Southcentral - Talkeetna

May 01, 2009|by GoToAK staff

TALKEETNA, Alaska — Location and Climate
Located at the junction of the Talkeetna and Susitna Rivers, it lies 115 miles north of Anchorage at mile 226.7 of the Alaska Railroad. The paved Talkeetna Spur Road runs 14 miles east off the George Parks Highway, at Milepost 98.7. The community lies at approximately 62.323890° North Latitude and -150.109440° West Longitude. (Sec. 24, T026N, R005W, Seward Meridian.) Talkeetna is located in the Talkeetna Recording District. The area encompasses 41.6 sq. miles of land and 1.4 sq. miles of water. January temperatures range from -33 to 33; July can range from 42 to 83. Precipitation is 28 inches, including 70 inches of snowfall.

History, Culture and Demographics
The Talkeetna and Chulitna Rivers join the Susitna River at Talkeetna, a Dena'ina (Tanaina) Indian word meaning "river of plenty." Talkeetna was settled as a mining town and Alaska Commercial Co. trading post in 1896. A gold rush to the Susitna River brought prospectors to the area, and by 1910, Talkeetna was a riverboat steamer station, supplying miners and trappers in the Cache Creek, Iron Creek, and Broad Creek districts. In 1915, Talkeetna was chosen as the headquarters for the Alaska Engineering Commission, who built the Alaska Railroad, and the community population peaked near 1,000. World War I and completion of the railroad in 1919 dramatically decreased the population. Talkeetna has since developed as an aviation and supply base for Mount McKinley expeditions. Several of its old log buildings are now historical landmarks, and Talkeetna was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in April 1993. State land disposals and homestead programs helped the community grow.

The population of the community consists of 9.1% Alaska Native or part Native. Talkeetna is popular for its recreational fishing, hunting, boating, flightseeing, skiing and dog mushing. Local businesses provides services to Mount McKinley climbers. Middle and high school students are bused to Susitna Valley in Y, at Milepost 98. During the 2000 U.S. Census, total housing units numbered 528, and vacant housing units numbered 170. Vacant housing units used only seasonally numbered 121. U.S. Census data for Year 2000 showed 463 residents as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 14.42 percent, although 35.15 percent of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $38,289, per capita income was $23,695, and 10.81 percent of residents were living below the poverty level.

Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care
The majority of residents have individual wells, septic tanks, and complete plumbing. A piped water and sewer system is maintained by the Mat-Su Borough. The high school operates its own water system. A Borough-operated refuse transfer station is located at mile 11.5 Talkeetna Spur Road. A sludge disposal site is available locally. Electricity is provided by Matanuska Electric Association. There is one school located in the community, attended by 94 students. Local hospitals or health clinics include Sunshine Community Health Center (907-733-2273); Mat-su Regional Hospital between Palmer and Wasilla on the Parks Hwy (907-861-6000). The clinic is a qualified Emergency Care Center. Talkeetna is classified as a highway town/Sub-regional Center, it is found in EMS Region 2C in the Mat-Su Region. Emergency Services have highway, air and helicopter access. Emergency service is provided by 911 Telephone Service and volunteers Auxiliary health care is provided by Talkeetna Ambulance Service (907-373-8800/907-745-4811); Valley Hospital in Palmer.

Economy and Transportation
As the take-off point for fishing and flightseeing trips, and a staging area for Mount McKinley climbing expeditions, Talkeetna provides air taxis, helicopters, outfitters, and related services. Numerous air taxis provide transport to Kahiltna Glacier Base Camp. All climbers must register for Mount McKinley and Mount Foraker (Talkeetna Ranger Station phone is 907-733-2231.) Ten residents hold commercial fishing permits.

Talkeetna is accessible by the Talkeetna Spur Road, off of the George Parks Highway. There are two State-owned runways. One is an asphalt paved 3,500' long by 75' wide runway; the other is a 480' long by 85' wide gravel strip. There are three additional airstrips in the vicinity, including one owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. A new Alaska Railroad depot was completed in August 1997.

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