Delta Junction, Alaska facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Delta Junction, Alaska
City
City of Delta Junction
Mile 1422 — End of the Alaska Highway
Motto(s):  "Crossroads of Alaska"
Delta Junction, Alaska Location in Alaska
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Founded	July 17, 1957 (1957-07-17)
Incorporated	December 19, 1960 (1960-12-19)
Government
• Type	Mayor–Council
Area
• Total	13.90 sq mi (36.00 km2)
• Land	13.88 sq mi (35.95 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation	1,158 ft (353 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	918
• Density	66.14/sq mi (25.54/km2)
Time zone	UTC−9 (Alaska (AKST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−8 (AKDT)
ZIP code	99737
Area code	907
FIPS code	02-18620
GNIS feature ID	1401104, 2419376
Highways	Alaska Highway Richardson Highway Route 2 Route 4
Major airport	Fairbanks Airport (FAI)

Delta Junction is a small city in Alaska, United States. It is officially known as the City of Delta Junction. In 2020, about 918 people lived there. The city is located near where the Delta River meets the Tanana River. It is about 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of Fairbanks. The original people living here were the Tanana Athabaskans.

History of Delta Junction

For at least 10,000 years, Athabascan people have lived in parts of interior Alaska. They survived by hunting and fishing in the area.

Early Settlements and Bison

The first non-native settlements were near the river crossing at Big Delta. In 1904, a telegraph station was set up there. In 1928, 23 bison were brought from Montana. They were meant to be an extra animal for hunters. A small community called Buffalo Center was named because of these bison. Sometimes, the large animals made it hard for planes to land at Allen Army Airfield nearby.

Today, the bison herd is kept at several hundred animals. People get special permits to hunt them each year. The 90,000-acre Delta Junction Bison Range was created in the early 1980s. It helps provide a home for bison and other wildlife.

World War II and New Highways

During World War II, the United States helped the Soviet Union. They sent airplanes and supplies through Alaska. The Alaska Highway was built to connect Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada, with the Richardson Highway in Alaska. This highway was about 2,290 kilometers (1,422 miles) long.

The Alaska Highway met the Richardson Highway about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) south of Big Delta. This meeting point became known as Delta Junction. Allen Army Airfield was built nearby to help send supplies to Russia. The Glenn Highway was also built, connecting Anchorage to the Richardson Highway. This created a road route between Anchorage and Fairbanks.

Cold War and Economic Changes

After World War II, a U.S. Army base called Fort Greely was built next to the airfield. This base was used to train soldiers for fighting in cold weather. This was important during the Cold War with the Soviet Union.

In 1957, the Richardson Highway was paved. The army base and visitors traveling on the new highways helped the area's economy grow. Delta Junction became the main business center. Some people also started farming and raising animals. They learned new ways to farm because of the short growing season and cold winters.

Delta Junction officially became a city in 1960.

Oil and Agriculture Booms

In 1968, oil was found in the North Slope of Alaska. In 1974, work began on the pipeline to move the oil to Valdez. Building the pipeline brought many new people and businesses to Delta Junction. The cost of living was very high during this time.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Tanana Valley was chosen as a good area for farming in Alaska. The state sold large areas of land to farmers. A big project called the "Barley Project" started. The idea was to grow barley and ship it overseas. However, the railroad needed for shipping was never built, and the project eventually stopped. Today, these farms are mostly used for hay or pasture. Some farmers grow barley, potatoes, carrots, and wheat. The area is also known for raising animals like yak, bison, and elk.

Recent Times

In 1971, the George Parks Highway was finished. This new highway was a shorter way to travel between Anchorage and Fairbanks. Many travelers used it, bypassing Delta Junction. In 1977, the pipeline construction ended. The Cold War also ended in 1991. These events caused the economy in Delta Junction to slow down.

In the 1990s and 2000s, many people from countries that were part of the Soviet Union moved to the area. This changed the local population.

Fort Greely was changed in 1995, with fewer military and civilian workers. However, in 2002, the U.S. government decided to build a missile defense system at Fort Greely. This brought a new economic boom to Delta Junction, similar to the pipeline days. Large companies like Boeing and Bechtel opened offices. A new gold mine, the Pogo Gold Mine, also helped the city's economy.

Geography of Delta Junction

Delta Junction is located at 64°2′52″N 145°43′7″W / 64.04778°N 145.71861°W / 64.04778; -145.71861.

