Valdez-Cordova Census Area - AKGenWeb Home Page


	ALASKA GENWEB PROJECT VALDEZ - CORDOVA CENSUS AREA

HOME PAGE
Welcome to to the Alaska GenWeb Project. I'm Jo Slade, your Valdez-Cordova Census Area Coordinator. All that means is that I handle the computer end of things. Please feel free to make this site your own. You are welcome to submit any data, photos, or other information that you think would be helpful for genealogical researchers. Items can be submitted as Word documents, Excel Documents, or scans.

WHAT'S NEW?

Easily determine what material has been added since your last visit to this website.

AIRCRAFT

A list of ownership of all airplanes in this Census Area.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Please submit any good local history sources that you are aware of.

BIOGRAPHIES

Under development.

BOATS

A list of all boats registered in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area. Sorted by name of boat.

A-L

M-Z

CEMETERIES &
FUNERAL HOMES

Under development. Please consider transcribing or photographing a cemetery for this website!

Indian Cemetery

Latitude(DEC) 62.0080556 Longitude(DEC) -146.2486111
Latitude(DMS) 620029N Longitude(DMS) 1461455W
Map Name Gulkana A-5

CHURCHES

Under development.

DEATHS

Compiled from the Social Security Death Index.

Deaths A-F

Deaths G-M

Deaths N-Z

DEEDS

Sarah Rennie, Chitina Recorder
Box 2023,Valdez, AK 99686/
(Phys. Location)
213 Meals Avenue, Suite 30
Valdez, AK 99686
(907) 835-3153
(Fax) 835-3153

Chitina Recording District covers the following areas:
Atlasta House * Batzulnetas * Blackburn * Bremner * Chip's Cabin * Chisna * Chistochina * Chitina * Chokosna * Copper Center * Dan Creek * Dempsey * Devils Mtn. Lodge * Elliott * Eureka Lodge * Gakona * Gakona Jct * Gakona Jct * Gatoway Lodge * Glacier Creek * Glennallen * Glennallen Lodge * Granby * Gulkana * Haggard * Hufmans * Kennicott * Lower Tonsina * McCarthy * Meier Lodge * Mentasta Lake * Nelchina * Paxson * Ryan Lodge * Sinona Lodge * Slana * Slate Creek * Sourdough * Strelna * Taral * Tazlina * Tazlina Glacier Lodge * Tonsina

Beverly Morrow,Cordova Recorder
550 West 7th Ave., Suite 1200,
Anchorage, AK 99501-3564
(907) 269-8876
(Fax) 269-6006

Cordova Recording District covers the following areas:
Alaganik * Boswell Bay * Cape Hinchinbrook * Cape St. Elias * Cape Yakataga * Cordova * Crystal Falls * Eyak * Icy Bay * Katalla * Kokinhenik * Long Lake * Miles Glacier * Mummy Bay * Nelson * Nuchek * Orca * Port Ashton * Redwood

Sarah Rennie, Valdez Recorder
Box 2023,Valdez, AK 99686/
(Phys. Location)
213 Meals Avenue, Suite 30
Valdez, AK 99686
(907) 835-3153
(Fax) 835-3153

Valdez Recording District covers the following areas:
Axel Lind Island. * Busby Island * Chenega * Crab Bay * Crafton Island * Dayville * Drier Bay * Dutch Group * Ellamar * Ernestine (Aband) * Fairmount Island * Falls Bay * Golden * Kings Bay * Knight(s) Island * Landlock * Latouche * Middleton Island * Olsen Island * Parshas * Peak Island * Perry Island * Port Benny * Port Crawford * Port Nellie Juan * Port Oceanic * Ptarmigan * Sawmill Bay * Swanport * Tatitlek * Thumb Bay * Tiekel * Valdez

FAMILY HISTORY CENTER (MORMON)

Cordova Family History Center
1.5 Miles Whitshed Rd
Cordova, Alaska
Phone: 907-424-7771

Valdez Family History Center
750 Meals Avenue
Valdez, Alaska
Phone: 907-835-4957

LOOKUPS AND VOLUNTEERS

We need you! Please visit this page to see how you can help.

MAPS

Nice collection of Alaska maps to help you with your research

MUSEUMS, LIBRARIES &
HISTORICAL SOCIETIES

Great source to start your research.

NATIVE CULTURE MAP

Shows the Native groups in Southern Alaska, courtesy of W. "Bill" Jones of Stratford, Florida

NEWSPAPERS - CURRENT

The Cordova Times

The Valdez Star

NEWSPAPERS-HISTORICAL

Information on what newspapers were available and for which periods of time.

OBITUARIES

Send any obits that you have in for posting.

PHOTOS

Under development. Feel free to submit photos for posting.

PIONEERS

Under development.

