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Deadhorse, Alaska

Coordinates: 70°12′20″N 148°30′42″W / 70.20556°N 148.51167°W / 70.20556; -148.51167
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"Deadhorse" redirects here. For other uses, see Dead Horse (disambiguation).

Deadhorse, Alaska
Unincorporated community
Aerial view of Deadhorse, March 2007
Aerial view of Deadhorse, March 2007
Deadhorse, Alaska is located in Alaska
Deadhorse, Alaska
Deadhorse, Alaska
Location in the United States of America
Coordinates: 70°12′20″N 148°30′42″W / 70.20556°N 148.51167°W / 70.20556; -148.51167
CountryUnited States
StateAlaska
BoroughNorth Slope
Government
 • Borough mayorHarry K. Brower, Jr.
 • State senatorDonny Olson (D)
 • State rep.Tom Baker (R)
Elevation
49 ft (15 m)
Time zoneUTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-8 (AKDT)
GNIS ID1866941[1]

Deadhorse is an unincorporated community located within the CDP of Prudhoe Bay in North Slope Borough, Alaska, United States, along the North Slope near the Arctic Ocean. The town consists mainly of facilities for the workers and companies that operate at the nearby Prudhoe Bay Oil Field. Deadhorse is accessible via the Dalton Highway from Fairbanks, 495 miles (797 km) south, or Deadhorse Airport. Limited accommodation is also available for tourists.

The permanent population is variously listed as being between 25 and 50 residents. Temporary residents (employed by various firms with local interests) can range as high as 3,000.[citation needed]

Companies with facilities in Deadhorse service Prudhoe Bay, nearby oil fields, and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS), which brings oil from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez on the south-central Alaska coast. Facilities in Deadhorse are built entirely on man-made gravel pads and usually consist of pre-fabricated modules shipped to Deadhorse via barge or air cargo.

History

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The Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, area was developed to house personnel, provide support for drilling operations, and transport oil to the Alaskan pipeline.[2] Prior to 1977, oil seeps (small pores or fissure networks through which liquid petroleum emerges at the surface of the land)[3] on the Arctic coastal plain had caught the attention of the U.S. petroleum interests.[2] The U.S. Navy drilled for oil between 1944 and 1953 with little success.[2] In 1967, after several attempts at drilling for oil, oil company mergers, and competitive bidding for state lease sales, the Prudhoe Bay oil field was discovered.[2]

Sources conflict on the origin of the area's name. The most cited theory appears to be that the area takes its name from a local business prominent in the late 1960s and 1970s, the "Dead Horse Haulers" trucking company. How the trucking company got its name remains in dispute.[4]

In February 2023, a "high altitude object" about the size of a small car was shot down near the area after a decision by President Joe Biden.[5]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1970163—
198064−60.7%
199026−59.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]

Deadhorse first appeared on the 1970 U.S. Census as an unincorporated village. It was made a census-designated place (CDP) in 1980. It appeared last on the 1990 census. After 2000, it was merged into the Prudhoe Bay CDP.

Tourism and wildlife

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The general store in Deadhorse in 2003

Tourists traveling to Deadhorse and Prudhoe Bay typically take tour buses from Fairbanks via the James Dalton Highway, a two-day journey with an overnight stop in Coldfoot. During the summer months, visitors can arrange for tours to the Arctic Ocean via a guided tour only. There is no longer any public Arctic Ocean access from Deadhorse. All tours must be booked 24 hours in advance to allow time for background checks on all passengers going through the oilfield check point. Tourists can also experience the midnight sun due to Deadhorse's location above the Arctic Circle. In winter, the opposite phenomenon, polar night, occurs.

