Council, AK (Ghost town)

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Council is an abandoned townsite in the Nome Census Area of Alaska. Located at the terminus of the Nome/Council road, 60 miles northeast of Nome.

Historically, this was a fish camp for the Fish River Tribe, until 1897 when the second-richest gold claim in the world was discovered at nearby Ophir creek. By 1898 there were 50 log homes built by prospectors. During the summer mining seasons of 1897-99, the population of "Council City" was estimated at 15,000. It had a hotel, wooden boardwalks, a 20-bed hospital, a post office and numerous bars. After the gold was depleted, the 1918 flu epidemic, the great depression, and WWII, the population declined to only nine residents by 1950. The post office was closed in 1953.

Now used primarily as a summer fish camp by visiting residents of Nome, and for casual gold prospecting. Several Nome residents maintain summer homes in Council.

Info: www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/commdb/CIS_2.cfm?Comm_Boro...