Fairbanks is a city located in Fairbanks North Star County Alaska. Fairbanks has a 2023 population of 32,868. It is also the county seat of Fairbanks North Star County.Fairbanks is currently growing at a rate of 0.25% annually and its population has increased by 0.76% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 32,619 in 2020.
The average household income in Fairbanks is $85,202 with a poverty rate of 9.12%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Fairbanks is 28.2 years, 27.6 years for males, and 29.1 years for females.
Fairbanks serves as a borough seat for Fairbanks North Star Borough. Fairbanks is the largest city in the interior region of Alaska. Over 20% of people 25 years and older have at least a bachelor’s degree. Eighty-eight percent of the adult population has at least a high school diploma.
Fairbanks’ population from the 1930s experienced significant growth. In 1960, the city had over 13,000 residents. This number had more than doubled at the time of the 1990 census. However, the next poll showed a population loss of 2%. In 2010, however, the population grew again at a rate of over 4%. Current estimates indicate that the population is up nearly 4% since the last census was taken. This shows that while the city is still growing, it is not growing quite as rapidly as it was during its early history.
In its earliest years, the region that is now Fairbanks was used by the Athabascan tribe, although it was not settled permanently. Archaeological evidence shows that Native Americans were in the area approximately 3,500 years ago, and it has been determined that the tribes were using the region for seasonal fishing and hunting.
The city of Fairbanks was settled by the Europeans in the early 20th century when it was founded by Captain E. T. Barnette. It was named after the Republican senator Charles Fairbanks. A trading post was set up in the area by Barnette before local gold prospectors came to the city to build mines and dredges.
Agriculture played a significant role in the city’s first years, particularly in the Tanana Valley. In the 1930s, construction began on the Ladd Army Airfield, and major infrastructure was installed for the first time in the area. This led to significant growth in the population and the economy. The University of Alaska Fairbanks was also constructed and was the founding campus of the University of Alaska system. The Moose Creek Dam was constructed following a devastating flood that almost flooded all of Fairbanks.
Today, Fairbanks’ population only continues to grow. It is home to several minor league sports teams and boasts many attractions, restaurants, and businesses. It is also the site of the Yukon Quest international sled dog race. Growth has slowed since the 1990s, however, and this could be due to Fairbanks’ ranking as one of the most dangerous cities in the U.S. for women and an overall crime rate that is higher than both the state and national averages.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Fairbanks was:
3.06
Average Family Size
2.56
Average Household Size
37.7%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
85.79% of Fairbanks residents speak only English, while 14.21% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 5.63% of the population.
9.12%
Overall Poverty Rate
7.42%
Male Poverty Rate
10.86%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Fairbanks is Islander, with 82.5% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Fairbanks is Other, with 3% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 1.48%. Among those working part-time, it was 12.67%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 14.48%.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
50.2%
Overall Marriage Rate
48.1%
Male Marriage Rate
52.8%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is 45-54, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
7.39%
Veteran Poverty Rate
28.37%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
69.8%
Labor Force Participation
47.2%
Employment Rate
8.1%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
32.34%
Born in Fairbanks
94.37%
Native Born
6.6%
Foreign Born
2.34%
Non Citizen
4.26%
Naturalized
94.37% of Fairbanks residents were born in the United States, with 32.34% having been born in Alaska. 2.34% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.