Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska

Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska
Borough
Fairbanks North Star Borough Administrative Center
Fairbanks North Star Borough Administrative Center
Official seal of Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska
Seal
Map of Alaska highlighting Fairbanks North Star Borough
Location within the U.S. state of Alaska
Coordinates: 64°50′N 146°25′W / 64.833°N 146.417°W / 64.833; -146.417
Country United States
State Alaska
IncorporatedJanuary 1, 1964[1]
Named afterFairbanks and Polaris, the North Star
SeatFairbanks
Largest cityFairbanks
Area
 • Total
7,444 sq mi (19,280 km2)
 • Land7,338 sq mi (19,010 km2)
 • Water105 sq mi (270 km2)  1.4%
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total
95,655
 • Estimate 
(2024)
94,951 Decrease
 • Density13.04/sq mi (5.033/km2)
Time zoneUTC−9 (Alaska)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−8 (ADT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websiteco.fairbanks.ak.us

The Fairbanks North Star Borough is a borough located in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 95,655, down from 97,581 in 2010.[2] The borough seat is Fairbanks.[3] The borough's land area is slightly smaller than that of the state of New Jersey.

Fairbanks North Star Borough comprises the Fairbanks, AK, Metropolitan Statistical Area, one of only two metropolitan areas in Alaska.

The borough is home to the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fort Wainwright and Eielson Air Force Base.

Geography

The borough has a total area of 7,444 square miles (19,280 km2), of which 7,338 square miles (19,010 km2) is land and 105 square miles (270 km2) (1.4%) is water.[4]

Adjacent boroughs and census areas

Government and politics

The assembly is the borough's governing body, or legislative branch. The assembly consists of nine members who are elected at-large (borough-wide), serving three-year terms. The borough operates under a "strong mayor" system. The mayor, along with his chief of staff, performs many of the job duties normally associated with a city manager.

Though a somewhat urban county with a notable student population, the borough is generally as Republican as Alaska as whole. As of 2025, Democratic candidates have not won Fairbanks North Star Borough since Alaska's first two presidential elections. That said, Joe Biden in 2020 won forty percent of the vote for the first time since Lyndon Johnson's 1964 landslide victory. In 2024, Kamala Harris lost a percentage point, but still did better than a half-century's worth of Democrats. As with the rest of Alaska, the borough is also friendlier to third parties than most of the United States. George Wallace, Roger MacBride, Ed Clark, Ross Perot, Ralph Nader, and Gary Johnson each received over ten percent of the vote in their candidacies despite campaigning on radically different platforms.

Downballot, Fairbanks North Star Borough is a bellwether county. Fairbanks North Star Borough has voted for the winner of Alaska's governorship since its founding: which has included multiple victories for both major parties, multiple victories for independents, and one victory the Alaskan Independence Party.

Mayor
Assembly members
  • Seat A – David Guttenberg
  • Seat B – Brett Rotermund
  • Seat C – Mindy O'Neall
  • Seat D – Liz Reeves-Ramos
  • Seat E – Nick LaJiness
  • Seat F – Savannah Fletcher
  • Seat G – Kristan Kelly
  • Seat H – Scott Crass
  • Seat I – Barbara Haney

The borough operates a public library system; the main library is the Noel Wien Public Library.