The area often features large herds of caribou and over 200 bird and waterfowl species, including geese, swans, gulls and eagles.[7] Other indigenous wildlife include Arctic foxes, Arctic ground squirrels, grizzly bears, polar bears, musk oxen, and Arctic hares.[7]

Because alcoholic beverages are not sold in Deadhorse, a humorous slogan for the town is "All that far and still no bar."[8]

The town serves as a start/end or turn-around point of several motorcycle-riding challenges offered by the Iron Butt Association. One of these, the Ultimate Coast to Coast, gives riders 30 days to travel between Deadhorse and Key West (the southernmost city in the contiguous United States) in either direction.[9]

Climate

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Like all of the North Slope, Deadhorse features a cold and dry tundra climate (Köppen ET), as even the hottest month, July, has a daily average temperature of only 48 °F (9 °C), although Deadhorse reaches 80 °F (27 °C) on average once every four years. Deadhorse averages four days per year where temperatures reach 70 °F (21 °C) or more. Since 1968, the only years that failed to reach that mark were 1972 and 1980.[10] Precipitation is very light, averaging only 5.70 in (144.8 mm), including only 23.73 in (60.3 cm) of snow – less snowfall than even the warmest places in the Alaska Panhandle like Ketchikan. The mean annual temperature is 14 °F (−10 °C), with maximum temperatures reliably remaining below freezing from early/mid October to late April. As the area is located in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 2,[11] temperatures below −40 °F (−40 °C) can be expected during the height of winter.

  • Longest day: 63 days, 23 hours, 40 minutes (12:09 a.m. on May 20 to 11:18 p.m. on July 22)
  • Shortest day: 45 min (11:42 a.m. to 12:27 p.m. on November 24)
  • Longest night: 54 days, 22 hours, 51 min (12:27 p.m. on November 24 to 11:18 a.m. on January 18)
  • Shortest night: 26 min (11:43 p.m. on May 19 to 12:09 a.m. on May 20)
  • Highest recorded temperature: 89 °F (32 °C) on August 6, 2024
  • Lowest recorded temperature: −62 °F (−52 °C) on January 27, 1989
  • Highest wind speed recorded: 95 knots (109 mph; 176 km/h) on February 25, 1989
  • Official lowest wind chill: −102 °F (−74 °C) on January 28, 1989 (air temperature of −54 °F (−48 °C)) and wind speed of 31 kn (36 mph; 57 km/h)
Climate data for Deadhorse Airport, Alaska, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1968–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 40
(4) 		40
(4) 		37
(3) 		43
(6) 		55
(13) 		83
(28) 		85
(29) 		89
(32) 		70
(21) 		54
(12) 		39
(4) 		39
(4) 		89
(32)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 21.0
(−6.1) 		17.3
(−8.2) 		17.8
(−7.9) 		29.3
(−1.5) 		42.5
(5.8) 		69.2
(20.7) 		73.7
(23.2) 		70.3
(21.3) 		58.3
(14.6) 		38.0
(3.3) 		26.8
(−2.9) 		20.4
(−6.4) 		77.4
(25.2)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) −8.0
(−22.2) 		−7.7
(−22.1) 		−6.6
(−21.4) 		10.2
(−12.1) 		28.5
(−1.9) 		46.2
(7.9) 		55.0
(12.8) 		49.7
(9.8) 		39.3
(4.1) 		23.8
(−4.6) 		8.3
(−13.2) 		−2.8
(−19.3) 		19.7
(−6.8)
Daily mean °F (°C) −14.9
(−26.1) 		−14.8
(−26.0) 		−13.8
(−25.4) 		2.8
(−16.2) 		23.6
(−4.7) 		39.9
(4.4) 		47.3
(8.5) 		43.5
(6.4) 		34.6
(1.4) 		18.3
(−7.6) 		1.7
(−16.8) 		−9.2
(−22.9) 		13.3
(−10.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) −21.7
(−29.8) 		−21.8
(−29.9) 		−21.0
(−29.4) 		−4.5
(−20.3) 		18.7
(−7.4) 		33.6
(0.9) 		39.7
(4.3) 		37.4
(3.0) 		30.0
(−1.1) 		12.8
(−10.7) 		−4.9
(−20.5) 		−15.7
(−26.5) 		6.9
(−13.9)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −43.3
(−41.8) 		−44.9
(−42.7) 		−40.6
(−40.3) 		−26.6
(−32.6) 		−2.6
(−19.2) 		25.4
(−3.7) 		32.1
(0.1) 		29.2
(−1.6) 		17.7
(−7.9) 		−10.6
(−23.7) 		−25.6
(−32.0) 		−37.1
(−38.4) 		−47.2
(−44.0)
Record low °F (°C) −62
(−52) 		−58
(−50) 		−54
(−48) 		−47
(−44) 		−24
(−31) 		18
(−8) 		28
(−2) 		23
(−5) 		−4
(−20) 		−30
(−34) 		−45
(−43) 		−53
(−47) 		−62
(−52)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.25
(6.4) 		0.13
(3.3) 		0.14
(3.6) 		0.21
(5.3) 		0.30
(7.6) 		0.57
(14) 		1.00
(25) 		1.37
(35) 		0.64
(16) 		0.40
(10) 		0.33
(8.4) 		0.36
(9.1) 		5.70
(145)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 1.6 1.8 2.0 1.7 3.1 4.8 8.5 10.6 8.7 6.3 3.1 2.5 54.7
Source 1: NOAA[12]
Source 2: National Weather Service[13][14]

