York, Alaska, was a mining settlement located at the mouth of the Anikovik River on the Seward Peninsula. Established during the late 19th century, it was part of the Nome Census Area. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: Nome Census Area
Zip Code: Not available
Latitude / Longitude: Approximately 65.494°N, 167.684°W
Elevation: Not available
Time Zone: Alaska Standard Time (AKST) (UTC-9)
Established: Late 19th century
Disestablished: Early 20th century
Comments: York was situated about 80 miles northwest of Nome and 45 miles northwest of Port Clarence. The settlement was part of the gold rush era but was abandoned in the early 20th century. Notably, every resident of York died during the influenza epidemic of 1918.
York was a settlement in the U.S. state of Alaska. The mining camp was situated at the mouth of Anikovik River, at Cape York on the Seward Peninsula. It was a distributing point for the region lying to the north. In the spring of 1900, York promised to be a place of importance, but in the early fall, its population had been reduced to about 20-30.
The settlement included a number of log cabins and half a dozen substantial frame buildings. During the stormy months of the fall, landing at York was difficult. It was reached overland with horses from Port Clarence. Fifteen miles to the west of York, at Cape Prince of Wales, is the city of Kengegan (Wales), which is the westernmost settlement on the North American continent.
Remains: The area is now largely overgrown, with few visible remnants of its past structures.
Current Status: Abandoned
Remarks: York’s history is a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by early settlers in Alaska, including the devastating impact of the 1918 influenza epidemic.
