Anderson, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Anderson is a city in Denali Borough, Alaska
, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 367. The city is named after one of the original homesteaders.
, a Ballistic Missile Early Warning System
completed in 1961. An elementary school was built in the community in 1961, and Anderson incorporated as a city in 1962.
In the 1960s, a road was completed between Anderson and Nenana
, which gave access to Fairbanks
. Vehicles were ferried across the Tanana River
at Nenana until 1968, when a steel bridge was built there. In 1971 the George Parks Highway
was constructed, which facilitated road access to Anchorage
.
, the city has a total area of 47.3 square miles (122.5 km²), of which, 46.7 square miles (121 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (1.14%) is water.
Anderson lies 9 km (5.6 mi) west of the George Parks Highway
, south of Nenana
. 9 km (5.6 mi) south of Anderson is Clear Air Force Station, home of the 13th Space Warning Squadron (13SWS). Clear Air Force Station is located within the city boundaries.
Anderson is immediately north of the Clear Air Force Station and is seventy-five miles southwest of Fairbanks
.
, 4.36% Black
or African American
, 1.36% Native American
, 0.27% Asian
, 0.82% from other races
, and 6.81% from two or more races. 5.18% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 101 households out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 21.0% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 42.0% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 2.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 175.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 187.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $58,750, and the median income for a family was $62,188. Males had a median income of $31,641 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $23,837. About 15.6% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.8% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.
.
Denali Borough, Alaska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,893 people, 785 households, and 452 families residing in the borough. The population density was 0 people per square mile . There were 1,351 housing units at an average density of 0 per square mile...
, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 367. The city is named after one of the original homesteaders.
History
Anderson is named after Arthur Anderson, one of several homesteaders who settled in the area in the late 1950s. In 1959, Mr. Anderson subdivided his homestead into house lots and sold most of the lots to civilian workers from Clear Air Force StationClear Air Force Station
Clear Air Force Station is a United States Air Force Station located 5 miles south of Anderson, Alaska, USA, northeast of Mount McKinley, and southwest of Fairbanks. Its primary mission is to detect incoming ICBMs and submarine-launched ballistic missiles.-Overview:Clear AFS is operated by the...
, a Ballistic Missile Early Warning System
Ballistic Missile Early Warning System
The United States Air Force Ballistic Missile Early Warning System was the first operational ballistic missile detection radar. The original system was built in 1959 and could provide long-range warning of a ballistic missile attack over the polar region of the Northern Hemisphere. They also...
completed in 1961. An elementary school was built in the community in 1961, and Anderson incorporated as a city in 1962.
In the 1960s, a road was completed between Anderson and Nenana
Nenana, Alaska
Nenana is a Home Rule City in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area of the Unorganized Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. Nenana lies at the juncture of the Nenana River and the Tanana River. The population was 402 at the 2000 census. "Nenana" means 'a good place to camp between two rivers.'-History...
, which gave access to Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks is a home rule city in and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska.Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska, and second largest in the state behind Anchorage...
. Vehicles were ferried across the Tanana River
Tanana River
The Tanana River is a tributary of the Yukon River in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to linguist and anthropologist William Bright, the name is from the Koyukon tene no, tenene, literally "trail river"....
at Nenana until 1968, when a steel bridge was built there. In 1971 the George Parks Highway
George Parks Highway
The George Parks Highway , usually called simply the Parks Highway, runs 323 miles from the Glenn Highway 35 miles north of Anchorage to Fairbanks in the Alaska Interior...
was constructed, which facilitated road access to Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
.
Geography
Anderson is located at 64°20′43"N 149°11′43"W (64.345372, -149.195352). According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 47.3 square miles (122.5 km²), of which, 46.7 square miles (121 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (1.14%) is water.
Anderson lies 9 km (5.6 mi) west of the George Parks Highway
George Parks Highway
The George Parks Highway , usually called simply the Parks Highway, runs 323 miles from the Glenn Highway 35 miles north of Anchorage to Fairbanks in the Alaska Interior...
, south of Nenana
Nenana, Alaska
Nenana is a Home Rule City in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area of the Unorganized Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. Nenana lies at the juncture of the Nenana River and the Tanana River. The population was 402 at the 2000 census. "Nenana" means 'a good place to camp between two rivers.'-History...
. 9 km (5.6 mi) south of Anderson is Clear Air Force Station, home of the 13th Space Warning Squadron (13SWS). Clear Air Force Station is located within the city boundaries.
Anderson is immediately north of the Clear Air Force Station and is seventy-five miles southwest of Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks is a home rule city in and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska.Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska, and second largest in the state behind Anchorage...
.
Area attractions
On the last weekend of every July, the town hosts the Anderson Bluegrass Festival, which lasts from Friday through Sunday.Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 367 people, 101 households, and 74 families residing in the city. The population density was 7.9 people per square mile (3.0/km²). There were 148 housing units at an average density of 3.2 per square mile (1.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.38% WhiteRace (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 4.36% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.36% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.27% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.82% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 6.81% from two or more races. 5.18% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 101 households out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 21.0% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 42.0% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 2.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 175.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 187.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $58,750, and the median income for a family was $62,188. Males had a median income of $31,641 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $23,837. About 15.6% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.8% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.
Homesteading
In March 2007, the city announced a plan to attract more residents: the awarding of free land to interested applicants.http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/16/alaska.land.ap/index.html This concept has been compared to that of the Homestead ActHomestead Act
A homestead act is one of three United States federal laws that gave an applicant freehold title to an area called a "homestead" – typically 160 acres of undeveloped federal land west of the Mississippi River....
.