Fairbanks is a city located in Fairbanks North Star Borough Alaska. Fairbanks has a 2024 population of 31,674. It is also the county seat of Fairbanks North Star Borough. Fairbanks is currently declining at a rate of -0.57% annually and its population has decreased by -2.24% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 32,401 in 2020.
The average household income in Fairbanks is $87,451 with a poverty rate of 9.67%. The median age in Fairbanks is 28.1 years: 27.1 years for males, and 28.9 years for females.
Fairbanks serves as a borough seat for Fairbanks North Star Borough. Fairbanks is the largest city in the interior region of Alaska. Over 20% of people 25 years and older have at least a bachelor’s degree. Eighty-eight percent of the adult population has at least a high school diploma.
Fairbanks’ population from the 1930s experienced significant growth. In 1960, the city had over 13,000 residents. This number had more than doubled at the time of the 1990 census. However, the next poll showed a population loss of 2%. In 2010, however, the population grew again at a rate of over 4%. Current estimates indicate that the population is up nearly 4% since the last census was taken. This shows that while the city is still growing, it is not growing quite as rapidly as it was during its early history.
In its earliest years, the region that is now Fairbanks was used by the Athabascan tribe, although it was not settled permanently. Archaeological evidence shows that Native Americans were in the area approximately 3,500 years ago, and it has been determined that the tribes were using the region for seasonal fishing and hunting.
The city of Fairbanks was settled by the Europeans in the early 20th century when it was founded by Captain E. T. Barnette. It was named after the Republican senator Charles Fairbanks. A trading post was set up in the area by Barnette before local gold prospectors came to the city to build mines and dredges.
Agriculture played a significant role in the city’s first years, particularly in the Tanana Valley. In the 1930s, construction began on the Ladd Army Airfield, and major infrastructure was installed for the first time in the area. This led to significant growth in the population and the economy. The University of Alaska Fairbanks was also constructed and was the founding campus of the University of Alaska system. The Moose Creek Dam was constructed following a devastating flood that almost flooded all of Fairbanks.
Today, Fairbanks’ population only continues to grow. It is home to several minor league sports teams and boasts many attractions, restaurants, and businesses. It is also the site of the Yukon Quest international sled dog race. Growth has slowed since the 1990s, however, and this could be due to Fairbanks’ ranking as one of the most dangerous cities in the U.S. for women and an overall crime rate that is higher than both the state and national averages.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Fairbanks was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
---|---|---|
White | 20,134 | 61.96% |
Two or more races | 4,320 | 13.29% |
Native American | 3,026 | 9.31% |
Black or African American | 2,518 | 7.75% |
Asian | 1,368 | 4.21% |
Other race | 901 | 2.77% |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 229 | 0.7% |
White
Two or more races
Native American
Black or African American
Asian
Other race
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 11,931 | 2.49 | 37.6 | 62.4 |
Married | 5,762 | 3.12 | 45.6 | 54.4 |
Non Family | 4,337 | 1.27 | 31.2 | 68.8 |
Female | 1,313 | 3.21 | 25.4 | 74.6 |
Male | 519 | 3.8 | 33.7 | 66.3 |
3.08
Average Family Size
2.49
Average Household Size
37.6%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
---|---|---|
9th to 12th Grade | 561 | 2.93% |
Associates Degree | 1,815 | 9.48% |
Bachelors Degree | 3,301 | 17.24% |
Graduate Degree | 1,771 | 9.25% |
High School Graduate | 5,620 | 29.35% |
Less Than 9th Grade | 455 | 2.38% |
Some College | 5,627 | 29.38% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
---|---|---|---|
White | 11,591 | 11,086 | 3,734 |
Native American | 2,000 | 1,733 | 73 |
Hispanic | 1,810 | 1,749 | 402 |
2+ Races | 1,806 | 1,672 | 412 |
Black | 1,377 | 1,366 | 338 |
Asian | 1,127 | 1,028 | 251 |
Other Race | 360 | 360 | 51 |
