Healy, Alaska

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Healy, Alaska
Census-designated place
Healy from Parks Highway.jpg
Healy from Parks Highway
Denali Borough Alaska incorporated and unincorporated areas Healy highlighted.svg
Location in Denali Borough and the state of Alaska.
Coordinates: 63°58′15″N149°7′37″W / 63.97083°N 149.12694°W / 63.97083; -149.12694
Country United States
State Alaska
Borough Denali
Named for John Healy
Government
 • Borough mayor Clay Walker [1]
 •  State senator Mike Shower (R)
 •  State rep. Kevin McCabe (R)
Area
[2]
 • Total687.17 sq mi (1,779.75 km2)
 • Land686.96 sq mi (1,779.23 km2)
 • Water0.20 sq mi (0.53 km2)
Elevation
1,342 ft (409 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total966
 • Density1.41/sq mi (0.54/km2)
Time zone UTC−9 (Alaska (AKST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−8 (AKDT)
ZIP code
99743
Area code 907
FIPS code 02-32150
GNIS feature ID1403275

Healy is a census-designated place (CDP) and the borough seat of Denali Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. [3] The population was 966 at the time of the 2020 census, down from 1,021 in 2010.

Contents

History

Healy in 1943 Landing Fields - Alaska - Healy Landing Field - NARA - 68158838 (cropped).jpg
Healy in 1943

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. [4]

Healy was originally named Healy Fork after the Healy River. [5] The Healy River was named after Capt. John J. Healy, manager of the North American Trading and Transportation Company.

Geography

Healy is located at 63°58′15″N149°7′37″W / 63.97083°N 149.12694°W / 63.97083; -149.12694 (63.970833, -149.126944). [6] 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. [7] By area, it is the second-largest CDP in the United States, exceeded by only Willow, Alaska. [8]

Climate

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, [9] 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.

Climate data for Healy, Alaska (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1976–2017)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)52
(11)		59
(15)		64
(18)		69
(21)		85
(29)		93
(34)		90
(32)		90
(32)		74
(23)		71
(22)		54
(12)		51
(11)		93
(34)
Mean maximum °F (°C)40.6
(4.8)		45.9
(7.7)		46.3
(7.9)		60.1
(15.6)		73.2
(22.9)		82.6
(28.1)		82.0
(27.8)		77.2
(25.1)		66.8
(19.3)		55.4
(13.0)		43.3
(6.3)		40.5
(4.7)		85.1
(29.5)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)8.0
(−13.3)		18.3
(−7.6)		23.6
(−4.7)		41.0
(5.0)		55.9
(13.3)		66.5
(19.2)		67.3
(19.6)		61.7
(16.5)		50.8
(10.4)		33.0
(0.6)		15.8
(−9.0)		11.6
(−11.3)		37.8
(3.2)
Daily mean °F (°C)−0.4
(−18.0)		8.3
(−13.2)		12.6
(−10.8)		31.3
(−0.4)		45.4
(7.4)		55.5
(13.1)		58.0
(14.4)		52.9
(11.6)		42.7
(5.9)		25.5
(−3.6)		8.3
(−13.2)		2.7
(−16.3)		28.6
(−1.9)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)−8.8
(−22.7)		−1.6
(−18.7)		1.7
(−16.8)		21.6
(−5.8)		34.9
(1.6)		44.5
(6.9)		48.6
(9.2)		44.1
(6.7)		34.6
(1.4)		18.0
(−7.8)		0.8
(−17.3)		−6.1
(−21.2)		19.4
(−7.0)
Mean minimum °F (°C)−37.9
(−38.8)		−28.8
(−33.8)		−22.4
(−30.2)		−1.0
(−18.3)		21.0
(−6.1)		33.9
(1.1)		41.1
(5.1)		31.8
(−0.1)		17.9
(−7.8)		−2.7
(−19.3)		−20.1
(−28.9)		−29.9
(−34.4)		−40.0
(−40.0)
Record low °F (°C)−56
(−49)		−51
(−46)		−40
(−40)		−25
(−32)		4
(−16)		27
(−3)		32
(0)		20
(−7)		−2
(−19)		−20
(−29)		−41
(−41)		−44
(−42)		−56
(−49)
Average precipitation inches (mm)0.53
(13)		0.67
(17)		0.36
(9.1)		0.62
(16)		0.87
(22)		2.48
(63)		3.04
(77)		2.75
(70)		1.57
(40)		0.95
(24)		0.70
(18)		0.84
(21)		15.38
(390.1)
Average snowfall inches (cm)10.9
(28)		7.6
(19)		8.3
(21)		4.7
(12)		1.4
(3.6)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		1.3
(3.3)		12.1
(31)		15.1
(38)		14.8
(38)		76.2
(193.9)
Average extreme snow depth inches (cm)14.9
(38)		15.3
(39)		14.6
(37)		12.2
(31)		2.6
(6.6)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		1.8
(4.6)		9.4
(24)		12.5
(32)		14.8
(38)		20.9
(53)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)7.35.95.53.86.711.513.713.29.49.79.58.7104.9
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)6.85.04.52.00.70.00.00.00.86.28.47.441.9
Source: NOAA (snow depth 1981–2010) [10] [11]

Economy

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. [12]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1930 36—
1940 4627.8%
1950 102121.7%
1960 67−34.3%
1970 7917.9%
1980 334322.8%
1990 48745.8%
2000 1,000105.3%
2010 1,0212.1%
2020 966−5.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [13]

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.

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 makeup 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%. [14] 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

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

The Magic "Supertramp" Bus

Just outside of Healy, (Approximately 6 miles) near the Stampede Trail, the bus that Christopher McCandless, a.k.a. Alexander (Alex) Supertramp occupied during his "Great Alaskan Adventure". The Fairbanks City Transit bus 142 has been an extremely sought after treasure and has ultimately lead to the deaths of two people after Chris in 1992. The bus has since been airlifted out of Healy and transported to the University Campus in Fairbanks, AK. (Antonette, 2021)

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. ↑ 2015 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory. Juneau: Alaska Municipal League. 2015. p. 5.
  2. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ "The History of Healy, Alaska". explorenorth.com. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  5. ↑ Survey (U.S.), Geological (1967). Geological Survey Professional Paper. U.S. Government Printing Office.
  6. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Healy CDP, Alaska". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved October 8, 2015.[ dead link ]
  8. ↑ "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.
  9. ↑ "Arbor Day Foundation - Buy trees, rain forest friendly coffee, greeting cards that plant trees, memorials and celebrations with trees, and more".
  10. ↑ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Healy, AK". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  11. ↑ "xmACIS2". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Eva Creek Wind - GVEA - Golden Valley Electric Association" . Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  13. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  14. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
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