Editing Eagle, Alaska

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the Table at Infobox settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->| official_name      = Eagle, Alaska
| other_name         = 
| native_name        = {{lang|haa|Tthee T’äwdlenn}}
| nickname           = 
| settlement_type    = [[City (Alaska)|Hamlet]]
| motto              = <!-- images and maps  ----------->
| image_skyline      = Steamer landing and rocky bluff on Yukon River, at Eagle, Alaska.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = [[Steamboats of the Yukon River#White Pass .26 Yukon Route boats|Steamer ''Hannah'']] docked at Eagle circa 1900
| image_flag         = 
| flag_size          = 
| image_seal         = 
| seal_size          = 
| image_shield       = 
| shield_size        = 
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_size  = 
| image_map          = AKMap-doton-EagleVillage.PNG
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Eagle, Alaska
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = <!-- Location ------------------>
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Alaska]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of boroughs and census areas in Alaska|Census area]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska|Southeast Fairbanks]]
| subdivision_type3  = 
| subdivision_name3  = 
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = <!-- Politics ----------------->
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Daniel Helmer
| leader_title1      = [[Alaska Senate|State senator]]
| leader_name1       = [[Click Bishop]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
| leader_title2      = [[Alaska House of Representatives|State rep.]]
| leader_name2       = [[Mike Cronk]] (R)
| leader_title3      = 
| leader_name3       = 
| leader_title4      = 
| leader_name4       = 
| established_title  = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date   = February 9, 1901<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Directory of Borough and City Officials 1974|journal=Alaska Local Government|volume=XIII|issue=2|page=31|location=Juneau|publisher=[[Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development|Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs]]|date=January 1974}}</ref>
| established_title2 = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
| established_date2  = 
| established_title3 = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
| established_date3  = <!-- Area    --------------------->
| area_magnitude     = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_02.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 29, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 2.28
<!-- ALL fields dealing with a measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion-->| area_land_km2      = 2.28
<!--See table @ Template:Infobox settlement for details on automatic unit conversion-->| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi   = 0.88
| area_land_sq_mi    = 0.88
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
| area_water_percent = 
| area_urban_km2     = 
| area_urban_sq_mi   = 
| area_metro_km2     = 
| area_metro_sq_mi   = 
| area_blank1_title  = 
| area_blank1_km2    = 
| area_blank1_sq_mi  = <!-- Population   ----------------------->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 82<ref>{{URL|https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/alaska/eagle}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = 36.36
| population_density_sq_mi = 94.21
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_metro_km2 = 
| population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
| population_urban   = 
| population_density_urban_km2 = 
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 
| population_blank1_title = 
| population_blank1  = 
| population_density_blank1_km2 = 
| population_density_blank1_sq_mi = <!-- General information  --------------->
| timezone           = [[Alaska Time Zone|Alaska (AKST)]]
| utc_offset         = -9
| timezone_DST       = AKDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -8
| coordinates        = {{Coord|64|47|15|N|141|12|5|W|region:US-AK_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> tags-->
| elevation_m        = 260
| elevation_ft       = 853
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 99738
| area_code          = [[Area code 907|907]]
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 02-20380
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = {{GNIS4|1401499}}
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
}}

'''Eagle''' ({{lang|haa|Tthee T’äwdlenn}} in [[Hän language|Hän Athabascan]]<ref>[http://www.uaf.edu/anla/collections/map/names/ UAF: Alaska Native Place Names]</ref>) is a village on the south bank of the [[Yukon River]], near the [[Canada–United States border|Canada–US border]] in the [[Southeast Fairbanks Census Area]] in [[Alaska, United States]]. It includes the Eagle Historic District, a U.S. [[National Historic Landmark]]. The population was 86 at the [[United States Census, 2010|2010 census]]. Every February, Eagle hosts a checkpoint for the long-distance [[Yukon Quest]] sled dog race.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.yukonquest.com/race-central/yukon-quest-trail/yukon-quest-trail-map|title=Yukon Quest Trail Map|website=Yukon Quest|access-date=March 26, 2016|archive-date=March 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329100406/http://www.yukonquest.com/race-central/yukon-quest-trail/yukon-quest-trail-map|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Geography==
Eagle is located at {{Coord|64|47|10|N|141|12|0|W| region:US-AK_type:city}} (64.786022, -141.199917),<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> in a straight line about {{convert|5.9|mi|km}} west of the border between Alaska and the [[Yukon Territory]] of Canada at the [[141st meridian west]].

