Susitna North, Alaska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Susitna North, Alaska
|
|
|---|---|
Location in Matanuska-Susitna Borough and the state of Alaska
|
|
 Susitna North, Alaska
Location in Alaska
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Matanuska-Susitna |
| Area | |
| • Total | 277.18 sq mi (717.90 km2) |
| • Land | 276.00 sq mi (714.85 km2) |
| • Water | 1.18 sq mi (3.05 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 1,564 |
| • Density | 5.67/sq mi (2.19/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-8 (AKDT) |
| ZIP Code |
99688
|
| Area code(s) | 907 |
| FIPS code | 02-86470 |
Susitna North is a special kind of community in Alaska, USA. It's called a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's an area that looks like a town but isn't officially a city. It's located in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.
Susitna North is part of the larger Anchorage area. In 2020, about 1,564 people lived there. This was more than the 1,260 people who lived there in 2010.
This place used to be called Y. It got this name because it's where the George Parks Highway and the Talkeetna Spur Road meet. At this meeting point, you can find a community center. This center has a health clinic, a police office (for the Alaska State Troopers), and Susitna Valley High School. There are also shops for travelers to get gas and food.
Contents
History of Susitna North
Long ago, Ahtna-speaking Athabascan people lived in the Talkeetna Mountains. They had a village called "Tsuk Qayeh," which means "Old Village." It was across from Sunshine Creek.
Later, Dena'ina-speaking Athabascans lived near the Deshka River and the middle Susitna River during winter. A Dena'ina village was also on the North Fork of the Kashwitna River. There was a path from there to Chickaloon, Alaska.
Around 1915, a small Dena'ina village started at Montana Creek. This happened when the Alaska Railroad was being built. The railroad brought jobs and new people to the area until 1927. Montana was one of the first places where railroad workers set up camp. In 1918, a short train track was built to a coal mine nearby. Sunshine Depot was also set up in 1918, but it moved to higher ground in 1936.
Later, the Parks Highway was built. The state also sold land, which led more people to settle in the area.
Geography and Climate
Susitna North is located at 62 degrees North latitude and 149 degrees West longitude. It's the developed area between Willow and Talkeetna. It sits along the George Parks Highway.
The Parks Highway and Talkeetna Spur Road form what locals call the "Talkeetna Y." This spot is at mile 98.7 (about 158.8 kilometers) on the Parks Highway. The area includes places like Montana Creek and Sunshine.
The weather here can be very cold in winter. In January, temperatures can range from -40 to 51 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 to 11 degrees Celsius). Summers are warmer, with July temperatures from 26 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit (-3 to 32 degrees Celsius). The area gets about 14 to 29 inches (36 to 74 cm) of rain each year. It also gets a lot of snow, usually 48 to 70 inches (122 to 178 cm).
The total area of Susitna North is about 336.5 square miles (871.5 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 333.4 square miles (863.5 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 3.1 square miles (8 square kilometers), is water.
Population Changes
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 39 | — | |
| 1970 | 33 | −15.4% | |
| 1980 | 40 | 21.2% | |
| 2000 | 956 | — | |
| 2010 | 1,260 | 31.8% | |
| 2020 | 1,564 | 24.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Susitna North first appeared on the U.S. Census in 1960. Back then, it was called "Montana" and was a small village. In 1980, Montana became a census-designated place (CDP). It was then removed from the census in 1990.
In 2000, a new CDP called "Y" was created in the same area. By 2010, its name was changed to Susitna North, which it is still called today.
In 2000, there were 956 people living in the CDP. About 85.88% of the people were White. About 6.59% were Native American. The rest were from other racial backgrounds. About 2.30% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average household had about 2.32 people. The average family had about 2.90 people. About 24.8% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age was 41 years. This means half the people were older than 41 and half were younger.
The typical income for a household in 2000 was $31,848 per year. For a family, it was $38,304 per year. About 17.4% of all people lived below the poverty line. This included 12.4% of those under 18.
Economy and Travel
The area where the Talkeetna Spur Road and George Parks Highway meet is the busiest part of Susitna North. Here you'll find many businesses like:
- a grocery store
- a gas station
- a hardware store
- a bank
Some people who live in Susitna North own their own small businesses. These can include places to stay (lodging), or services for guiding and charter trips. Other residents work in nearby towns like Palmer or Wasilla.
The community is easy to reach by car using the George Parks Highway. There is also a small airport, called the Talkeetna airstrip, nearby. For more ways to travel, people can go to Wasilla, Palmer, or Anchorage.
See also
In Spanish: Susitna North para niños