PROBATE AND COURT RECORDS

QUERY / MESSAGE BOARDS

These have been upgraded and combined with the Ancestry Boards. Post/View queries, bios, bible records, deeds, obits, pensions, and wills here. These are a valuable resource and all genealogists need to learn how to use them.

RESOURCES

Where to write for information

SURNAMES

Research your family name through the Ancestry.com surname boards

TIMELINE OF ALASKA HISTORY

A brief timeline to help you figure out what happened and when.

TOWNS, VILLAGES & POPULATED PLACES

Alaganik

No information available. Located on USGS Cordova B-1 map.

Batzulnetas
(historical)

History: from unpublished manuscript by Walter James Hoffman (ca. 1895), Batzulnetas was an Thtena Indian village near the upper Copper River where the trail to Tanana River began. from that of a chieftain of the Ahtena, who lived on the Copper River near the mouth of the Slana River. USA, wrote, on June 2, 1885, that Batzulneta "was six feet four inches high, and clad in a blouse of scarlet flannel * * * pair of native trousers * * * a black woolen hat with strips of red flannel, completed his costume. a tangled roll three feet long." Description: site of Indian village, on N bank of Tanada Creek 0.9 mi. SE of its junction with Copper River; Copper River Basin.

Boswell Bay

History: Local name obtained in 1952 by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Description: near Boswell Bay, 16 mi. SW of Cordova, Chugach Mts

Cape Yakataga

History: Local name reported in 1904 by G. C. Martin, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The Indian name "Yakataga" is said to mean "canoe road" because of two reefs forming a canoe passage to the village. A post office was established here in 1935. Description: population 48, at Cape Yakataga, on N coast of Gulf of Alaska, 25 mi. WNW of Icy Cape, Chugach Mts.

Chenega
(historical)

History: Name of an Indian village reported by Ivan Petrff in the 1880 census (1884, p. 28). A post office was established here in 1946 (Ricks, 1965, p. 10) but was discontinued when the village was destroyed by the 1964 Alaska earthquake and abandoned. Description: On Kenai Peninsula, on S tip of Chenega I., at head of Chenega Cove, 42 mi. SE of Whittier, Chugach Mts.

Chenega Bay

History: Native American name. Description: Located in Chugach National Forest onN shore of Sawmill Bay, on the SE coast of Evans Island, Prince William Sound.

Chisana

History: Local name derived from the nearby river, reported by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 1913 (in Brooks and others, 1914, pl. 14). Description: in Nutzotin Mts., on N, bank of Chathenda Creek 1.7 mi. E of its junction with Chisana River and 4.5 mi. E of Euchre Mtn. Alaska Range

Chisana
(historical)

History: Former Indian settlement and mining camp established in 1913 (Swanton, 1952, p. 537). The village population was 148 in 1920; 13 in 1930; and 28 in 1939. The Chisana post office operated from 1913 to 1938. Description: on E bank of Cross Creek near the Chisana River 30 mi. SE of Nabesna, Wrangell Mts

Chistochina

History: This place was the name of a U.S. Army Signal Corps telegraph station, established in 1903. During the construction of Glenn Highway, it became the name of a roadhouse. Description: population 28 on Glenn Highway, 42 mi. NE of Glennallen, Copper River Basin

Chitina

History: Railroad and mining supply town established about 1908 on the northern terminus of the Copper River and Northwestern RR. located at or near an Indian village or camp. population was 171 in 1920; 116 in 1930; 176 in 1939; and 92 in 1950. Description: on W bank of Copper River, 3 mi. N of Taral and 66 mi. ENE of Valdez; Chugach Mts

Copper Center

History: A trading post was located here about 1896. The village began as a mining camp when about 300 prospectors wintered here in 1898-99. With the establishment of a telegraph station by the U.S. Army Signal Corps about 1901, the village, being on the Fairbanks-Valdez trail, became the principal settlement and supply center in the Nelchina-Susitna Region. Its population was 91 in 1910; 71 in 1920; 80 in 1930; 138 in 1939; 90 in 1950, and 151 in 1960. Description: On the Klutina River, 1 mi W of its jucntion with the Copper River and 66 mi NE of Valdez, Copper River Basin.

Copperville

No information available. Located on USGS Gulkana A-3 map.

