Fort Yukon, Alaska

Fort Yukon is a village in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area that straddles the Arctic Circle on the north bank of the Yukon River, where it meets the Porcupine River, about 145 miles northeast of Fairbanks. It had 428 residents in 2020, most of them Gwich’in Alaska Natives.[1]

History

Indigenous peoples occupied the area for thousands of years. The Hudson’s Bay Company established a trading post on 25 June 1847, and American traders expelled the company in 1869 after the Alaska Purchase. A post office opened in 1898 and the town incorporated in 1959.[1]

People

Most residents are Gwich’in Alaska Natives. The population fell from 595 in 2000 to 428 in 2020, and the town has become a minor tourist destination since the late 20th century.[1]

Climate records

Fort Yukon recorded Alaska’s highest temperature, 100°F (37.8°C), on 27 June 1915. It also recorded −78°F (−61.1°C) on 14 January 1934, which was the lowest temperature in Alaska and the United States until 1971. The lowest mean monthly temperature on record was December 1917, averaging −48.3°F.[1]

FAQs

Where is Fort Yukon? On the Yukon River at the mouth of the Porcupine River, on the Arctic Circle.

When was the trading post founded? 25 June 1847.

What temperature records are held here? Alaska’s highest, 100°F in 1915.

Sources

1. Wikipedia (via Wikiwand): Fort Yukon, Alaska

Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 13, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue