Nenana, Alaska

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Nenana (IPA pronunciation: [nɛ 'næː nə]) is a Home Rule City in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. Nenana is part of the Unorganized Borough. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city was 402; a state demographer put the population at 549 in 2004.

1 Location and Climate
2 History, Culture and Demographics
3 Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care
4 Economy and Transportation
5 Community Organizations
6 Regional Organizations
7 External links and references

[edit] Location and Climate

Nenana is located at 64°33′50″N, 149°5′35″W (Sec. 14, T004S, R008W, Fairbanks Meridian)^GR1 in the Nenana Recording District.

Nenana is located in Interior Alaska, 55 road miles southwest of Fairbanks on the George Parks Highway and 304 road miles northeast of Anchorage. It is at mile 412 of the Alaska Railroad, on the south bank of the Tanana River, just east of the mouth of the Nenana River. Nenana has a continental climate with an extreme temperature range. The average daily maximum during summer months is 65 to 70; the daily minimum during winter is well below zero. The highest temperature ever recorded is 98; the lowest is -69. Average precipitation is 11.4 inches, with 48.9 inches of snowfall annually. The River is ice-free from early-May to late-October.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.8 km² (6.1 mi²). 15.6 km² (6.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.99%) is water.

[edit] History, Culture and Demographics

Nenana is in the western-most portion of Tanana Athabascan Indian territory. It was first known as Tortella, an interpretation of the Indian word "Toghotthele," which means "mountain that parallels the river." Early explorers such as Allen, Harper and Bates first entered the Tanana Valley 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. A trading post/roadhouse was constructed by Jim Duke in 1903, to supply river travelers and trade with Indians. 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 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. Nenana now had a transportation link to Fairbanks and Seward. 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 Station was constructed 21 miles southwest, and many civilian contractors commuted from Nenana. A road was constructed south to Clear, but north, vehicles were ferried across the Tanana River. In 1967 the community was devastated by one of the largest floods ever recorded in the valley. In 1968, a $6 million bridge was completed across the Tanana River, which gave the city a road link to Fairbanks and replaced the River ferry. The George Parks Highway was completed in 1971, which provided a shorter, direct route to Anchorage.

Residents of Nenana have sponsored a lottery, called the Nenana Ice Classic to pick the date and time to the closest minute when the ice covering the nearby Tanana River breaks, thus signalling the start of spring. This lottery began in 1917 when a group of surveyors working for the Alaska Railroad whiled the time they spent waiting for the river to open and boats with supplies to reach them by forming a betting pool. Interest in the pool continued, and spread through Alaska. This lottery has paid out nearly $10 million in prize money with the winning pool in recent years being near $300,000.

A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Nenana Native Association.

Nenana was the terminus for the 1925 serum run to Nome, where diptheria antitoxin was transported by rail from Anchorage, and continued by dog sled to Nome.

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 402 people, 171 households, and 87 families residing in the city. The population density was 25.7/km² (66.6/mi²). There were 210 housing units at an average density of 13.4/km² (34.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 50.75% White, 0.25% Black or African American, 41.04% Native American, 0.50% Asian, and 7.46% from two or more races. 2.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 171 households out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.0% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.1% were non-families. 42.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 112.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 118.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,333, and the median income for a family was $40,938. Males had a median income of $46,125 versus $26,094 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,334. About 13.4% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.9% of those under age 18 and 19.4% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care

Water is derived from two wells, is treated and distributed 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 new Denali Borough regional landfill, located south of Anderson. Electricity is provided by Golden Valley Electric Association. There is a school providing K-12 grades education (230 students) and the Nenana Student Living Center (one of three statewide boarding school for High School Students) with students from around the state attending the local school. The school attracts students and families due to its extensive arts (music, artistic and performing programs), academic quality and vocational studies. The City has a quality library with a full time librian, internet access and full library services including interlibrary loan services. The health clinic services are provided by the Nenana Native Clinic (832-5247). A regional hospital is located in nearby Fairbanks. Specialized Services: Railbelt Mental Health & Addiction Services. Emergency Services have highway, river and airport access. Emergency service (Fire/EMT) is provided calling 911, volunteers and a health aide Auxiliary health care is provided by Nenana Volunteer Fire/EMS (832-5632) or Fairbanks hospitals. Police service is provide by the Alaska State Troopers (832-5554) - Emerency Number (800-811-0911)

[edit] 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. Golden Valley Electric Association has it regional office located in Nenana. Nenana is a strong choice for locating regional and statewide offices due to a rural village type lifestyle yet close proximity to Fairbanks on the major north-south George Parks Highway. Affortable housing and low rents. A quality school is favoured by families with school age children. Nenana has a strong private sector economy as the center of rail-to-river barge transportation center for the Interior. Yutana Barge Lines is the major private employer in Nenana, supplying villages along the Tanana and Yukon Rivers each summer with cargo and fuel. 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 Episcopal Church, Iditarod dog kennels, and a replica of the sternwheeler Nenana. A heritage center has local cultural and history displays - open during the summer tourist season (May-September). Nenana is a center of dog mushing with a number of world class teams training in the area. A number of large farms produce quality and specialized crops in some of the best growing conditions in Alaska. The Nenana Ice Classic administration provides employment for nearly 100 locals during the counting and tabulation of the tickets providing chances on when the Tanana River breakup in the spring. 27 residents hold commercial fishing permits. A large number of Native and non-Native households rely on subsistence foods, such as salmon, moose, caribou, bear, waterfowl and berries.

Taxes: Sales: 4%, Property: 12.0 mills, Special: None

Nenana has excellent air, river, road and railroad access. The George Parks Highway provides road access to Fairbanks and Anchorage. A boat landing at the end of 10th street turning west off of the George Parks Higway provides free boat landing to the Nenana River connecting a short distance North to the Tanana River providing easy access to the River system of the Tanana and Minto Flats. The railroad provides daily freight service. The Nenana Municipal Airport offers a 5,000' long by 100' wide asphalt, lighted runway, in addition to a turf, 2,520' long by 80' wide air strip. The airport also has float plane and ski plane landing areas. 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.

[edit] Community Organizations

City - City of Nenana
P.O. Box 70
Nenana, AK 99760
Phone 907-832-5441
Fax 907-832-5503
Mayor: Jason Mayrand
E-mail nenana1@yukon.com
http://www.nenana.org

Community Non-Profit - Goldstream Community Association
HC 33 Box 31440
Nenana, AK 99760
Phone 907-332-2589
Fax 907-457-7487

School District - Nenana City School District
P.O. Box 10
Nenana, AK 99760-0010
Phone 907-832-5464
Fax 907-832-2008
Superintendent: Robert Thomason
E-mail supt@nenanasd.org
http://www.nenanasd.org/

Village Corporation - Toghotthele Corporation
P.O. Box 249
Nenana, AK 99760
Phone 907-832-5461
Fax 907-832-1077

Village Council - Nenana Native Village Association
P.O. Box 356
Nenana, AK 99760
Phone 907-832-5461
Fax 907-832-1077

[edit] Regional Organizations

Regional Native Corporation - Doyon, Limited
One Doyon Place, Suite 300
Fairbanks, AK 99701-2941
Phone 907-459-2000
Fax 907-459-2060
E-mail info@doyon.com
http://www.doyon.com

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 info@tananachiefs.org
http://www.tananachiefs.org