Fort Yukon, Alaska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fort Yukon, Alaska
Gwichyaa Zheh
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| City of Fort Yukon | |
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 Fort Yukon, Alaska
Location in Alaska
Fort Yukon, Alaska
Location in North America
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Census Area | Yukon-Koyukuk |
| Incorporated | February 17, 1959 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.94 sq mi (17.97 km2) |
| • Land | 6.74 sq mi (17.47 km2) |
| • Water | 0.20 sq mi (0.51 km2) |
| Elevation | 427 ft (130 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 428 |
| • Density | 63.46/sq mi (24.50/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST)) |
| ZIP code |
99740
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| Area code | 907 |
| FIPS code | 02-26760 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1402276 |
Fort Yukon is a city in Alaska, a U.S. state. Its name in the Gwich'in native language is Gwichyaa Zheh. This city is special because it sits right on the Arctic Circle.
Most of the people living in Fort Yukon are Gwich'in Alaska Natives. In 2020, about 428 people lived there. Fort Yukon was the hometown of Don Young, a well-known Congressman from Alaska. The city also holds the record for the highest temperature ever recorded in Alaska! You can get there by flying into Fort Yukon Airport.
Contents
History of Fort Yukon
This area, located north of the Arctic Circle, has been home to indigenous people for thousands of years. The Gwich’in people lived here for a very long time. In their language, Gwich'yaa Zhee means "House on the Flats."
How Fort Yukon Started
Fort Yukon grew from a trading post. A trading post is a place where people trade goods, like furs. Alexander Hunter Murray from the Hudson's Bay Company set up this post on June 25, 1847.
Murray drew many pictures of the trading posts and the people. He also wrote a journal called Journal of the Yukon, 1847–48. This journal gives us a lot of information about the Gwich’in culture back then.
Changes Over Time
Even though the trading post was in what was then called Russian America, the Hudson's Bay Company kept trading there. But after the Alaska Purchase in 1867, when the United States bought Alaska from Russia, American traders took over. The Alaska Commercial Company replaced the Hudson's Bay Company in 1869.
During the Klondike Gold Rush in 1897–1898, many gold seekers came to Fort Yukon. About 200 prospectors came from Dawson City because they were running out of supplies there. A post office opened in Fort Yukon on July 12, 1898.
Over the years, the settlement faced tough times. There were several infectious disease outbreaks. A big flood in 1949 also caused problems.
Modern Fort Yukon
In the 1950s, the United States Air Force built a base and a radar station in Fort Yukon. A radar station uses radio waves to detect objects. The town officially became a city in 1959.
Because Fort Yukon is so far north and close to Fairbanks, it has become a small tourist spot. People like to visit this unique place. On February 7, 1984, a special sounding rocket was launched from Fort Yukon. This rocket could reach a height of about 310 miles (500 km).
Geography of Fort Yukon
Fort Yukon is located on the north bank of the Yukon River. This is where the Yukon River meets the Porcupine River. It's about 145 miles (233 km) northeast of Fairbanks.
The Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is an imaginary line around the Earth. As of 2014, it passes through the southern part of Fort Yukon. The Arctic Circle actually moves a little bit each year, shifting northward by about 14.5 meters (47.6 feet). This movement changes from year to year because of how the Earth's axis wobbles.
Land and Water
According to the United States Census Bureau, Fort Yukon covers about 7.4 square miles (19.2 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 7.0 square miles (18.1 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.4 square miles (1.0 square kilometer), is water.
Climate
Fort Yukon has a very cold subarctic climate. This type of climate has long, cold winters and short, cool summers. In the summer, Fort Yukon experiences the midnight sun, meaning the sun stays visible for 24 hours a day. In December, the sun only appears for a few hours each day.
Temperature Extremes
Summers in Fort Yukon can be surprisingly warm for such a northern place. The highest temperature ever recorded in Alaska happened here! On June 27, 1915, it reached 100°F (38°C). This was also the highest temperature recorded north of the Arctic Circle for a long time. Another place called Verkhoyansk in Russia finally beat this record in 2020.