United States presidential election results for Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska[5]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1960 3,818 48.40% 4,070 51.60% 0 0.00%
1964 3,526 42.30% 4,810 57.70% 0 0.00%
1968 4,270 47.00% 3,435 37.81% 1,381 15.20%
1972 7,706 53.70% 5,539 38.60% 1,106 7.71%
1976 10,279 54.00% 6,681 35.10% 2,075 10.90%
1980 11,601 50.70% 5,285 23.10% 5,995 26.20%
1984 18,806 66.30% 8,112 28.60% 1,447 5.10%
1988 18,728 60.50% 10,587 34.20% 1,640 5.30%
1992 15,224 39.60% 10,880 28.30% 12,341 32.10%
1996 18,521 52.40% 10,816 30.60% 6,009 17.00%
2000 25,526 61.50% 10,201 24.58% 5,780 13.93%
2004 20,268 64.40% 10,103 32.10% 1,101 3.50%
2008 27,302 61.50% 15,893 35.80% 1,198 2.70%
2012 23,755 58.60% 14,716 36.30% 2,068 5.10%
2016 22,012 53.86% 13,494 33.02% 5,364 13.12%
2020 24,917 55.10% 18,138 40.11% 2,165 4.79%
2024 24,857 56.90% 17,037 39.00% 1,791 4.10%

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
196043,412—
197045,8645.6%
198053,98317.7%
199077,72044.0%
200082,8406.6%
201097,58117.8%
202095,655−2.0%
2024 (est.)94,951[6] Decrease−0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[2]

2020 census

Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[11] Pop 1990[12] Pop 2000[13] Pop 2010[14] Pop 2020[15] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 45,221 62,201 62,942 72,259 63,178 83.77% 80.03% 75.98% 74.05% 66.05%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2,953 5,395 4,719 4,154 3,804 5.47% 6.94% 5.70% 4.26% 3.98%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 2,987 5,238 5,596 6,669 7,299 5.53% 6.74% 6.76% 6.83% 7.63%
Asian alone (NH) 816 1,913 1,682 2,512 3,031 1.51% 2.46% 2.03% 2.57% 3.17%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [16] x [17] 237 375 584 x x 0.29% 0.38% 0.61%
Other race alone (NH) 460 74 265 191 812 0.85% 0.10% 0.32% 0.20% 0.85%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [18] x [19] 3,959 5,770 9,627 x x 4.78% 5.91% 10.06%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,546 2,899 3,440 5,651 7,320 2.86% 3.73% 4.15% 5.79% 7.65%
Total 53,983 77,720 82,840 97,581 95,655 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 95,655. The median age was 32.6 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 11.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 114.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 117.0 males age 18 and over.[20]

The racial makeup of the county was 69.0% White, 4.2% Black or African American, 7.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.2% Asian, 0.6% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.3% from some other race, and 12.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 7.7% of the population.[21]

74.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 25.4% lived in rural areas.[22]

There were 36,521 households in the county, of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 20.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[20]

There were 42,659 housing units, of which 14.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 58.9% were owner-occupied and 41.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.1%.[20]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 82,840 people, 29,777 households, and 20,516 families were residing in the borough. The population density was 11 people per square mile (4.2 people/km2). There were 33,291 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1.5/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 77.79% White, 5.6% Black or African American, 6.90% Native American, 2.08% Asian, 0.30% Pacific Islander, 1.71% from other races, and 5.39% from two or more races. 4.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 29,777 households, 41.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.70% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 23.60% of households were one person, and 3.60% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 30.10% under the age of 18, 12.20% from 18 to 24, 33.30% from 25 to 44, 19.80% from 45 to 64, and 4.60% 65 or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 109.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.90 males.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Education

The entire borough is zoned to Fairbanks North Star Borough School District.[23]

Sister cities

See also

References

  1. ^ 1996 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory. Juneau: Alaska Municipal League/Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs. January 1996. p. 5.
  2. ^ a b c "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ^ Elections, RRH. "RRH Elections". rrhelections.com. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  6. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  11. ^ "Alaska: 1980, General Social and Economic Characteristics, Table 59: Persons by Race, Hispanic Origin, and Sex" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 18, 2025.
  12. ^ "Alaska: 1990, General Population Characteristics, Table 5: Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 30, 2025.
  13. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska". United States Census Bureau.
  16. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  17. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  18. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
  19. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
  20. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  21. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  22. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  23. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022. - Text list
  24. ^ [1] Archived March 3, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  25. ^ [2] Archived February 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairbanks_North_Star