Manley Hot Springs, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Manley Hot Springs is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area
, Alaska
, nited States. At the 2000 census the population was 72.
Manley Hot Springs is located about 8 km (5 mi) north of the Tanana River
on Hot Springs Slough, at the end of the Elliott Highway
, 260 km (161.6 mi) west of Fairbanks
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 54.3 square miles (140.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 72 people, 36 households, and 19 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 1.3 people per square mile (0.5/km²). There were 105 housing units at an average density of 1.9/sq mi (0.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 73.61% White
, 23.61% Native American
, and 2.78% from other races
.
There were 36 households out of which 19.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples
living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.2% were non-families. 38.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.58.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 15.3% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 37.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 125.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.3 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $29,000, and the median income for a family was $59,583. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $16,250 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $21,751. There were no families and 9.7% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.
, John Karshner, discovered several hot springs in the area. He began a homestead
and vegetable farm. In the same year, the United States Army built a telegraph station. The area became a service and supply point for miners in the Tofty
and Eureka mining districts. It was known as Baker's Hot Springs, after nearby Baker Creek.
Farming and livestock operations in the area produced fresh meat, poultry, and produce for sale. In 1903, Sam's Rooms and Meals, now called the Manley Roadhouse, opened. The Manley Roadhouse was owned by Robert E Lee, who was also the town's postmaster until his passing in 2010. In 1907 a miner named Frank Manley built the Hot Springs Resort Hotel. The resort was a four-story building with 45 guest rooms, steam heat, electric lights, hot baths, a bar, a restaurant, a billiard room, a bowling alley, a barber shop, and an Olympic-size indoor swimming pool which used heated water from the hot springs. During the summer, the hotel's private boat transported guests from steamers on the Tanana River
. In the winter, an overland stagecoach trip from Fairbanks
took two days. The town was renamed Hot Springs.
The resort and the mining in the area caused the town to prosper. It had a store, a newspaper, a bakery, clothing stores and other businesses. The population of the area in 1910 was more than 500. In 1913 the resort burned to the ground. Mining activity was also in decline and by 1920 only 29 residents lived in Hot Springs.
The town's name was changed to Manley Hot Springs in 1957.
In 1985, a local optimistic businesswoman named Rina Krevat saw an opportunity to further build the resort industry feeding off the natural hot water. She proceeded to open a new resort with natural hot tub
s that same year.
, completed 1959, gives Manley Hot Springs road access from Fairbanks year-round. Before 1982 it was not plowed by the state and closed during the winter.
The Manley Hot Springs Airport has scheduled flights.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,588. It is part of the unorganized borough and therefore has no borough seat...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, nited States. At the 2000 census the population was 72.
Geography
Manley Hot Springs is located at 65°0′28"N 150°37′36"W (65.007773, -150.626732).Manley Hot Springs is located about 8 km (5 mi) north of 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"....
on Hot Springs Slough, at the end of the Elliott Highway
Elliott Highway
The Elliott Highway is a highway in the U.S. state of Alaska that extends 152 miles from Fox, about 10 miles north of Fairbanks, to Manley Hot Springs...
, 260 km (161.6 mi) west 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...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 CDP has a total area of 54.3 square miles (140.6 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 72 people, 36 households, and 19 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1.3 people per square mile (0.5/km²). There were 105 housing units at an average density of 1.9/sq mi (0.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 73.61% White
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...
, 23.61% 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...
, and 2.78% 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...
.
There were 36 households out of which 19.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.2% were non-families. 38.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.58.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 15.3% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 37.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 125.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.3 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $29,000, and the median income for a family was $59,583. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $16,250 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 CDP was $21,751. There were no families and 9.7% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.
History
In 1902 a prospectorProspecting
Prospecting is the physical search for minerals, fossils, precious metals or mineral specimens, and is also known as fossicking.Prospecting is a small-scale form of mineral exploration which is an organised, large scale effort undertaken by mineral resource companies to find commercially viable ore...
, John Karshner, discovered several hot springs in the area. He began a homestead
Homesteading
Broadly defined, homesteading is a lifestyle of simple self-sufficiency.-Current practice:The term may apply to anyone who follows the back-to-the-land movement by adopting a sustainable, self-sufficient lifestyle. While land is no longer freely available in most areas of the world, homesteading...
and vegetable farm. In the same year, the United States Army built a telegraph station. The area became a service and supply point for miners in the Tofty
Tofty, Alaska
Tofty is an unincorporated community in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is now abandoned, but was once a gold mining town known for its high production.-Location:...
and Eureka mining districts. It was known as Baker's Hot Springs, after nearby Baker Creek.
Farming and livestock operations in the area produced fresh meat, poultry, and produce for sale. In 1903, Sam's Rooms and Meals, now called the Manley Roadhouse, opened. The Manley Roadhouse was owned by Robert E Lee, who was also the town's postmaster until his passing in 2010. In 1907 a miner named Frank Manley built the Hot Springs Resort Hotel. The resort was a four-story building with 45 guest rooms, steam heat, electric lights, hot baths, a bar, a restaurant, a billiard room, a bowling alley, a barber shop, and an Olympic-size indoor swimming pool which used heated water from the hot springs. During the summer, the hotel's private boat transported guests from steamers on 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"....
. In the winter, an overland stagecoach trip from Fairbanks
Fairbanks
Fairbanks may refer to:Places in the United States*Fairbanks, Alaska, city*Fairbanks, California, unincorporated community in El Dorado County*Fairbanks, Mendocino County, California, former settlement*Fairbanks, Indiana, unincorporated community...
took two days. The town was renamed Hot Springs.
The resort and the mining in the area caused the town to prosper. It had a store, a newspaper, a bakery, clothing stores and other businesses. The population of the area in 1910 was more than 500. In 1913 the resort burned to the ground. Mining activity was also in decline and by 1920 only 29 residents lived in Hot Springs.
The town's name was changed to Manley Hot Springs in 1957.
In 1985, a local optimistic businesswoman named Rina Krevat saw an opportunity to further build the resort industry feeding off the natural hot water. She proceeded to open a new resort with natural hot tub
Hot tub
A hot tub is a large tub or small pool full of heated water and used for soaking, relaxation, massage, or hydrotherapy. In most cases, they have jets for massage purposes. Hot tubs are usually located outdoors, and are often sheltered for protection from the elements, as well as for privacy....
s that same year.
Transportation
The Elliott HighwayElliott Highway
The Elliott Highway is a highway in the U.S. state of Alaska that extends 152 miles from Fox, about 10 miles north of Fairbanks, to Manley Hot Springs...
, completed 1959, gives Manley Hot Springs road access from Fairbanks year-round. Before 1982 it was not plowed by the state and closed during the winter.
The Manley Hot Springs Airport has scheduled flights.