Fort Yukon also has very harsh winters. It gets colder here than in some other parts of Alaska because it's not as affected by warm chinook winds. Until 1971, Fort Yukon held the record for the lowest temperature ever in Alaska and the United States, at -78°F (-61°C). It still holds the record for the lowest average monthly temperature. In December 1917, the average daily temperature was a freezing -48.3°F (-44.6°C).
| Climate data for Fort Yukon, Alaska (2006–2020 normals, extremes 2002–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 44 (7) |
35 (2) |
51 (11) |
69 (21) |
83 (28) |
90 (32) |
90 (32) |
89 (32) |
71 (22) |
75 (24) |
35 (2) |
40 (4) |
90 (32) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 21.5 (−5.8) |
27.5 (−2.5) |
37.7 (3.2) |
55.6 (13.1) |
75.7 (24.3) |
82.8 (28.2) |
84.2 (29.0) |
77.8 (25.4) |
66.3 (19.1) |
47.4 (8.6) |
24.4 (−4.2) |
24.1 (−4.4) |
85.6 (29.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | −8.6 (−22.6) |
1.3 (−17.1) |
17.5 (−8.1) |
39.0 (3.9) |
60.0 (15.6) |
70.8 (21.6) |
72.3 (22.4) |
64.5 (18.1) |
51.7 (10.9) |
29.7 (−1.3) |
3.9 (−15.6) |
−4.6 (−20.3) |
33.1 (0.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | −16.4 (−26.9) |
−9.7 (−23.2) |
3.7 (−15.7) |
27.3 (−2.6) |
48.6 (9.2) |
60.0 (15.6) |
62.2 (16.8) |
54.8 (12.7) |
42.9 (6.1) |
22.8 (−5.1) |
−4.0 (−20.0) |
−12.6 (−24.8) |
23.3 (−4.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | −24.2 (−31.2) |
−20.7 (−29.3) |
−10.1 (−23.4) |
15.7 (−9.1) |
37.0 (2.8) |
49.1 (9.5) |
52.2 (11.2) |
45.2 (7.3) |
34.1 (1.2) |
15.9 (−8.9) |
−11.8 (−24.3) |
−20.5 (−29.2) |
13.5 (−10.3) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −53.5 (−47.5) |
−47.9 (−44.4) |
−37.0 (−38.3) |
−8.9 (−22.7) |
23.4 (−4.8) |
37.5 (3.1) |
43.7 (6.5) |
33.3 (0.7) |
20.5 (−6.4) |
−9.0 (−22.8) |
−37.3 (−38.5) |
−46.5 (−43.6) |
−56.3 (−49.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −63 (−53) |
−62 (−52) |
−52 (−47) |
−36 (−38) |
6 (−14) |
29 (−2) |
35 (2) |
26 (−3) |
3 (−16) |
−32 (−36) |
−48 (−44) |
−61 (−52) |
−63 (−53) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.46 (12) |
0.51 (13) |
0.37 (9.4) |
0.30 (7.6) |
0.36 (9.1) |
0.76 (19) |
1.44 (37) |
1.38 (35) |
0.87 (22) |
0.93 (24) |
0.61 (15) |
0.64 (16) |
8.63 (219) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 3.8 | 6.4 | 7.0 | 6.3 | 6.6 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 52.7 |
| Source: NOAA (precipitation 1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Fort Yukon (1961–1990 normals, extremes 1889–1990) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 40 (4) |
41 (5) |
50 (10) |
65 (18) |
85 (29) |
100 (38) |
97 (36) |
88 (31) |
79 (26) |
61 (16) |
51 (11) |
37 (3) |
100 (38) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 16.6 (−8.6) |
22.3 (−5.4) |
35.5 (1.9) |
51.9 (11.1) |
72.1 (22.3) |
83.6 (28.7) |
84.9 (29.4) |
78.7 (25.9) |
64.0 (17.8) |
44.1 (6.7) |
18.6 (−7.4) |
17.8 (−7.9) |
87.0 (30.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | −9.9 (−23.3) |
−2.9 (−19.4) |
14.9 (−9.5) |
34.2 (1.2) |
56.2 (13.4) |
71.5 (21.9) |
73.2 (22.9) |
65.7 (18.7) |
50.7 (10.4) |
25.1 (−3.8) |
−0.5 (−18.1) |
−6.3 (−21.3) |
31.1 (−0.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | −18.2 (−27.9) |
−13.4 (−25.2) |
3.1 (−16.1) |
21.4 (−5.9) |
45.0 (7.2) |
60.6 (15.9) |
63.1 (17.3) |
56.3 (13.5) |
41.2 (5.1) |
18.5 (−7.5) |
−8.2 (−22.3) |
−14.8 (−26.0) |
21.2 (−6.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | −26.0 (−32.2) |
−22.1 (−30.1) |
−10.2 (−23.4) |
9.8 (−12.3) |
33.2 (0.7) |
48.9 (9.4) |
52.0 (11.1) |
45.7 (7.6) |
32.5 (0.3) |
11.5 (−11.4) |
−14.0 (−25.6) |
−22.2 (−30.1) |