Health care

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Deadhorse (including Prudhoe Bay) is classified as an isolated town/Sub-Regional Center. It is found in EMS Region 6A in the North Slope Region. Emergency Services have limited highway, coastal, and airport access. Emergency service is provided by paid EMS service and Fairweather Deadhorse Medical Clinic. Auxiliary health care is provided by oil company medical staff and the Greater Prudhoe Bay Fire Dept. Individuals requiring hospital care are usually transported to the nearest hospital/medical center, Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital, in Utqiagvik, Alaska. Because no roads connect Deadhorse to Utqiagvik, individuals are transported by plane or helicopter (an approximately 45 minute flight).[15]

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Comic books

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  • A highly fictionalized version of Deadhorse, AK appears in the Deadhorse comic book series, by Eric Grissom, Phil Sloan, Marissa Louise, and David Halvorson.[16][17]

Television

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Music

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  • The album Deadhorse (Deluxe Edition) by the group Dirt Poor Robins occurs in Deadhorse.
[edit]
  • Sign at General Store, Deadhorse, Alaska (January 2008)
    Sign at General Store, Deadhorse, Alaska (January 2008)
  • Deadhorse General Store (2003)
    Deadhorse General Store (2003)
  • The Dalton Highway at Deadhorse (July 2010)
    The Dalton Highway at Deadhorse (July 2010)

References

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  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Deadhorse, Alaska
  2. ^ a b c d "Prudhoe Bay - Visit Alaska". Myalaskan.com. April 17, 2012. Archived from the original on March 15, 2013. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
  3. ^ "oil seep definition of oil seep in the Free Online Encyclopedia". Encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
  4. ^ "How Deadhorse Got Its Name(From the Prudhoe Bay Journal by Deborah Bernard)". www.colvilleinc.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020.
  5. ^ Downing, Suzanne (February 10, 2023). "Breaking: Air Force shoots down item over Prudhoe; temporary flight restriction over Deadhorse, as Air Force C-130 circles Prudhoe Bay". Must Read Alaska. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Deadhorse, Alaska website". Archived from the original on March 4, 2022.
  8. ^ "Life in Deadhorse, Alaska: It's all about the oil". Independent Record. August 10, 2006. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  9. ^ "Ultimate Coast to Coast". Archived from the original on April 2, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
  10. ^ @AlaskaWx (August 1, 2021). "High temperature through 4pm AKDT Saturday of 70F at Deadhorse Airport at Prudhoe Bay. This is the tenth day this summer at 70F or higher, the most there in any summer since 1994. The upward trend is significant" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. ^ The Arbor Day Foundation. "The Arbor Day Foundation". Arborday.org. Retrieved May 16, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Deadhorse AP, AK". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  13. ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Fairbanks". National Weather Service. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  14. ^ "xmACIS2". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  15. ^ "Far North - Prudhoe Bay". Archived from the original on October 30, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014. Far North - Prudhoe Bay Information
  16. ^ Grissom, Eric; Sloan, Phil; Louise, Marissa; Halvorson, David. "Deadhorse". deadhorsecomic.com. Frankenstein's Daughter.
  17. ^ Grissom, Eric; Sloan, Phil; Louise, Marissa; Halvorson, David (2013). Dead Birds (Deadhorse #1). Frankenstein's Daughter.
  18. ^ a b "Ice Road Truckers Episode Guide - Season 6". History.com. Archived from the original on February 9, 2010. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Deadhorse, Alaska.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Deadhorse.

See also

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