Healy, Alaska
Healy is a census-designated place (CDP) and the borough seat of Denali Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. The population was 966 at the time of the 2020 census, down from 1,021 in 2010. History The history of Healy is intertwined with that of coal mining and construction of the Alaska Railroad, which both began in the area in 1918 and 1919 respectively. Healy was originally named Healy Fork after the Healy River. The Healy River was named after Capt. John J. Healy, manager of the North American Trading and Transportation Company. Geography Healy is located at (63.970833, -149.126944). The George Parks Highway (Alaska Route 3) runs through the community, leading south to Denali Park and north to Nenana. According to the United States Census Bureau, the Healy CDP has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.03%, is water. By area, it is the second-largest CDP in the United States, exceeded by only Willow, Alaska. Climate As is typical of the Alaska Interior, Healy experiences a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc) with very long, bitterly cold winters and short, warm summers, and straddles the border between USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 2 and 3, indicating the coldest temperature of the year is typically around . Average temperatures are below freezing from early October to mid-April, though occasionally chinook winds will push temperatures up to even in the depths of winter. Economy Usibelli Coal Mine, Golden Valley Electric Association, the Denali Borough School District, and the National Park Service are the major employers in Healy. Proximity to Denali National Park & Preserve supports local RV parks, hotels, restaurants, bed and breakfast, and other small businesses. The Denali Chamber of Commerce represents the economic interests of Healy and the Denali Borough, Alaska. The 24 MW Eva Creek Wind Farm opened in 2013, 12 miles north of Healy. Demographics Healy first appeared on the 1930 U.S. Census as the unincorporated community of "Healey Fork." In 1940, it appeared as Healy Fork. It was shortened to *Healy beginning in 1950. It was made a census-designated place (CDP) in 1980. Note there was also another locale named "Healey (Healy) Village" on the 1930 & 1940 U.S. Censuses (with a population of 16 and 77, respectively). It was stated that this place was located in the Fairbanks Recording District rather than Nenana (where then Healy Fork was located). It is unclear whether this was a geographic error on the census and both places were located at or around Healy Fork and merged in 1950, or if the former was a native village on or near present-day Healy Lake (within Southeast Fairbanks Census Area). At the 2000 census there were 1,000 people, 436 households, and 245 families in the CDP. The population density was 1.5 people per square mile (0.6/km). There were 604 housing units at an average density of 0.9 per square mile (0.3/km). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.20% White, 0.30% Black or African American, 2.30% Native American,