Community of Tanana


Community Profile

    Community Type: 1st Class City
    Current Population: 351
    Borough Name: Unorganized
    Regional Native Corporation: Doyon Ltd.
    REAA/School District: City School District
    Latitude: 65ø 15.5' 99.2" N
    Longitude: 152ø 10.1' 91.8" W
    Land Area: 16 sq. mi.
    Water Area: 4 sq. mi.

    Location
    Tanana is located in Interior Alaska about two miles west of the junction of the Tanana and Yukon Rivers, 130 air miles west of Fairbanks.

    History
    Tanana was a traditional trading settlement for nearby Koyukon and Tanana Athabascans long before European contact. Between 1887 and 1900 the St. James Mission built an elaborate school and hospital complex. It was an important source of services and social change along both rivers. In 1898, Fort Gibbon was founded at Tanana to maintain the telegraph line.

    Culture
    The community's prime location is well suited to its role as a trading hub. Traditional ways of life persist - subsistence, potlatches, dances and foot races are part of the culture.

    Economy
    Fully 75% of the full-time jobs in Tanana are with the city, school district or native council. Fire-fighting, trapping and commercial fishing are important seasonal cash sources. 21 residents hold commercial fishing permits. There are only a few state and federal positions.

    Transportation
    Tanana is accessible only by air and river transportation, although the City maintains 32 miles of driveable roads. Tanana has a small boat harbor; barged goods can be offloaded in a staging and storage area. A FAA Flight Service Station is available.

    Climate
    Tanana has a cold, continental climate with slight maritime influences during the summer months. Temperatures range from well below zero to the high 60s. Average precipitation is 13 inches, with 50 inches of snowfall annually.

Facilities

    General Description of Facilities and Housing
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
    Percent of Houses:                   Total Housing Units:      169
      % Lacking Complete Plumbing:  85.9%   % Vacant Housing:       27.2%
      % Lacking Complete Kitchen:   81.6%   Occupied Housing:      123
      % Lacking a Telephone:        58.3%   Vacant Housing:         46
    
    Water is hauled from the washeteria or the river; some have individual wells. A few residents are served by a distributed sewer line and central leachfield. Very few homes have complete plumbing facilities. Funds have been requested to restore the washeteria, water treatment, water line, and replace the leachfield and sewer line.

    Water Systems
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
         Percent of Houses Using:          Individual Well Water:   12.9%
             Public Water System:  66.9%      Other Water Source:   20.2%
      or source (piped or hauled          (Spring, creek, river,
             from a central tap)                  cistern, etc.)
    

    Sewage System and Refuse
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
         Percent of Houses Using:           Septic Tank/Cesspool:    6.7%
             Public Sewer System:   9.8%          Other Disposal:   83.4%
    

    Heating Methods, Electrical Utility and Fuel Facilities
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
    Percent of Houses Heating with:        Utility (piped) Gas:     0.0%
                     Electricity:   0.0%         Coal or Coke:      0.0%
              Fuel Oil, Kerosene:  25.0%         Solar Energy:      0.0%
                            Wood:  75.0%           Other Fuel:      0.0%
         Bottled, Tank or LP Gas:   0.0%         No Fuel Used:      0.0%
                    Power Source: Oil
         Electrical Utility Name: Tanana Power Company
    
    

    Bulk Fuel Facilities:
    Heating fuel (bulk fuel) is available. Known bulk fuel tank farms include: Tanana Chiefs Conf (7 @ 140,000 gals.); Schools (3 @ 42,000); Tanana Depot (3 @ 75,000); Carlo Enterprises (8 @ 160,000); Tanana Power (4 @ 200,000).
    Health Facilities
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Regional Native Health Organization: Tanana Chiefs Conference
                    Local Health Clinic: Tanana Health Center
    
    
                           Clinic Owner: Native Village Council
                       Clinic is leased: False
           by Public Health Service
                             Year built: 1983
                Running Water Available: True
                Flush Toilets Available: True
                                Contact: Carla Bonney (Admin)
    
                           Clinic Phone: 366-7222
                          Clinic Status:
    
    Alternative Care: Ambulance: Tanana EMS (366-7170)

    Comments:

