Wrangell is a city and borough on the northern tip of Wrangell Island in Southeast Alaska, across Zimovia Strait from the mouth of the Stikine River. It had 2,127 residents at the 2020 census and is the only Alaskan city to have been governed under four flags.[1]
| Population (2020) | 2,127 |
|---|---|
| Borough area | 3,476.61 sq mi |
| Reincorporated | 30 May 2008 |
| Flags | Tlingit, Russian, British, American |
History
Tlingit people used the Stikine River as a trade route for thousands of years. Russian traders arrived in 1811 and Baron Ferdinand Wrangel ordered a stockade, Redoubt Saint Dionysius, in 1834. The Hudson’s Bay Company leased it in 1839 as Fort Stikine and left in 1849, and the United States built Fort Wrangell in 1868.[1]
Gold rushes
Gold rushes in 1861, 1874–77 and 1897 boosted commerce. Wrangell incorporated as a city in 1903 and as a city and borough on 30 May 2008.[1]
FAQs
Where is Wrangell? On Wrangell Island in Southeast Alaska.
Why four flags? Tlingit, Russian, British and American rule.
What river is nearby? The Stikine River.
Sources
Key facts
- Four flags
- Fort Wrangell 1868
- Stikine gateway
Quick checkPopulation?Show answer
2,127 (2020).
Sources
- Wikipedia. Wrangell, Alaska. 2026 (accessed 2026-11-12)
Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 12, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue