After some urging by James Wickersham, who later moved the seat of the Third Division court from Eagle to Fairbanks, the settlement was named after Charles W. Fairbanks, a Republican senator from Indiana and later the twenty-sixth vice president of the United States, serving under Theodore Roosevelt during his second term.
aftEr soMe urGIng by jAMes wIcKErShaM, wHO lAter MovEd the seat Of the thIrd dIvision coUrt fRom eagle to FairbaNKS, tHE SeTtlemEnt waS named aFTEr CharLes w. FAirbAnKs, A repUblicAn sENatOr froM inDIana aND laTer The tweNTY-SixTH viCE PresIDent Of tHE unitED StaTEs, serVIng under tHeoDORe roOsEveLt durIng his secOnd terM.