Healy, Alaska

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Healy, Alaska
Census-designated place
Location in Denali Borough and the state of Alaska.
Location in Denali Borough and the state of Alaska.
Coordinates: 63°58′15″N 149°7′37″W / 63.97083°N 149.12694°W / 63.97083; -149.12694
CountryUnited States
StateAlaska
BoroughDenali
Government
 • Borough mayorClay Walker[1]
 • State senatorClick Bishop (R)
 • State rep.Dave Talerico (R)
Area
 • Total687.2 sq mi (1,779.8 km2)
 • Land687.0 sq mi (1,779.2 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)
Elevation
1,342 ft (409 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total1,021
 • Density2/sq mi (0.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-8 (AKDT)
ZIP code
99743
Area code(s)907
FIPS code02-32150
GNIS feature ID1403275

Healy is a census-designated place (CDP) in the borough seat of Denali Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska.[2] The population was 1,021 at the 2010 census,[3] up from 1,000 in 2000.

History[edit]

The history of Healy is intertwined with that of coal mining and construction of the Alaska Railroad, which both began in the area in 1918 and 1919 respectively.

Healy was originally named Healy Fork after the Healy River. The Healy River was named after Capt. John J. Healy, manager of the North American Trading and Transportation Company.

Geography[edit]

Healy is located at 63°58′15″N 149°7′37″W / 63.97083°N 149.12694°W / 63.97083; -149.12694 (63.970833, -149.126944).[4] The George Parks Highway (Alaska Route 3) runs through the community, leading south 18 miles (29 km) to Denali Park and north 56 miles (90 km) to Nenana.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Healy CDP has a total area of 687.2 square miles (1,779.8 km2), of which 687.0 square miles (1,779.2 km2) is land and 0.19 square miles (0.5 km2), or 0.03%, is water.[3] By area, it is the second-largest CDP in the United States, exceeded by only Willow, Alaska.[5]

Climate[edit]

As is typical of the Alaska Interior, Healy experiences a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc) with very long, bitterly cold winters and short, warm summers, and straddles the border between USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 2 and 3,[6] indicating the coldest temperature of the year is typically around −40 °F (−40 °C). Average temperatures are below freezing from early October to mid-April, though occasionally chinook winds will push temperatures up to 45 °F (7.2 °C) even in the depths of winter.

In summer, temperatures reach 70 °F (21.1 °C) on 34 afternoons and 80 °F (26.7 °C) on 5.4, with an average of one morning not falling below 60 °F (15.6 °C). The first frost typically occurs in late August, but sometimes it can happen during the first half of that month. A majority of the annual precipitation of 15.17 inches (385.3 mm) occurs during summer as well. Extreme temperatures have ranged from −52 °F (−46.7 °C) up to 93 °F (33.9 °C).

Climate data for Healy, Alaska
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 52
(11) 		59
(15) 		55
(13) 		69
(21) 		85
(29) 		93
(34) 		90
(32) 		90
(32) 		74
(23) 		71
(22) 		54
(12) 		51
(11) 		93
(34)
Average high °F (°C) 11.2
(−11.6) 		17.4
(−8.1) 		26.3
(−3.2) 		41.9
(5.5) 		57.4
(14.1) 		68.2
(20.1) 		69.0
(20.6) 		63.5
(17.5) 		52.6
(11.4) 		32.3
(0.2) 		17.3
(−8.2) 		15.1
(−9.4) 		39.4
(4.1)
Average low °F (°C) −7.6
(−22.0) 		−2.5
(−19.2) 		3.9
(−15.6) 		21.0
(−6.1) 		35.7
(2.1) 		45.4
(7.4) 		50.1
(10.1) 		45.3
(7.4) 		35.5
(1.9) 		16.9
(−8.4) 		0.4
(−17.6) 		−3.7
(−19.8) 		20.1
(−6.6)
Record low °F (°C) −52
(−47) 		−51
(−46) 		−40
(−40) 		−25
(−32) 		4
(−16) 		27
(−3) 		32
(0) 		20
(−7) 		−2
(−19) 		−20
(−29) 		−41
(−41) 		−44
(−42) 		−52
(−47)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.49
(12) 		0.47
(12) 		0.38
(9.7) 		0.56
(14) 		0.87
(22) 		2.24
(57) 		3.31
(84) 		2.52
(64) 		1.59
(40) 		1.08
(27) 		0.76
(19) 		0.90
(23) 		15.17
(383.7)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 6.9 5.5 5.0 4.1 6.5 10.5 13.3 12.9 9.5 10.7 9.6 8.1 102.6
Source: NOAA (normals 1981–2010),[7] The Weather Channel (extremes)[8]

Economy[edit]

Usibelli Coal Mine, Golden Valley Electric Association, the Denali Borough School District, and the National Park Service are the major employers in Healy. Proximity to Denali National Park & Preserve supports local RV parks, hotels, restaurants, bed and breakfast, and other small businesses. The Denali Chamber of Commerce represents the economic interests of Healy and the Denali Borough, Alaska. The 24 MW Eva Creek Wind Farm opened in 2013, 12 miles north of Healy.[9]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
193036—
19404627.8%
1950102121.7%
196067−34.3%
19707917.9%
1980334322.8%
199048745.8%
20001,000105.3%
20101,0212.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

Healy first appeared on the 1930 U.S. Census as the unincorporated community of "Healey Fork." In 1940, it appeared as Healy Fork. It was shortened to *Healy beginning in 1950. It was made a census-designated place (CDP) in 1980.

  • Note there was also another locale named "Healey (Healy) Village" on the 1930 & 1940 U.S. Censuses (with a population of 16 and 77, respectively). It was stated that this place was located in the Fairbanks Recording District rather than Nenana (where then Healy Fork was located). It is unclear whether this was a geographic error on the census and both places were located at or around Healy Fork and merged in 1950, or if the former was a native village on or near present-day Healy Lake (within Southeast Fairbanks Census Area).

At the 2000 census there were 1,000 people, 436 households, and 245 families in the CDP. The population density was 1.5 people per square mile (0.6/km²). There were 604 housing units at an average density of 0.9 per square mile (0.3/km²). The racial makup of the CDP was 90.20% White, 0.30% Black or African American, 2.30% Native American, 1.90% Asian, 0.70% Pacific Islander, 0.80% from other races, and 3.80% from two or more races. 2.00%.[11] were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 436 households 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 3.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.6% were non-families. 37.6% of households were one person and 0.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 3.12.

The age distribution was 27.4% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 34.3% from 25 to 44, 30.6% from 45 to 64, and 2.2% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 132.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 142.8 males.

The median household income was $60,000 and the median family income was $77,806. Males had a median income of $65,729 versus $30,227 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $28,225. About 2.5% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Education[edit]

K-12 students attend Tri-Valley School, operated by the Denali Borough School District. The district is headquartered in Healy.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ 2015 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory. Juneau: Alaska Municipal League. 2015. p. 5.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Healy CDP, Alaska". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved October 8, 2015.[dead link]
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): All places within United States". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  6. ^ [1]
  7. ^ "Station Name: AK HEALY 2 NW". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  8. ^ "weather.com". Retrieved 2011-11-15.
  9. ^ "Eva Creek Wind - GVEA - Golden Valley Electric Association". Retrieved 2019-02-11.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

External links[edit]

Coordinates: 63°58′15″N 149°07′37″W / 63.970935°N 149.126862°W / 63.970935; -149.126862

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Healy,_Alaska&oldid=966416554"