(05-14-2016 04:39 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  Obviously this can never happen -- modern politics don't allow such things -- but frankly, there is no purpose for Fairbanks to exist as any significant population center in Alaska, particularly in a post-oil world. The weather there is extremely harsh, compared to Anchorage. UAF is one major tent pole for the area.

Of course you could probably say the same thing about Alaska, in general. But Anchorage has enough population mass and momentum that it can and will survive on its own as a decently sized urban center. The growing season is still short, but enough food can be grown locally to keep cost of living somewhat under control. The weather is very livable (basically a colder Seattle).

So like I said, it can never happen, but UAF should be shut down and all resources concentrated on UAA, as the main (only) public university in the state. $0.02

Alaska has other large industries. It's got large fisheries. And it's probably more reliant on tourism than anyplace in the continental USA outside Florida and Northern Wyoming/Western South Dakota.

There's also a huge potential for mining in the region, similar to what you'd find in Siberia. They've barely scratched the surface on that. These days it could probably be run just as efficiently from Anchorage as Fairbanks though.

Nor are any of the fishing industry run from Fairbanks. There's no good reason for significant population to inhabit the area.