Knik - Fairview Alaska

Population: 8488

Location and Climate
Knik-Fairview is on the northwest bank of the Knik Arm of Cook Inlet, 37 road miles northwest of Anchorage in the Mat-Su Borough. It lies south of Wasilla, Big Lake and Meadow Lakes, off of Knik-Goose Bay Road and Fairview Loop Road. It lies at approximately 61.540780° North Latitude and -149.59373° West Longitude. (Sec. 24, T016N, R003W, Seward Meridian.) Knik-Fairview is located in the Palmer Recording District. The area encompasses 69.8 sq. miles of land and 1.2 sq. miles of water. The average temperatures in January range from -28 to 39; in July, 44 to 83. Annual precipitation is 16.5 inches, including 48 inches of snowfall.

History, Culture and Demographics
Knik is a Dena'ina (Tanaina) Athabascan Indian name meaning "fire," which originally applied to several villages at the head of Cook Inlet. A Russian Orthodox mission was in Knik as early as 1835. The primary village was listed as "Kinik" in the 1880 U.S. Census. During the 1880s, George Palmer's Store thrived off of the local fur trade. Gold found in Interior Alaska in 1908 brought prospectors and supplies to disembark at Knik. Construction of the Iditarod Trail brought mail from Knik to Nome, and shipments of gold by dog team to meet the boat at Knik. At its peak between 1913 and 1915, the town was home to 500 people during the summer and 1,000 during the winter. Knik had four docks, two general stores, two hotels, one saloon, one drug store, two physicians, one barber shop, and a grade school. It is said that more Dena'ina lived in Knik than did white settlers and miners. When the Alaska Railroad bypassed Knik in 1915, residents relocated to Anchorage and Wasilla. Camp 13 of the Matanuska Colony, with 6 farms, was established along Fairview Road in 1935. Land was also homesteaded by veterans after World War II and the Korean War. Most of the historic docks and commercial district were destroyed in the 1960s when Knik-Goose Bay Road was constructed. Low housing costs, the semi-rural lifestyle, and a tolerable commute to Anchorage have supported growth in the Mat-Su Valley. A federally recognized tribe is located in the community -- the Knik Tribal Council. 8.7% of the population are Alaska Native or part Native. This community is relatively large, with over 2,600 homes. The population is diverse. Knik is a check-point for the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, and is called the "Dog Mushing Center of the World." High-school students are bused to Wasilla. Knik has long been home to Tanaina Athabascans. During the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 2,593 total housing units, and 218 were vacant. 61 of these vacant housing units are used only seasonally. 2,789 residents were employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 13.45%, although 44.38% of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $52,113, per capita income was $20,895, and 11.1% of residents were living below the poverty level.

Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care
Most households use individual water wells, septic systems and are fully plumbed. There are several privately-operated piped systems. Many homes have access to piped natural gas for heating. The Borough landfill in Palmer is used, and private refuse collection is available. Electricity is provided by Matanuska Electric Association. There are 2 schools located in the community, attended by 794 students. Local hospitals or health clinics include Valley Hospital in Palmer (746-8600) or Anchorage hospitals. Knik is classified as a highway village, it is found in EMS Region 2C in the Mat-Su Region. Emergency Services have highway, coastal, and helicopter access, and are within 30 minutes of a higher-level satellite health care facility. Emergency service is provided by volunteers. Auxiliary health care is provided by Valley Hospital in Palmer or Anchorage hospitals.

Economy and Transportation
Agriculture and gravel extraction occur locally. Most residents are employed in Palmer, Wasilla or Anchorage in a variety of retail, services, city, borough, state, or federal government positions. The George Parks Highway, Glenn Highway, and other local roads connect the area to Anchorage, the remainder of the state and Canada. The Alaska Railroad serves the Fairbanks to Seward route. The Wasilla and Palmer airports provide scheduled commuter and air taxi services. Float planes land at Wasilla Lake, Jacobsen Lake and Lake Lucille. There are ten additional private airstrips in the vicinity. Commercial jet flights are operated out of Anchorage International Airport.

Source: State of Alaska, Department of Community and Economic Development.

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