Eagle is on the southern bank of the Yukon River at the end of the [[Taylor Highway]], near [[Yukon–Charley Rivers National Preserve]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of  {{convert|1.0|sqmi|km2|adj=on}}, all land.

==Climate==
Like most of Alaska, Eagle has a [[subarctic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dwc'') with long, severely cold, dry winters occasionally moderated by [[Chinook wind#Chinooks and föhn winds in the inland United States|chinook wind]]s, and short, warm summers. In the absence of chinook moderation, winter temperatures can be dangerously cold: in the notoriously cold month of December 1917, the temperature did not rise above {{convert|-25|F|C|1}} and it averaged {{convert|-46|F|C|1}}.<ref>Day, Preston C.; ‘Extreme Cold in the Yukon Region’; in ‘The Cold Winter of 1917-18’; ''[[Monthly Weather Review]]''; 46(12), pp. 571-572</ref> When chinooks occur, winter temperatures can get above {{convert|32|F|C|1}}, doing so on an average of five days per winter.

{{Weather box
|location = Eagle, Alaska (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1901–present)
|single line = Y
| Jan record high F = 50
| Feb record high F = 57
| Mar record high F = 59
| Apr record high F = 74
| May record high F = 91
| Jun record high F = 97
| Jul record high F = 95
| Aug record high F = 93
| Sep record high F = 80
| Oct record high F = 69
| Nov record high F = 51
| Dec record high F = 53
| year record high F = 97
| Jan avg record high F = 30.4
| Feb avg record high F = 35.2
| Mar avg record high F = 44.7
| Apr avg record high F = 60.6
| May avg record high F = 78.6
| Jun avg record high F = 86.4
| Jul avg record high F = 86.8
| Aug avg record high F = 81.1
| Sep avg record high F = 68.4
| Oct avg record high F = 51.1
| Nov avg record high F = 32.8
| Dec avg record high F = 32.0
|year avg record high F = 88.6
|Jan high F = 1.0
|Feb high F = 12.0
|Mar high F = 23.7
|Apr high F = 44.8
|May high F = 61.7
|Jun high F = 72.2
|Jul high F = 73.3
|Aug high F = 66.9
|Sep high F = 54.6
|Oct high F = 33.5
|Nov high F = 12.7
|Dec high F = 6.5
|year high F= 38.6
|Jan mean F = -7.7
|Feb mean F = 0.9
|Mar mean F = 8.7
|Apr mean F = 29.8
|May mean F = 45.9
|Jun mean F = 56.5
|Jul mean F = 59.2
|Aug mean F = 53.1
|Sep mean F = 42.0
|Oct mean F = 24.7
|Nov mean F = 4.5
|Dec mean F = -2.1
|year mean F= 26.3
|Jan low F = -16.4
|Feb low F = -10.2
|Mar low F = -6.4
|Apr low F = 14.8
|May low F = 30.2
|Jun low F = 40.8
|Jul low F = 45.0
|Aug low F = 39.3
|Sep low F = 29.4
|Oct low F = 15.8
|Nov low F = -3.7
|Dec low F = -10.8
|year low F= 14.0
| Jan avg record low F = -50.4
| Feb avg record low F = -43.2
| Mar avg record low F = -33.9
| Apr avg record low F = -9.7
| May avg record low F = 19.8
| Jun avg record low F = 33.5
| Jul avg record low F = 37.9
| Aug avg record low F = 28.6
| Sep avg record low F = 17.1
| Oct avg record low F = -5.7
| Nov avg record low F = -29.4
| Dec avg record low F = -41.0
|year avg record low F = -53.2
| Jan record low F = -71
| Feb record low F = -67
| Mar record low F = -58
| Apr record low F = -30
| May record low F = -1
| Jun record low F = 20
| Jul record low F = 25
| Aug record low F = 18
| Sep record low F = -7
| Oct record low F = -37
| Nov record low F = -54
| Dec record low F = -69
| year record low F = -71
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 0.34
| Feb precipitation inch = 0.25
| Mar precipitation inch = 0.18
| Apr precipitation inch = 0.32
| May precipitation inch = 0.94
| Jun precipitation inch = 1.81
| Jul precipitation inch = 2.80
| Aug precipitation inch = 1.87
| Sep precipitation inch = 1.39
| Oct precipitation inch = 0.77
| Nov precipitation inch = 0.43
| Dec precipitation inch = 0.38
| year precipitation inch = 
| Jan precipitation days = 6.7
| Feb precipitation days = 4.2
| Mar precipitation days = 3.9
| Apr precipitation days = 4.4
| May precipitation days = 9.4
| Jun precipitation days = 11.6
| Jul precipitation days = 16.6
| Aug precipitation days = 15.1
| Sep precipitation days = 11.2
| Oct precipitation days = 8.1
| Nov precipitation days = 6.5
| Dec precipitation days = 7.8
| Jan snow inch = 8.0
| Feb snow inch = 8.0
| Mar snow inch = 6.1
| Apr snow inch = 3.1
| May snow inch = 1.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 1.3
| Oct snow inch = 11.1
| Nov snow inch = 12.1
| Dec snow inch = 12.0
| year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 5.6
|Feb snow days = 4.9
|Mar snow days = 3.8
|Apr snow days = 1.9
|May snow days = 0.6
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.9
|Oct snow days = 6.3
|Nov snow days = 7.5
|Dec snow days = 7.1

