Ophir is a ghost town located in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area of Alaska. Once a bustling mining community during the early 20th-century gold rush, it now stands abandoned, serving as a checkpoint in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area
Zip Code: Not available
Latitude / Longitude: 63°8′4″N, 156°28′18″W
Elevation: Approximately 568 feet (173 meters)
Time Zone: Alaska Standard Time (AKST) (UTC-9)
Established: 1906
Disestablished: Not officially disestablished; population declined over time
Comments: Ophir was named by miners after the wealthy land of Ophir mentioned in the Old Testament. The area experienced a gold rush in 1906, with the population peaking at 122 in 1910. As gold resources dwindled, residents moved to more prosperous areas, leading to its abandonment. Today, Ophir serves as a checkpoint in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. (Wikipedia) Ophir is an unincorporated area located in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. It was named by miners after the wealthy land of Ophir mentioned in the Old Testament. The area was the site of a gold rush in 1906. Ophir reached a peak population of 122 in 1910. Mining still goes on at Ganes and Little Creeks, and probably at Ophir Creek (2006). Further downriver, on the east side, there were mining operations at Folger, Cripple, Bear and Colorado Creeks. Bear Creek and Colorado still are actively mined (2006). Mining of tailings was underway at Cripple in 2010.
Remains: Some structures and remnants of the town’s past are still visible, though many have deteriorated over time.
Current Status: Abandoned
Remarks: Ophir’s historical significance remains, offering insights into the early development of Alaska’s mining communities.
