Fairbanks – USA

The Fairbanks North Star Borough is located in Alaska’s Interior in the Tanana River Valley and includes the cities of Fairbanks and North Pole. It is a regional centre for government, transportation, education, and military activity, anchored by the University of Alaska Fairbanks and other major public institutions.

Mayor Grier Hopkins

Gier Hopkins is the current mayor of Fairbanks, Alaska.

Mayor Grier Hopkins was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska. He grew up in Goldstream and currently resides in Fairbanks with his wife Kristina Miller and daughter, Isabella. Mayor Hopkins is a graduate of West Valley High School and received his Bachelors in Anthropology from the University of Washington. Mayor Hopkins served as an Alaskan Legislator for the House of Representatives from 2019-2023. He most recently worked as the UniServ Director at NEA-Alaska. His first experience in politics was as a legislative aide to Senator Ted Stevens. Mayor Hopkins’ civic activities included volunteering with youth soccer, as well Fairbanks’ fine arts. Mayor Hopkins is serving his first three-year term as Borough Mayor and was sworn in on October 24, 2024.

Being a member of the Arctic Mayors Forum is both inspirational and humbling. The discussions we have and events we share help find solutions here at home through shared experiences with other Arctic communities around the globe. Having the opportunity to meet other leaders and dedicated social servants from communities that share similar goals and our influential geographic location, is invaluable as we work to grow my community and make the world a smaller place through these important relationships. The Arctic Mayors Forum is truly an invaluable community.
Mayor Grier Hopkins

Fairbanks is the largest city in the interior region of Alaska and serves as a key hub for commerce, education, and government services in the state’s Arctic and sub-Arctic areas. Its economy is shaped by a mix of public sector employment, military presence (notably Fort Wainwright and Eielson Air Force Base), and resource extraction industries such as mining and oil services. The city is also home to the University of Alaska Fairbanks, a major center for Arctic research. Fairbanks has a diverse population and an active cultural scene that includes Indigenous arts, community festivals, and educational institutions. Its geographic location just south of the Arctic Circle gives it a strong seasonal identity, with long summer days and extreme winter cold defining much of life in the city.

The goal for Fairbanks’ Arctic Mayors’ Forum cooperation is primarily the opportunities it provides for collaboration with other Arctic communities.

Fairbanks North Star Borough
Explore Fairbanks
University of Alaska Fairbanks