Moose Creek, Alaska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Moose Creek, Alaska
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Moose Creek General Store and First Student bus barn marks the "commercial center" of Moose Creek.
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Location within Fairbanks North Star Borough and the state of Alaska
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Fairbanks North Star |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.65 sq mi (4.27 km2) |
| • Land | 1.54 sq mi (3.99 km2) |
| • Water | 0.11 sq mi (0.28 km2) |
| Elevation | 522 ft (159 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 534 |
| • Density | 346.53/sq mi (133.77/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-8 (AKDT) |
| ZIP code |
99705
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| Area code(s) | 907 |
| FIPS code | 02-50080 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1406548 |
Moose Creek is a small community in Alaska, United States. It's officially called a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's an area identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city. Moose Creek is located in the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
In 2020, about 534 people lived in Moose Creek. It's located south of Fairbanks, Alaska along the Richardson Highway. The area is bordered by Eielson Air Force Base to the south, the Tanana River to the west, and the Chena River Flood Control Project to the north.
Contents
Exploring Moose Creek's Location and Landscape
Moose Creek is found at specific coordinates: 64°42′45″N 147°9′40″W. This helps pinpoint its exact spot on a map.
Land and Water Areas
The community covers a total area of about 1.7 square miles (4.4 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 1.6 square miles (4.1 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.1 square miles (0.26 square kilometers), is water. Moose Creek is also next to the Moose Creek Bluff, which is a medium-sized hill with a rocky cliff.
Understanding Moose Creek's Weather
Moose Creek experiences cold winters and mild summers. It gets about 13 inches (33 cm) of rain each year.
Sunny Days and Temperatures
On average, the area enjoys about 154 sunny days every year. January is the coldest month, with temperatures often dropping to -40 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 degrees Celsius). The weather here is similar to nearby cities like Fairbanks and North Pole, Alaska.
Moose Creek's Population Over Time
The population of Moose Creek has changed over the years. It first appeared in the U.S. Census in 1980.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1980 | 510 | — | |
| 1990 | 610 | 19.6% | |
| 2000 | 542 | −11.1% | |
| 2010 | 747 | 37.8% | |
| 2020 | 534 | −28.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 542 people living in Moose Creek. The average household had about 2.43 people. The average family size was about 3.06 people.
Age Groups in Moose Creek
The population in 2000 included people of all ages. About 24.2% were under 18 years old. About 16.8% were between 18 and 24. The largest group, 35.4%, was between 25 and 44 years old. About 3.9% of the population was 65 years or older. The median age was 30 years.
Discovering Ancient History at Moose Creek
Moose Creek is an important place for archaeology. This is the study of human history through digging up old things. A large site called Chugwater is located on Moose Creek Bluff.
Evidence of Early Humans
Scientists have found charcoal and other materials at Chugwater. These show that people lived here over 13,000 years ago! The site is between the Chena River and Tanana River.
Unique Rock Art
Moose Creek Bluff is also special because it has the only pictographs (rock paintings) ever found in interior Alaska. These ancient drawings give us clues about the people who lived here long ago.
Layers of History
Archaeologists have found different layers of artifacts at Moose Creek. These layers show how people lived over 11,000 years.
- The bottom layer has tools like teardrop-shaped knives and small scrapers. These are similar to tools from over 10,600 years ago.
- The middle layer contains tiny stone blades called microblades. These tools are linked to an early group of people.
- The top layer also has microblades, along with spear points. These are typical of later groups in the area.
Tools from Far Away
Some of the obsidian (a type of volcanic glass) used for tools at Moose Creek came from a place called Wiki Peak. This source is near the Canada–United States border. Obsidian from Wiki Peak was also found at another ancient site called Broken Mammoth, dating back over 13,000 years. This shows that ancient people traveled or traded over long distances.