Islander | 82 | 82 | 0 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 100%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among white people with a rate of 32.21%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
---|---|---|---|
Bachelors Degree | $57,043 | $69,623 | $37,810 |
Graduate Degree | $85,027 | $86,984 | $69,615 |
High School Graduate | $42,144 | $44,643 | $40,236 |
Less Than 9th Grade | $28,815 | $28,341 | $30,000 |
Overall | $46,708 | $52,353 | $37,424 |
Some College | $45,660 | $53,093 | $36,054 |
$46,708
Average Earnings
$52,353
Average Male
$37,424
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
85.81% of Fairbanks residents speak only English, while 14.19% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 6.1% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
---|---|---|---|
White | 17,119 | 1,346 | 7.86% |
Native | 2,888 | 760 | 26.32% |
Multiple | 3,989 | 336 | 8.42% |
Hispanic | 3,278 | 302 | 9.21% |
Black | 2,169 | 251 | 11.57% |
Asian | 1,320 | 110 | 8.33% |
Islander | 223 | 13 | 5.83% |
Other | 901 | 9 | 1% |
9.67%
Overall Poverty Rate
7.99%
Male Poverty Rate
11.4%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Fairbanks is Native, with 26.32% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Fairbanks is Other, with 1% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 1.13%. Among those working part-time, it was 15.21%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 16.8%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Less Than 9th Grade | 23.03% |
High School | 15.71% |
Some College | 6.51% |
Bachelors or Greater | 4.81% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Female Unemployed | 33.89% |
Male Unemployed | 11.89% |
Female Employed | 7.29% |
Male Employed | 3.97% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
---|---|---|
Families | $80,736 | $100,087 |
Households | $69,914 | $87,451 |
Married Families | $94,914 | $-999,999,999 |
Non Families | $49,874 | $61,237 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
49.4%
Overall Marriage Rate
47.7%
Male Marriage Rate
51.3%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is 45-54, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
2,409
Number of Veterans
2,108
Male Veterans
301
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
---|---|
Second Gulf War | 1,231 |
First Gulf War | 710 |
Vietnam | 578 |
Korea | 44 |
World War II | 12 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
---|---|
35 to 54 | 834 |
18 to 34 | 527 |
65 to 74 | 504 |
55 to 64 | 389 |
75+ | 155 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
---|---|---|
White | 1,575 | 12.42% |
Hispanic | 313 | 16.85% |
Black | 262 | 21.18% |
Native American | 215 | 10.15% |
2+ Races | 169 | 8.46% |
Asian | 84 | 7.09% |
Other Race | 70 | 14.29% |
Islander | 34 | 41.46% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
6.28%
Veteran Poverty Rate
23.9%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
70.6%
Labor Force Participation
49.2%
Employment Rate
7%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
33.69%
Born in Fairbanks
93.25%
Native Born
6.75%
Foreign Born
2.38%
Non Citizen
4.37%
Naturalized
93.25% of Fairbanks residents were born in the United States, with 33.69% having been born in Alaska. 2.38% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
---|---|---|---|
2029 | 30,765 | -182 | -0.59% |
2028 | 30,947 | -182 | -0.58% |
2027 | 31,129 | -181 | -0.58% |
2026 | 31,310 | -182 | -0.58% |
2025 | 31,492 | -182 | -0.57% |
2024 | 31,674 | -182 | -0.57% |
2023 | 31,856 | -138 | -0.43% |
2022 | 31,994 | -181 | -0.56% |
2021 | 32,175 | -226 | -0.7% |
2020 | 32,401 | 1,258 | 4.04% |
2019 | 31,143 | -353 | -1.12% |
2018 | 31,496 | -301 | -0.95% |
2017 | 31,797 | -263 | -0.82% |
2016 | 32,060 | 379 | 1.2% |
2015 | 31,681 | 119 | 0.38% |
2014 | 31,562 | -854 | -2.63% |
2013 | 32,416 | 335 | 1.04% |
2012 | 32,081 | 1,331 | 4.33% |
2011 | 30,750 | -1,009 | -3.18% |
2010 | 31,759 | 0 | 0% |
2000 | 30,224 | -619 | -2.01% |
1990 | 30,843 | 8,198 | 36.2% |
1980 | 22,645 | 7,874 | 53.31% |
1970 | 14,771 | 1,460 | 10.97% |
1960 | 13,311 | 7,686 | 136.64% |
1950 | 5,625 | 2,170 | 62.81% |
1940 | 3,455 | 1,355 | 64.52% |
1930 | 2,100 | 900 | 75% |
1920 | 1,200 | -2,341 | -66.11% |
1910 | 3,541 | 41 | 1.17% |
1900 | 3,500 | -27,265 | -88.62% |