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Ruby
Ruby is located on the south bank of the Yukon River, in the Kilbuck-Kuskokwim
Mountains. It is about 50 air miles east of Galena and 230 air miles
west of Fairbanks. Ruby lies adjacent to the Nowitna National Wildlife
Refuge. It lies at approximately 64° 45' N Latitude, 155° 30' W
Longitude (Sec. 04, T009S, R017E, Kateel River Meridian). The community
is located in the Nulato Recording District. The area encompasses 7 sq.
miles of land and 0 sq. miles of water.
 Ruby's current residents are Koyukon Athabascans of the Nowitna-Koyukuk
band, a nomadic group who followed game with the changing seasons. There
were 12 summer fish camps located on the Yukon River between the Koyukuk
River and the Nowitna River. Ruby developed as a supply point for gold
prospectors. It was named after the red-colored stones found on the
riverbank which were thought by prospectors to be rubies. A gold strike
at Ruby Creek in 1907, and another at Long Creek in 1911, attracted
hundreds of prospectors to the area. At one time, over 1,000 white
miners lived in Ruby and the nearby creeks. Placerville, Poorman,
Sulatna Crossing, Kokrines and Long Creek were some of the area's boom
settlements. A post office was established in 1912, and Ruby
incorporated as a city in 1913. Initially, the City was governed by
miner's meetings, then later by Pioneer Igloo Number 5.
After the gold rush, the population declined rapidly. By 1939, there
were only 139 residents. During World War II the mining operations were
shut down and most of the white residents left. After the war, the
remaining residents of nearby Kokrines relocated to Ruby, and the
population began to increase. Ruby incorporated as a second class city
in 1973. A clinic, watering point and schools were constructed in the
1970s. During the 1980s, telephone and television services were
provided.
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