Two Rivers, Alaska is an unincorporated community that extends from 10 mile Chena Hot Springs Road to the Chena Hot Springs Resort at 54 mile. According to year 2000 census data there are about 1,000 people living in about 438 housing units within the community.1 Most homes within Two Rivers lie within 3 miles on either side of the Chena Hot Springs Road in a variety of rural subdivisions, agricultural properties and rural estates. Making up about 53% of the population, men slightly outnumber women. About 72% of Two Rivers residents are currently married. For those seeking a spouse the odds are pretty good, but sometimes the goods are pretty odd.
Most Two Rivers residents are working class people employed in Fairbanks, North Pole, area military bases or at various remote industrial sites throughout Alaska. At the time of the 2000 census about 93% of Two Rivers residents were employed and enjoyed a mean household income of about $54,000.00. As of May 6th, 2005 there were 66 businesses licensed in Two Rivers2. All may be accurately classified as either "small" or "micro" businesses.
Two Rivers is a decidedly rural community that happens to be located a convenient distance from the larger town of Fairbanks. Some have described us as "Bush-rats with running water." Most of us were initially attracted to the area by the exceptional outdoor recreational opportunities available in Two Rivers. Cross country ski trails maintained by the Two Rivers Ski Club are easily accessible from Two Rivers Elementary School. A recreational complex is available at Pleasant Valley, which supports baseball, basketball, tennis, ice skating and hockey. The Chena River, especially the upper Chena flowing through the Chena River State Recreation Area, is very popular paddlers and Chena Hot Springs Resort, at the end of the road, is a haven to those seeking warmth.
Two Rivers residents enjoy easy access to an extensive network of multiple-use trails that extend like a spider-web throughout our community. It's quite possible to travel to any point in the Interior of Alaska from Two Rivers without ever following a highway or motor vehicle road. Our trail system is popular with horse owners, snowmachine and ATV riders, hunters, hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts. Our trails are especially popular with dog sled drivers (called "mushers" in Alaska).
Alaska is the dog mushing capital of the world and Two Rivers should be considered the dog mushing capital of Alaska. We like to boast that Two Rivers is home to so many mushers that sled dogs outnumber humans by a ratio of about 4 to 1. Many businesses in Two Rivers cater to those who run with the dogs. Several professional sled dog kennels are based in Two Rivers including 5-time Iditarod Champion Rick Swensen and the only woman to win the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race, Aily Zirkle. Several Two Rivers businesses offer dog sled rides and related services to visitors to our community. The Two Rivers Dog Mushing Association (TRDMA) sponsors several official dog sled races each year, and is perhaps the most active "civic" organization in our community. Dog mushing is so important to the members of our community that the greatest compliment that a resident of Two Rivers can bestow upon a neighbor is the statement "He (or she) take's good care of his or her dogs."
Dog sleds have been an important part of life in Two Rivers even before it was established as a community. In 1901 Capt. E.T. Barnette established a trading post on the Chena River which quickly grew into the city of Fairbanks.. A year later, gold was discovered 16 miles north of the post prompting the Pedro Dome gold rush during which hundreds of fortune seekers scrambled into the area. In 1905 two brothers Robert and Thomas Swan, discovered the Chena Hot Springs at the headwaters of the North Fork of the Chena River. Within a very short period of time trails from Fairbanks to the upper Chena River and the hot springs crossed through the Two Rivers area and our community has been growing ever since. During Territorial Days several families established homesteads in the area, and a Territorial School was constructed. Continued expansion in and around Fairbanks since the 1970s has resulted in the growth of Two Rivers as well.
In addition to its human and canine population, Two Rivers is home to a wide variety of wildlife. Large game species frequently seen near our homes include moose, black bears and grizzly bears. Wolves are sometimes known to kill sled dogs right in people's back yards. Several Two Rivers residents have close encounters with potentially dangerous big-game animals each year. Because Two Rivers is so wild nearly every specie in Interior Alaska can been seen within our community and many of our residents supplement their diet with wild game harvested right in our own back yards. Our rivers and ponds provide excellent opportunities for anglers and our skies are filled with a wide range of birds.
The climate of Two Rivers is one of extremes. During summer we can enjoy high temperatures of over 90 degrees while in mid summer the mercury may plunge to -60 degrees F. for days at time, an not rise above -40 degrees F. for weeks. On the day of the summer solstice we enjoy almost 22 hours of sunlight, but on the winter solstice can hope for only 3 hours and 42 minutes, unless clouds obscure the sun.
Emergency services in Two Rivers are somewhat limited. We do not have fire protection in our community though the State Division of Forestry will dispatch a wildland fire crew to ensure that a structural fire does not spread to the black-spruce forest that is the prominent feature of our area. Two Rivers Rescue Squad is an Alaska certified First Response Unit that works in conjunction with the Steese Area Volunteer Fire Department to provide Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and ambulance transportation to the acutely ill or injured. Law enforcement is provided by the Alaska State Troopers battalion based in Fairbanks. State park rangers provide emergency services to visitors of the Chena River State Recreation Area.
Please come back and visit this page frequently as we add more information about our wonderful community.
References:
1. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=04000US02&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-PH1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-format=ST-7 - Combined population of the Two Rivers and Pleasant Valley CDPs.
2. Alaska Division of Occupational Licensing http://www.dced.state.ak.us/occ/bussearch