Council, Alaska facts for kids
Council is a place in Alaska that used to be a town. It's now empty, with no people living there. Its name in the Inupiaq language is Kaułiq or Akauchak. Council is located in the Nome Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. No one has lived there since at least the year 2000.
Contents
Where is Council?
Council is found in a part of Alaska called the Seward Peninsula. It sits right next to the Niukluk River. This old town is about 57 miles (92 kilometers) east of a bigger town called Nome.
Council's Story: A Gold Rush Town
Council started as a town in 1898. This was because gold was found nearby, in a place called Ophir Creek. For about ten years, Council and the areas around it were very busy. As many as 4,000 people might have lived there during the gold rush!
What Happened to the Gold?
Eventually, the gold ran out. When the gold was gone, most people left Council. Today, you can still see about 25 old buildings there. There is also a lot of old mining equipment, like a big machine called a dredge.
Council Today
Even though no one lives there all year, Council is still used. In the summer, people from Nome and White Mountain visit. They use it as a place to fish and for fun outdoor activities.
Council is connected to Nome by a gravel road. This road is called the Nome-Council Road. However, the road closes during the winter because of snow. Council is also special because it's one of the closest places to Nome that has trees. Some people from Nome even go to Council to cut spruce trees for Christmas.
More Mining History
Another, even bigger, dredge is located at a spot called 15 Mile Camp on Ophir Creek. You can also find several old mine buildings there. These include a powerhouse with a large waterwheel. In recent years, some new buildings have been added. Most of these are used as summer homes. Very rarely, one or two people might stay in Council during the winter.
How Many People Lived in Council?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 289 | — | |
| 1920 | 109 | −62.3% | |
| 1940 | 48 | — | |
| 1950 | 41 | −14.6% | |
| 1990 | 8 | — | |
| 2000 | 0 | −100.0% | |
| 2010 | 0 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Council first appeared in the U.S. Census in 1910. Back then, it was called Council City. In 1920, its name was shortened to just Council. It wasn't counted in the 1930 census. But it showed up again in 1940 and 1950. After that, it didn't appear again until 1990. Since the years 2000 and 2010, the census has reported that zero people live in Council.
