To live in the 32.6 square miles of Fairbanks, Alaska, is to bask under the Midnight Sun, and the Northern Lights. Called “Golden Heart City” or the “Golden Heart of Alaska” because of its gold-rush history and the warm welcome it gives visitors, Fairbanks began with the founding of a trading post by E.T. Barnette on the south bank of the Chena River in 1901. Today, hiking, hunting, fly-fishing, whitewater rafting, and dog mushing attracts residents, one-third of whom work in the government services sector, including the military. Their median age is 27.9 (2022).

Houses in Fairbanks are a mix of Craftsman bungalows, Foursquares, Ranch styles, and a few log cabins. The average home price is $180,411, down 6.6% over the past year (Zillow, 2022). In addition to outdoor sports, residents can enjoy annual events, such as the five-day Golden Days festival in July, a summer arts festival, and Midnight Sun Festival.

Fairbanks is served by several thoroughfares. Parks Highway runs adjacent to Fairbanks International Airport in the west end, while Fort Wainwright is just off Richardson Highway, which runs east-west. The north-south Steese Highway and east-west Johansen Expressway surround the city proper, providing access to some of Fairbanks’ best neighborhoods, including Aurora-Lemeta, Van Horn Industrial Area, and Hamilton Acres (Realtor.com).

Even though Fairbanks is a significant hub for trade, transportation, the military, regional services, and supplies, its appeal can be linked to small-town friendliness and a pioneering spirit.