The city covers about 36 square kilometers (13.9 square miles) of land. "Big Delta" is where the Delta River and the Tanana River meet. Delta Junction city is on the Delta River, where the Richardson Highway and the famous Alaska Highway meet. The city is in the fertile Tanana River valley. Three mountain ranges surround the city: the White Mountains to the north, the Granite Mountains to the southeast, and the Alaska Range to the southwest.

The land here was once covered by glaciers. You can see features left behind by glaciers and rivers. Many minerals like gold and coal are found nearby. A notable natural landmark is Donnelly Dome. It was formed when a glacier from the Alaska Range split in two, shaping the sides of a mountain.

What is the Climate Like?

Delta Junction has a subarctic climate. This means it has very cold, long winters and short, cool summers. From mid-October to late March, the average high temperature is below freezing. In winter, temperatures can drop to between -40 and -50 degrees Celsius (-40 to -58 degrees Fahrenheit). High temperatures below 0 degrees Fahrenheit are common.

The area gets about 28 centimeters (11.12 inches) of precipitation each year. More than half of this falls from June to August. Snow usually falls from October to April. It averages about 105 centimeters (41.5 inches) per season. The lowest temperature ever recorded was -58 degrees Celsius (-72 degrees Fahrenheit) in January 1975. The highest was 33 degrees Celsius (92 degrees Fahrenheit) in June 1969.

Delta Junction is sometimes called the "Windy City." Wind often blows from the south up the Delta River. This wind can bring river silt in summer and snowdrifts in winter. Sometimes in winter, when it's very cold, a warm wind called a Chinook wind can blow. This wind can quickly raise the temperature above freezing for a short time.

Population and People

Delta Junction first appeared as an official city in the 1970 U.S. Census.

Who Lives in Delta Junction?

In 2000, there were 840 people living in Delta Junction. Most residents (91.43%) were White. There were also smaller groups of Native American (4.05%), Black (1.07%), and Asian (0.95%) people. About 0.83% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Delta Junction has a notable number of people from Ukraine. About 16.4% of residents were born in Ukraine. A higher number have Ukrainian family backgrounds. In 2000, nearly 20% of the population spoke Russian or Ukrainian at home. This number was even higher (31.10%) for kids aged 5–17.

Age and Families

In 2000, about 35.6% of homes had children under 18 living there. Most homes (52.6%) were married couples. The average household had 2.69 people, and the average family had 3.32 people.

About 32.6% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age was 36 years. This means half the people were younger than 36, and half were older. For every 100 females, there were about 112 males.

How Do People Make a Living?

The average income for a household in Delta Junction was $43,500. For families, the average income was $58,250. About 19.4% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 28.8% of those under 18.

Economy and Jobs

The main jobs in Delta Junction come from military facilities, mining, farming, and tourism. A new Alaska Railroad line from Fairbanks to Delta Junction has been suggested. This could help transport materials to the missile defense site. It could also help other industries, like moving farm products or bringing tourists by train.

Many people in Delta Junction also hunt and fish for food. They hunt moose, caribou, Dall sheep, and bison. Some people also run small gold mines or hunt animals for their fur to earn extra money. Delta Junction has a small airport for charter flights for sightseeing, hunting, and fishing. Many residents travel to Fairbanks for shopping and medical care because there are fewer options in Delta Junction.

Fun Things to Do: Parks and Recreation

The area around Delta Junction has several parks for outdoor fun.

• The Quartz Lake State Recreation Area is just north of the city.
• South of the city is the Clearwater State Recreation Site. This 27-acre park has a campground and access to the Delta Clearwater River.
• Even further south is the Delta State Recreation Site. This 23-acre park is across from the Delta River. It has a campground and great views of the Alaska Range.
• The Donnelly Creek State Recreation Site is a quiet 46-acre park in a mountain area. It has a campground and is a great place to see wildlife. It is next to where the bison herd has its calves.

The 90,000-acre Delta Junction Bison Range is south of the Alaska Highway. It is managed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. It provides a home for bison and other wildlife, especially in the fall. Hunting permits are given out each year to manage the size of the herd.

Schools in Delta Junction

Public schools in Delta Junction are part of the Delta-Greely School District. This district includes nearby communities like Big Delta, Deltana, Fort Greely, and Healy Lake. In 2007, Delta Junction Elementary School was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School.

Famous People from Delta Junction

• Ben Grossmann (born 1977) grew up in Delta Junction. He won an Academy Award in 2012 for his work on the movie Hugo.

See also

In Spanish: Delta Junction (Alaska) para niños