|source 1 = NOAA (snow/snow days 1981–2010)<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00026422&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Eagle AP, AK (1991–2020)
|access-date = August 1, 2023
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USW00026422&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Eagle AP, AK (1981–2010)
|access-date = August 1, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=afg
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Fairbanks
|access-date = August 1, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==History==
For thousands of years prior to Europeans arriving in Alaska, the Eagle area was home to many [[indigenous peoples]], including the [[Han (North American people)|Han]].

The first known American-built{{clarify|reason=Weren't the Han and other indigenous Americans?|date=November 2024}} structure in Eagle was a log [[trading post]] called "Belle Isle", erected around 1874. Subsequently, in the late 1800s, Eagle became a supply and trading center for miners working the upper [[Yukon River]] and its tributaries. By the year 1898, Eagle's population had exceeded 1,700 persons; many newcomers journeyed to the area with word of the [[Klondike Gold Rush]].

In 1901, Eagle became the first incorporated city of the [[Alaska Interior]]. It was named for the many eagles that nested on nearby Eagle Bluff. A [[United States Army]] camp, [[Fort Egbert]], was built at Eagle in 1900. A telegraph line between Eagle and [[Valdez, Alaska|Valdez]] was completed in 1903. In 1905, [[Roald Amundsen]] arrived in Eagle and telegraphed the news of the [[Northwest Passage]] to the rest of the world.

The ensuing gold rushes in [[Nome, Alaska|Nome]] and [[Fairbanks, Alaska|Fairbanks]] eventually lured people away from Eagle. In 1903, Judge [[James Wickersham]] moved the Third Division court from Eagle to Fairbanks. By 1910, Eagle's population had declined to its present-day level, below 200&nbsp;people. Fort Egbert was abandoned in 1911.

Present-day Eagle is home to (mostly) people of European descent; nearby [[Eagle Village, Alaska|Eagle Village]] has a small population that is about 50&nbsp;percent [[Han (North American people)|Han]].

The town enjoyed some notoriety, as the setting of [[John McPhee]]'s book ''[[Coming into the Country]]'', first published in 1977 and becoming quite popular. Many of the buildings from the Gold Rush years are preserved as part of the [[Eagle Historic District]], a [[National Historic Landmark]] district.
[[File:YukonRiverAtEagle.jpg|thumb|left|650px|Yukon River at Eagle, 2006]]

The Eagle area also is one of the locales featured on the [[National Geographic Channel]] series ''[[Life Below Zero]]''.
{{Clear}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 383
|1910= 178
|1920= 98
|1930= 54
|1940= 73
|1950= 55
|1960= 92
|1970= 36
|1980= 110
|1990= 168
|2000= 129
|2010= 86
|2020= 83
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

Eagle first appeared on the 1900 U.S. Census as Eagle City, although it was not incorporated until the following year. It was shortened to Eagle in the following census.

