CREEL permafrost tunnel 1987, 1987
Fox’s story
118 years in pictures
Census counts: 25 in 1950, 406 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1987 and 3 maps from 1949 on.
- 1908Fox is settled
FoxAK
A town of 80, settled in 1908.
3 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Public domain · Public domain
Is Fox a good place to live?
Fox’s January low is -12°F, below both Alaska’s towns (7°F) and U.S. towns (22°F). No town among the 42 in Alaska we compare has a higher share of residents below the poverty line than Fox. 26% of the land in Fox is conserved, where Alaska’s towns sit at 15% and U.S. towns at 4.3%. Fox has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
80 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Steele CreekFarmers LoopGoldstreamFox
Getting set up
Moving to Fox: who provides what
Fox is unincorporated, so Fairbanks North Star Borough and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerGolden Valley Elec Assn31.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWildwood Homes LLC water system3 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers82% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesFairbanks North Star BoroughFairbanks North Star Borough provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn Alaska you can register online until 30 days before Election Day, in person until 30 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereAbsentee and Petition OfficeState of Alaska; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code9971299712 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Fox.
Natural hazards
Very high risk in Fox, with wildfire at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 86% of U.S. communities.
86risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
WildfireLandslidesCold waves
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Outdoors
Nearly a quarter of Fox is conserved land
11 miles of trail in 0 parks and preserves. The trail density in Fox is 0.8 miles per square mile.
26.4%conserved
26.4%
conserved · 2,173 of 8,227 acres
11 mi
of trails · 0.8 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
Fox has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Fox has cold, snowy winters and cool summers, with very little rain. Fox’s July high is 70°F.
55″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter-9–9°
Spring18–43°
Summer45–67°
Fall16–34°
Sep 1
typical first frost
May 28
typical last frost
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
Fox stands out in Alaska and nationally: a smaller share of its adults report frequent mental distress
13% of adults report frequent mental distress in Fox. Of the 42 Alaska towns we compare, none has a lower share of adults who feel lonely than Fox. 11% of adults report frequent physical distress in Fox.
| Fox | Alaska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 16% | 17% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 70% | 68% | 79% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 32% | 33% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 21% | 23% |
32 measures vs. Alaska
18 better13 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Fox | AK |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 6.9% | 14.3% |
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 6.7% | 13.5% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 8.9% | 7% |
Bassett Ach (Ft Wainwright)
9.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Nearby attractions
All 6 attractions →Pioneer Park and 4 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Fox. Close and well known come first.
10 mi Park & preservePioneer Park
10 mi MuseumUniversity of Alaska Museum of the North11 mi Ski areaMoose Mountain Ski Resort98 runs · 1,311 ft vertical8 mi Ski areaSki Land (Mt Aurora)45 runs · 1,084 ft vertical
11 mi GardenGeorgeson Botanical GardenSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Pioneer Park: Enrico Blasutto, CC BY-SA 4.0 · University of Alaska Museum of the North: Maureen amerune, CC BY 2.0 · Georgeson Botanical Garden: Abalg, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about Fox
15pages on Fox
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Fox
About 0 of every 100 Fox residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across Alaska.
About Fox
Census-designated place in Alaska, United States
Fox is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, United States. It is part of the Fairbanks, Alaska Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, Fox had a population of 406.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 13 sq mi
- Elevation
- 751 ft
Questions about Fox
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Fox, AK a good place to live?
Fox has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.