Northway, Alaska

Coordinates: 62°58′9″N 141°54′18″W / 62.96917°N 141.90500°W / 62.96917; -141.90500
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Northway, Alaska
K’ehtthiign
Location of Northway, Alaska
Location of Northway, Alaska
Coordinates: 62°58′9″N 141°54′18″W / 62.96917°N 141.90500°W / 62.96917; -141.90500
CountryUnited States
StateAlaska
Census AreaSoutheast Fairbanks
Government
 • State senatorClick Bishop (R)
 • State rep.Mike Cronk (R)
Area
 • Total247.32 sq mi (640.55 km2)
 • Land242.41 sq mi (627.84 km2)
 • Water4.91 sq mi (12.71 km2)
Elevation
1,709 ft (521 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total234
 • Density0.97/sq mi (0.37/km2)
Time zoneUTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-8 (AKDT)
ZIP code
99764
Area code907
FIPS code02-56220
GNIS feature ID1407253

Northway (K’ehtthiign[2] in Upper Tanana Athabascan) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska, United States. Prior to the 2020 Census, the borders of the CDP got expanded to include Northway Junction and Northway Village.[3] The population was 234 at the 2020 census, up from 71 in 2010.[4]

Geography[edit]

Northway is located at 62°58′9″N 141°54′18″W / 62.96917°N 141.90500°W / 62.96917; -141.90500 (62.969297, -141.905034).[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau in 2020, the CDP has a total area of 247.32 square miles (640.6 km2), of which, 242.41 square miles (627.8 km2) of it is land and 4.91 square miles (12.7 km2) of it (8.45%) is water.[6]

The highest sea-level pressure in the United States was recorded at Northway on January 31, 1989 with a reading of 31.85 inches, a record only surpassed by two readings in Siberia.[7] Due to aircraft altimeters only being able to calibrate to 31 inches, most were grounded.

Climate[edit]

Northway has a dry-winter continental subarctic climate (Köppen Dwc).

Climate data for Northway, Alaska (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1942–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 43
(6)
48
(9)
56
(13)
74
(23)
88
(31)
92
(33)
88
(31)
88
(31)
79
(26)
68
(20)
42
(6)
51
(11)
92
(33)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 18.2
(−7.7)
27.7
(−2.4)
42.4
(5.8)
58.8
(14.9)
73.4
(23.0)
81.7
(27.6)
81.7
(27.6)
78.7
(25.9)
66.3
(19.1)
49.4
(9.7)
24.7
(−4.1)
17.8
(−7.9)
84.1
(28.9)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) −4.5
(−20.3)
7.8
(−13.4)
24.5
(−4.2)
45.3
(7.4)
60.5
(15.8)
69.6
(20.9)
71.5
(21.9)
66.5
(19.2)
54.5
(12.5)
32.1
(0.1)
7.9
(−13.4)
−2.3
(−19.1)
36.1
(2.3)
Daily mean °F (°C) −13.3
(−25.2)
−4.0
(−20.0)
8.3
(−13.2)
31.1
(−0.5)
47.2
(8.4)
57.2
(14.0)
59.9
(15.5)
55.0
(12.8)
43.2
(6.2)
23.2
(−4.9)
−0.7
(−18.2)
−10.8
(−23.8)
24.7
(−4.1)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) −22.1
(−30.1)
−15.8
(−26.6)
−8.0
(−22.2)
16.9
(−8.4)
34.0
(1.1)
44.7
(7.1)
48.4
(9.1)
43.5
(6.4)
31.9
(−0.1)
14.3
(−9.8)
−9.2
(−22.9)
−19.3
(−28.5)
13.3
(−10.4)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −47.6
(−44.2)
−40.1
(−40.1)
−32.9
(−36.1)
−6.8
(−21.6)
22.2
(−5.4)
33.7
(0.9)
39.6
(4.2)
31.9
(−0.1)
19.1
(−7.2)
−8.3
(−22.4)
−33.0
(−36.1)
−40.5
(−40.3)
−51.1
(−46.2)
Record low °F (°C) −72
(−58)
−71
(−57)
−56
(−49)
−42
(−41)
2
(−17)
25
(−4)
32
(0)
12
(−11)
−6
(−21)
−36
(−38)
−55
(−48)
−64
(−53)
−72
(−58)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.31
(7.9)
0.24
(6.1)
0.15
(3.8)
0.22
(5.6)
0.98
(25)
2.26
(57)
2.92
(74)
1.79
(45)
1.07
(27)
0.53
(13)
0.51
(13)
0.30
(7.6)
11.28
(285)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 6.3
(16)
5.2
(13)
3.5
(8.9)
1.2
(3.0)
1.8
(4.6)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
1.9
(4.8)
6.1
(15)
9.8
(25)
7.1
(18)
42.9
(108.3)
Average precipitation days 5.5 3.5 3.4 3.0 8.2 12.4 15.0 13.4 9.1 7.9 7.2 5.7 94.3
Average snowy days 8.4 6.6 4.2 1.4 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.5 7.1 10.8 8.9 50.0
Source 1: NOAA[8]
Source 2: National Weather Service[9]

Transportation[edit]

There is a shuttle between Tok and Northway three times a week, connecting with the Fairbanks - Glennallen - Anchorage service.

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1950196
19601960.0%
197040−79.6%
19807382.5%
199012368.5%
200095−22.8%
201071−25.3%
2020234229.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

Northway first appeared on the 1950 U.S. Census as the unincorporated village of "Northway-Nabesna", which included the native village of Nabesna on the west side of Nabesna River across from present-day Northway Village. It returned as Northway in 1960. In 1980, it was made a census-designated place (CDP).

As of the census of 2010, there were 290 people. The racial makeup of the CDP was 66% Native American, 29% White, and 4.8% from two or more races.[11]

The median age was 39.6.[12]

Education[edit]

Northway is part of the Alaska Gateway School District. Walter Northway School, a K-12 campus, serves community students.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  2. ^ "UAF: Alaska Native Place Names". Archived from the original on August 19, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  3. ^ "Northway CDP Map - US Census 2020 TIGERline" (PDF). State of Alaska, Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  4. ^ "2020 Census Data - Cities and Census Designated Places" (Web). State of Alaska, Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ^ "Places (2020): Alaska" (TXT). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  7. ^ "Recipe for a Cold Snap, Alaska Science Forum". www.gi.alaska.edu. Archived from the original on September 1, 2000.
  8. ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Northway AP, AK". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  9. ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Fairbanks". National Weather Service. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2015.