11.7 (−11.3) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −51.5 (−46.4) |
−48.5 (−44.7) |
−33.3 (−36.3) |
−15.5 (−26.4) |
19.0 (−7.2) |
36.0 (2.2) |
41.7 (5.4) |
31.7 (−0.2) |
18.5 (−7.5) |
−10.8 (−23.8) |
−41.9 (−41.1) |
−48.1 (−44.5) |
−58.5 (−50.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −78 (−61) |
−70 (−57) |
−62 (−52) |
−42 (−41) |
−3 (−19) |
25 (−4) |
25 (−4) |
21 (−6) |
0 (−18) |
−40 (−40) |
−61 (−52) |
−71 (−57) |
−78 (−61) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.46 (12) |
0.35 (8.9) |
0.25 (6.4) |
0.25 (6.4) |
0.34 (8.6) |
0.81 (21) |
0.94 (24) |
1.06 (27) |
0.67 (17) |
0.56 (14) |
0.30 (7.6) |
0.53 (13) |
6.51 (165) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 4.8 (12) |
4.1 (10) |
2.2 (5.6) |
1.6 (4.1) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.5 (1.3) |
4.4 (11) |
3.5 (8.9) |
5.8 (15) |
27.2 (69) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 5.0 | 4.7 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 5.8 | 6.6 | 8.8 | 5.2 | 7.8 | 5.5 | 6.9 | 66.0 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 inch) | 5.8 | 4.7 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 5.0 | 4.4 | 6.5 | 33.9 |
| Source 1: WRCC | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: XMACIS (snowfall) | |||||||||||||
Population of Fort Yukon
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 109 | — | |
| 1900 | 156 | — | |
| 1910 | 321 | 105.8% | |
| 1920 | 319 | −0.6% | |
| 1930 | 304 | −4.7% | |
| 1940 | 274 | −9.9% | |
| 1950 | 446 | 62.8% | |
| 1960 | 701 | 57.2% | |
| 1970 | 448 | −36.1% | |
| 1980 | 619 | 38.2% | |
| 1990 | 580 | −6.3% | |
| 2000 | 595 | 2.6% | |
| 2010 | 583 | −2.0% | |
| 2020 | 428 | −26.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Fort Yukon first appeared in the U.S. Census in 1880. Back then, it was a small village with 109 people. Most of them were from the Tinneh Tribe. The village was not counted in the 1890 census, but it has been included in every census since 1900. Fort Yukon officially became a city in 1959, the same year Alaska became a state.
In 2000, there were 595 people living in Fort Yukon. About 86% of the people were Native American. About 10% were White.
The population was spread out by age. About 33% were under 18 years old. About 27% were between 25 and 44 years old. The average age was 32 years.
Education
The Yukon Flats School District runs the Fort Yukon School, which serves the children of Fort Yukon.
The University of Alaska in Fairbanks also has a special campus facility here. It's called the Yukon Flats Center and helps with learning in rural areas.
Notable People
Many interesting people have connections to Fort Yukon:
- Hudson Stuck (1863–1920): An Episcopal priest, social reformer, and mountain climber. He is buried in the native cemetery here.
- Hannah Paul Solomon (1908–2011): She was the first woman ever elected as mayor of Fort Yukon.
- Jonathon Solomon (1932–2006): He won the Goldman Environmental Prize for his work to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
- Don Young (1933–2022): He was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives for a very long time.
- Clarence Alexander (born 1939): He was the First Chief of Fort Yukon.
- Woodie Salmon (born 1952): A politician who served in the Alaska State House of Representatives. He was also a former Chief of Chalkyitsik and a Council Member and Mayor of Fort Yukon.
- F. Kay Wallis (born c. 1944): A traditional healer and a Representative in the Alaska State House of Representatives.
- Velma Wallis (born 1960): A well-known Native American writer.
See also
In Spanish: Fort Yukón para niños
