Manley Hot Springs, Alaska
Manley Hot Springs is a town located in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska. As of the 2000 census, the population of the town is 72.
Geography
Manley Hot Springs is located at 65°0'28" North, 150°37'36" West (65.007773, -150.626732)1.
Manley Hot Springs is located about 8 km (5 miles) north of the Tanana River on Hot Springs Slough, at the end of the Elliott Highway, 260 km (162 miles) west of Fairbanks.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 140.6 km² (54.3 mi²). 140.6 km² (54.3 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 72 people, 36 households, and 19 families residing in the town. The population density is 0.5/km² (1.3/mi²). There are 105 housing units at an average density of 0.7/km² (1.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 73.61% White, 0.00% Black or African American, 23.61% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 2.78% from other races, and 0.00% from two or more races. 0.00% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 36 households out of which 19.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% are married couples living together, 5.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 47.2% are non-families. 38.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 2.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.00 and the average family size is 2.58.
In the town the population is spread out with 15.3% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 37.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 44 years. For every 100 females there are 125.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 110.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $29,000, and the median income for a family is $59,583. Males have a median income of $36,250 versus $16,250 for females. The per capita income for the town is $21,751. 9.7% of the population and 0.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 0.0% are under the age of 18 and 0.0% are 65 or older.
History
In 1902 a prospector, John Karshner, discovered several hot springs in the area. He began a homestead and vegetable farm. In the same year, the United States Army built a telegraph station. The area became a service and supply point for miners in the Tofty and Eureka mining districts. It was known as Baker's Hot Springs, after nearby Baker Creek.
Farming and livestock operations in the area produced fresh meat, poultry and produce for sale. In 1907, a miner named Frank Manley built the Hot Springs Resort Hotel. The resort was a four-story building with 45 guest rooms, steam heat, electric lights, hot baths, a bar, a restaurant, a billiard room, a bowling alley, a barber shop and an Olympic-size indoor swimming pool which used heated water from the hot springs. During the summer, the hotel's private boat transported guests from steamers on the Tanana River. In the winter, an overland stagecoach trip from Fairbanks took two days. The town was renamed Hot Springs.
The resort and the mining in the area caused the town to prosper. It had a store, a newspaper, a bakery, clothing stores and other businesses. The population of the area in 1910 was more than 500. In 1913 the resort burned to the ground. Mining activity was also in decline and by 1920 only 29 residents lived in Hot Springs.
The town's name was changed to Manley Hot Springs in 1957. In 1959, completion of the Elliott Highway gave Manley Hot Springs road access from Fairbanks during the summer months and, in 1982, year-round, as the state began plowing the highway.
A new resort with a small swimming pool opened in 1985.