City (pop., 2000: 30,224), east-central Alaska, U.S., situated at the junction of the Tanana and Chena rivers.
Founded in 1902 after a gold strike, it was named for Charles W. Fairbanks. As the northern terminus of the Alaska Highway and the railroad, it is the main supply centre for the northern Alaskan oil business (see Trans-Alaska Pipeline ). Located nearby are Fort Wainwright, Eielson Air Force Base, and the University of Alaska, Fairbanks (1917). Fairbanks is the site of the annual 800-mi (1,290-km) Yukon Marathon boat race and the North American Championship Sled Dog Races.