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 129&nbsp;people, 58&nbsp;households, and 37&nbsp;families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|127.9|/sqmi|/km2|abbr=on}}. There were 137&nbsp;housing units at an average density of {{convert|135.8|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.02% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 6.20% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], and 0.78% from two or more races. 0.78% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

Of the 58 households, 20.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65&nbsp;years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the city the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 3.1% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 44.2% from 45 to 64, and 3.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44&nbsp;years. For every 100&nbsp;females there were 95.5&nbsp;males. For every 100&nbsp;females age&nbsp;18 and over, there were 98.0&nbsp;males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,042, and the median income for a family was $44,375. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $20,000 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $20,221. There were 2.6% of families and 16.5% of the population living below the [[poverty line]], including 40.0% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.

==Notable person==
*[[Charlie Fisher (baseball)]]

==Education==
In the 1970s high school-aged children took [[correspondence course]]s from the [[University of Nebraska-Lincoln]], with a local resident supervising their work.<ref name="mcphee1977">{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/comingintocountr000mcph | title=Coming into the Country | publisher=Noonday Press | author=McPhee, John | year=1977 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/comingintocountr000mcph/page/195 195] | isbn=0374522871 | url-access=registration }}</ref>  Eagle is now part of the [[Alaska Gateway School District]]. Eagle School, a K–12 campus, serves city students.

==Eagle Historic District==
{{Infobox NRHP
| name                           = Eagle Historic District
| nrhp_type                      = nhld
| nocat                          = yes
| image                          = Courthouse in Eagle, Alaska.jpg
| caption                        = The former federal courthouse
| location                       = Roughly the town of Eagle and the area of [[Fort Egbert]]
| coordinates                    = {{coord|64.7911|-141.21547|format=dms|display=inline,source:ProprioMeOW}}
| locmapin                       = Alaska
| built                          = 1898
| architect OR builder           =
| added                          = October 27, 1970<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
| designated_nrhp_type           = June 2, 1978<ref name="nhlsum">{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1053&ResourceType=District|title=Eagle Historic District |access-date=June 9, 2017|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622085102/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1053&ResourceType=District|archive-date=June 22, 2015}}</ref>
| area                           = {{convert|2400|acre|ha}}
| refnum                         = 06000435
| designated_other1              = Alaska Heritage Resources Survey
| designated_other1_name         = Alaska Heritage Resources Survey
| designated_other1_color        = #A8EDEF
| designated_other1_abbr         = AHRS
| designated_other1_number       = EAG-001
| designated_other1_num_position = bottom
}}
The Eagle Historic District is a well-preserved example of the historic development in Northern Alaska. [[Fort Egbert]] was built in 1889 to serve a central governmental role for the area.<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/akso/CR/AKRCultural/CulturalMain/2ndLevel/NHL/NHLEagle.htm NPS NHL Detail]</ref> Over 100 buildings from this era survive including the Federal courthouse<ref name="nhlsum"/> which was funded by fines enacted against the rowdy inhabitants.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.myalaskan.com/alaska-towns/eagle.html |title=Myalaska.com |access-date=September 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008022045/http://www.myalaskan.com/alaska-towns/eagle.html |archive-date=October 8, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The district was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] on October 27, 1970<ref name=NRHP>{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=06000435}}|title=Registration form of Eagle Historic District|publisher=[[National Park Service]]|access-date=June 9, 2017}} with {{NRHP url|id=06000435|photos=y|title=photos}}</ref> and was designated as a [[National Historic Landmark]] on June 2, 1978.<ref name="nhlsum"/>

==See also==
*[[List of National Historic Landmarks in Alaska]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://archive.org/details/BLM-Alaska-TR-2 "Fort Egbert and the Eagle Historic District summer-1977: Results of Archeological and Historic Research" by Anne Shinkwin, Elizabeth Andrews, Russell Sackett, and Mary Kroul]

{{Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska}}
{{NRHP in Alaska by borough and census area}}
{{National Register of Historic Places}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Alaska]]
[[Category:Cities in Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska]]
[[Category:Mining communities in Alaska]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1874]]
[[Category:Yukon River]]
[[Category:1874 establishments in Alaska]]
[[Category:Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Alaska]]
[[Category:National Historic Landmark Districts]]
[[Category:Hän]]