Two Rivers is an unincorporated area of homes between mile 13 (the Little Chena River) and mile 25 (the Chena River) along the Chena Hot Springs Road, northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska. It is the dogmushing community The Two Rivers area had an estimated 588 residents in 2002.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 28.5 square miles (73.9 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 482 people, 177 households, and 124 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 16.9 people per square mile (6.5/km²). There were 192 housing units at an average density of 6.7/sq mi (2.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 88.59% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 2.70% Native American, 2.49% Asian, 0.83% from other races, and 5.19% from two or more races. 1.24% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 177 households out of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 31.1% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 1.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 120.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 119.9 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $58,571, and the median income for a family was $58,661. Males had a median income of $45,500 versus $21,736 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $24,351. None of the families and none of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.
Economy
Most employed Two Rivers residents work in either Fairbanks or North Pole. Businesses in Two Rivers include two general stores, restaurants, a post office, a laundromat, and the HIPAS Observatory.
Most people who move to Two Rivers are attracted by the rural nature of the community and the extensive network of trails in the area. The trail system is popular with dog sled mushers, horseback, snowmachine, motorcycle and ATV riders, hunters, hikers, and others. Two Rivers borders the extensive Chena River State Recreation Area.
Two Rivers is especially popular with both recreational and professional dog sled mushers. Sled dogs outnumber humans in Two Rivers by about 4 to 1. Famous Two Rivers mushers include 5-time Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Champion Rick Swensen and the first and only woman to win the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race, Aily Zirkle. In February, Two Rivers will host a checkpoint for the long-distance Yukon Quest sled dog race.
References
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