    Communication Facilities
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Local/In-State Phone Utility: Yukon Telephone Co.
     Long-Distance Phone Utility: Alascom
       Teleconferencing Services: Alaska Teleconferencing Network
    
         TV Reception / Stations: RATNet
    
                Cable TV Utility: Supervision Cable TV
                  Radio Stations: KIAM-AM; KIYU-AM
    
    
    

U.S. Census

    Population Characteristics
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------
             Total Population:           345   American Indian:     261
                         Male:     185                  Eskimo:       9
                       Female:     160                   Aleut:       0
                       Native:     270               Caucasian:      75
                     % Native:    78.3%       African American:       0
                   Non-Native:      75       Asian/Pac Islands:       0
                                                  Other Ethnic:       0
    
      Persons in Institutions:      13
    Persons in Group Quarters:       0
       Persons in Owned Units:     206
      Persons in Rented Units:     126
    
    
    Housing Characteristics
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Total Housing Units:     169           Owner Occupied:      65
             Occupied Housing:     123 Median Value Owned Homes: $41,700
               Vacant Housing:      46          Renter Occupied:      58
                                              Median Rent Payed:    $139
       Structure types
                Single Family:     141
       Single Family Attached:       6           10 to 19 Units:       0
                       Duplex:       7            20 plus Units:       0
                 3 or 4 Units:       0    Trailers/Mobile Homes:      13
                 5 to 9 Units:       0        Boats/Other Types:       2
    
    
    Household Relationships and Income
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Occupied Households:     123        Family Households:      78
       Avg. Persons per House:    2.70   Non-Related Households:      45
    Note: The following household income information is based on 1990 U.S. Census sample data. The figures are estimates, subject to sample varaibility. The percent of all households sampled in this community or area was: 47.3%.
      Median Household Income: $17,000    Percent below Poverty:   24.1%
         Median Family Income: $24,375    Persons below Poverty:      81
    
    Family Household Income Less than $10,000: 7 $60,000 - $74,999: 0 $10,000 - $19,999: 26 $75,000 - $99,999: 3 $20,000 - $29,999: 23 $100,000 - $125,000: 0 $30,000 - $39,999: 10 $125,000 - $149,000: 0 $40,000 - $49,999: 1 Over $150,000: 0 $50,000 - $59,999: 14

Economy and Employment

    Description of Economy
    Fully 75% of the full-time jobs in Tanana are with the city, school district or native council. Fire-fighting, trapping and commercial fishing are important seasonal cash sources. 21 residents hold commercial fishing permits. There are only a few state and federal positions.

        Employment                    Class of Employment
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Total Workforce (16+):     111        Private Sector:      29
                   Armed Forces:       0      Local Government:      72
              Civilian Employed:     ???      State Government:       2
             Persons Unemployed:      31    Federal Government:       8
             Percent Unemployed:   22.3%         Self Employed:     ???
             Not in Labor Force:      99  Unpaid Family Worker:     ???
    
        Occupations                         Industries
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Executive/Administrator:       9     Forestry/Fishing/Farming:       2
         Professional Specialty:      29                       Mining:       0
                     Technician:       4                 Construction:       3
                          Sales:      10    Non-Durable Manufacturing:       0
         Administrative Support:      14        Durable Manufacturing:       1
              Private Household:       0               Transportation:       3
             Protective Service:       4     Communications/Utilities:       4
     Other Professional Service:      19              Wholesale Trade:       0
       Forestry/Fishing/Farming:       1                 Retail Trade:      10
      Precision Craft or Repair:      10   Finance/Insur./Real Estate:       0
              Machine Operators:       0     Business& Repair Service:       6
    Transportation or Materials:       5            Personal Services:       2
        Handler/Equipment/Labor:       6     Entertainment/Recreation:       0
                                                      Health Services:       5
                                                   Education Services:      37
                                          Other Professional Services:      16
                                                Public Administration:      22
    

Schools

    Tanana City School (P thru 12) - District: Tanana City Schools
    Students: 120 Staff: 11
    Comments:

Rural Businesses

    Doggy Heaven - Animal Specialty Services
    Owner: Moore, Patrick X. - General SIC: 0700 - Specific SIC: 752

    Jordan Kennels - Animal Specialty Services
    Owner: Jordan, Fred & Ada - General SIC: 0700 - Specific SIC: 752

