History
The Fairbanks, Alaska area (named after Senator Charles W. Fairbanks, 26th vice president of the US) has a rich and varied history.
The first Alaskans were a diverse group, representing different cultures, languages, and beliefs. Today, 90,000 Native Alaskans constitute 15% of Alaska’s population, living in remote villages as well as urban cities like Fairbanks. The three main groups are Athabascans, Inuit and Aleuts; Athabascans are predominant in the Alaska Interior, and are famous for their decorative beadwork, birch bark baskets, and sewed skin garments.
Non-native immigrants were drawn to the Fairbanks area by gold mining and trade. In 1901, Captain E.T. Barnette set out to build a trading post on the Tanana River. The sternwheeler carrying him ran aground in the shallows of the Chena River at the present site of Fairbanks, and Barnette set up his post there, intending to travel further into the interior later. He never did move on though, as on July 22, 1902 gold was found in the area – Felix Pedro, an Italian immigrant, is credited with the first strike – and Fairbanks (incorporated in 1903) became a bustling hub of commerce and transportation almost overnight. Fairbanks celebrates the discovery of gold every year on July 22 with the Golden Days. Barnette was elected first mayor of Fairbanks.
The economic boon of gold was followed by the building of the Alaska Railroad, the establishment of the college that became the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the construction of the Alaska Highway, the establishment of two military bases, and the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.
Fairbanks North Star Borough was established in 1964 and includes the cities of Fairbanks and North Pole, and several smaller communities. The Borough was named in a contest held in 1963.
