction is strategically located to provide services to summer tourist traffic.

Schools and a visitor center are available.

During the 2000 U.S. Census, total housing units numbered 422, and vacant housing units numbered 110.

Vacant housing units used only seasonally numbered 28. U.S. Census data for Year 2000 showed 306 residents as employed.

The unemployment rate at that time was 11.63 percent, although 47.69 percent of all adults were not in the work force.

The median household income was $43,500, per capita income was $19,171, and 19.38 percent of residents were living below the poverty level.

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