    N C Frank Enterprises - Misc. Wood Products
    Owner: Carruthers, Frank W. - General SIC: 2400 - Specific SIC: 2490

    Tanana Commercial Company - General Merchandise Store
    Owner: Erickson, Dale E.& Cynthia M. - General SIC: 5300 - Specific SIC: 5399

    Donald Johnson Viedo Rental - Retail Food Store
    Owner: Johnson, Donald - General SIC: 5400 - Specific SIC: 5499

    Huntington Mercantile - Recreational Vehicle Dealer
    Owner: Huntington, John - General SIC: 5500 - Specific SIC: 5561

    Tozi Enterprises - Miscellaneous Retail Store
    Owner: Fliris, William H. & Cathy L. - General SIC: 5900 - Specific SIC: 5960

    Tanana Lodge - Hotels, Motels & Tourist Courts
    Owner: Burkett, Jake A. - General SIC: 7000 - Specific SIC: 7011

    Yukon Starr Enterprise - Sporting & Recreation Camps
    Owner: Starr, Paul & Mary E - General SIC: 7000 - Specific SIC: 7032

    Timberwolf Guiding Service - Amusement & Recreation Services
    Owner: Tarnai, Sandor A. - General SIC: 7900 - Specific SIC: 7999

Contacts

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    Type of Organization: City                                  
           Contact Title: Mayor
            Contact Name: Connie Greenway
       Organization Name: City of Tanana
         Mailing Address: P.O. Box 77249
                          Tanana, , AK  99777
                   Phone: 366-7159
                     FAX: 366-7169
                Comments:
    
    
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Type of Organization: Education                             
           Contact Title: Superintendent
            Contact Name: Ron DeLay
       Organization Name: Tanana City Schools
         Mailing Address: Box 89
                          Tanana, , AK  99777
                   Phone: 366-7203
                     FAX: 366-7201
                Comments:
    
    
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    Type of Organization: Village Corporation                   
           Contact Title: President
            Contact Name: Dennis Michel
       Organization Name: Tozitna, Limited
         Mailing Address: P.O. Box 129
                          Tanana, , AK  99777
                   Phone: 366-7255
                     FAX:
                Comments:
    
    
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    Type of Organization: Village Council                       
           Contact Title: President
            Contact Name: Dennis Charley
       Organization Name: Native Village of Tanana
         Mailing Address: P.O. Box 77093
                          Tanana, , AK  99777
                   Phone: 366-7160
                     FAX: 366-7195
                Comments: BIA-Recognized IRA Council
    
    

Rural Grants

Type of Grant / Source          Year        Amount  Status / Project Purpose
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dept of Admin/Capital Matching  FY 94      $25,000  Preliminary. Apartments & Senior Housing Upgrade                                                     
Dept of Admin/Capital Matching FY 95 $25,000 Preliminary. Heavy Equipment Fleet Renovation
Dept of Admin/Legislative FY 85 $75,000 Construction. Comprehensive Economic Development Plan
Dept of Admin/Legislative FY 90 $78,000 Construction. Sprinkler System
Dept of Admin/Legislative FY 92 $100,000 Construction. Washeteria Upgrade
Dept of Admin/Legislative FY 93 $150,000 Preliminary. Water Line Replacement
Dept of Admin/Legislative FY 94 $100,000 Construction. Elders Residence Renovation, Equipment, Furniture
Dept of Environmental Cons FY 95 $338,800 Preliminary. Water line & leachfield repairs
Dept of Transportation & PF FY 92 $246,792 Completed. North Tanana Drive
Dept of Transportation & PF FY 93 $218,000 Preliminary. Airport Land Acquisition
Dept of Transportation & PF FY 94 $255,000 Construction. Airport Apron Improvements
Dept of Transportation & PF FY 94 $26,000 Preliminary. Airport Snow Removal Equipment Building
U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs FY 94 $0 Design. Roads
U.S. Housing & Urban Developmt FY 93 $226,250 Construction. Housing Modernization
U.S. Public Health Service FY 90 $350,000 Not Available. Upgrade Water System & distribution loop

Erik Dahl - Treeline Information Services (eddahl@alaska.net)