Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area - Adopt Me


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Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area

 

 

This census area is up for adoption...

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Communities [populations in brackets]:

Alatna [35] Allakaket [97]
Anvik [104] Arctic Village {152]
Beaver [84] Bettles [43]
Birch Creek[28] Central [134]
Chalkyitsik [83] Circle [100]
Coldfoot [13] Evansville [28]
Flat [4] Fort Yukon [595]
Four Mile Road [38] Galena [675]
Grayling [194] Holy Cross [227]
Hughes [78] Huslia [293]
Kaltag [230] Koyukuk101
Lake Minchumina [32] Livengood [29]
Manley Hot Springs [72] McGrath [401]
Minto [258] Nenana [402]
New Allakaket [36] Nikolai [100]
Nulato [336] Rampart [45]
Ruby [188] Shageluk [129]
Stevens Village [87] Takotna [50]
Tanana [308] Venetie [202]
Wiseman [21]  

Located in Alaska's Interior, the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area stretches across more than 157,121 square miles from the Canadian border to the lower Yukon River. Five national wildlife refuges and several mountain ranges lie within this vast landscape. The Yukon River roughly bisects the area, flowing nearly 1,100 miles through it in a southwesterly direction.

Only 8,478 people reside in the area, over 70% of them Alaska Natives. One third of the area's population live in the four largest communities, Galena (675), Fort Yukon (595), Nenana (402), and McGrath (401). Most settlements are located on the Yukon River or its tributaries. McGrath is an exception and lies on the banks of the Kuskokwim. Rivers are important transportation routes. In winter they serve as ice roads for snow machines. In summer, riverboats ply the waters. Just seven of the 41 settlements in this vast area are on Alaska's road system. Year-round connections depend upon air transport.

At Huslia, the Koyukon Athabascans traditionally traded with the Kobuk River Eskimos. By 1843, Russian explorers had made contact with Athabascans about 50 miles downriver. Hughes also was a trade center between Athabascan and Eskimo traders. It later served as a riverboat landing and supply port for the Indian River gold fields until 1915. The first mission on the Koyukuk River, St. John's-in-the-Wilderness Episcopal Mission, was established in 1906 at modern day Allakaket. Tanana was a traditional trading settlement for Koyukon and Tanana Athabascans long before European contact. In 1880, Harper's Station, an Alaska Commercial Company Trading Post, was established 13 miles downriver from the present site. In 1881, Church of England missionaries from Canada built a mission 8 miles downriver from Tanana. At Takotna, gold discoveries in the upper Innoko Region enabled the town to prosper. By 1919, there were several commercial companies, roadhouses, a post office, and about 50 houses. Today there are about 20 households in Takotna. McGrath became an important refueling stop during World War II.
 

 

 

 

 


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AKWEB: Alaska Genealogy & History -
This is a statewide list intended for the exchange of genealogical, historical and cultural information about the state of Alaska and the ancestors who lived here. Newbies to genealogical research and/or computer researching in Alaska are welcome. 

AKINT:  INTERIOR is a regional mailing list encompassing Denali Borough, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Nome Census Area, Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Wade Hampton Census Area, and Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area.  Newbies to genealogical research and/or computer researching in Alaska are welcome.

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