Cordova

History: Named by Michael J. Heney, builder of the Copper River and Northwestern Railroad, about 1906. A post office was established here in October 1906 (Ricks, 1965, p. 14). The town had its origin as the railroad terminus and ocean shipping port for the copper ore shipped from the Kennicott mine up the Copper River. "On April 8, 1911, Cordova celebrated 'Copper Day,' when the first trainload of copper ore, approximately 1,200 tons of it, arrived from the mines and was poured into the holds of the steamship Northwestern, bound for the smelter at Tacoma (Washington)" (Roguszka, 1964, p. 9). The name of the town was derived from the original name "Puerto Cordova," given to what is now known as Orca Bay, by Senor Don Calvador Fidalgo who visted the region in 1790. Description: population 1,128 on SE shore of Orca Inlet, opposite Hawkins I., Chugach Mts

Crystal Falls

History: Local name reported in 1905 by G. C. Martin (1906, pl. 12), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Description: along right bank of Mountain Slough, 4 mi. S of Cordova, Malaspina Coastal Plain

Ellamar

History: The Ellamar Mining Co. was formed in 1898, a year after the first claims were located. A post office was established at this copper mining camp in 1900; it was discontinued in 1929 (Ricks, 1965, p. 19). Description: population 46, on E shore of Virgin Bay, 40 mi. NW of Cordova, Chugach Mts

Eyak
(historical)

History: Former Eskimo village reported in 1869 as "Hyacks" by Major General W. E. Halleck, USA. It was listed by Ivan Petroff in the 1880 Census as "Ihiak." The population was 94 in 1890; 222 in 1900. In 1899 Lieutenant Commander J. F. Moser, U.S. Navy (USN), reported it as a cannery called "Odiak" with a population of 273 (Hodge, 1907, p. 448). Description: along Copper River Highway, 5.5 mi. SE of Cordova, Malaspina Coastal Plain

Gakona
Pop. 33

History: A trading post and post office were established in 1905. The name was derived from the Gakona River. Description: on Glenn Highway, at junction of Copper and Gakona Rivers, 15 mi. NE of Glennallen, Copper River Basin.

Gakona Junction

No information available. Located on USGS Gulkana B-3 map.

Glennallen

History: Named for Captain Edwin F. Glenn and Lieutenant Henry T. Allen, United States Army, both leaders in the early explorations of the Copper River region in the 1880's. Description: On the Glen Highway, 2 mi. W of junction of Glenn and Richardson Highways, 7 mi NW of the confluence of the Tazlina River and the Copper River, 110 mi N of Cordova

Golden

History: Local name established here as a post office in 1904 and discontinued in 1916 (Ricks, 1965, p. 23). The village is now abandoned. Description: on E side of Port Wells, 28 mi. NE of Whittier, Chugach Mts.

Gulkana

History: This village was established about 1903 as a telegraph station and named "Kulkana" by the U.S. Army Signal Corps after the nearby river. The Gulkana post office operated between 1909 and 1954 (Ricks, 1965, p. 24). Description: population 59, on Richardson Highway at Gulkana River crossing, 1.6 mi. SW of junction of Glenn and Richardson Highways, Copper River Basin.

Katalla

No information available. Located on USGS Cordova A-2 map.

Kayak
(historical)

History: name of a former settlement and steamer landing. was established here in 1900; discontinued in 1906 (Ricks, 1965, p. 32). Description: site of a former village on SE coast of Wingham I., 61 mi. SE of Cordova; Malaspina Coastal Plain

Kennicott

History: The Kennecott Mines Company, which established a camp and offices here in 1906, took its name from Kennicott Glacier. The glacier was named for Major Robert Kennicott. In 1908, the post office of Kennecott was established and continued to operate until 1938. (Ricks, 1965, p. 33). The town, which grew to a population of 494 by 1920, took its name from the mining company, but it has been spelled variously through the years. Description: On the N bank of National Creek, E edge of Kennicott Glacier, 4 mi N of McCarthy, Wrangell Mts

Kenny Lake

No information available. Located on USGS Valdez C-3 map.

Kiniklik
(historical)

History: Eskimo name reported in 1900 by F. C. Schrader, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), as "Kinicklick." Description: 0.5 mi. N of Kiniklik I. and 37 mi. NE of Whittier; Chugach Mts

Latouche

History: A mining village and landing on Latouche Island. A post office was established here in 1905, but was discontinued in 1955 (Ricks, 1965, p. 39). Recent maps indicate a settlement of about 20 buildings at the site. Description: on NW coast of Latouche I., 18 mi. SE of Chenega, Chugach Mts

Liebigstag
(historical)

History: A former Ahtena Indian village reported in 1885 as "Liebigstag's by Lieutenant Allen (1887, p. 120), USA. Description: "on the left bank of Copper River. USGS map Valdez D-5.

Lower Tonsina

History: This probably was little more than a roadhouse; first reported by F. H. Moffit, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in 1914. Description: 1 mi. NW of junction of Tonsina River with Copper River, 64 mi. NE of Valdez, Copper River Basin.

Matanuska
(historical)

History: Former Indian village reported in 1898 by Captain E. F. Glenn, USA. See Miduuski. Description: on E shore of Old Man Lake, 21 mi. W of junction of Tolsona Creek and Tazlina River, Copper River Basin.

May Creek

History: Local name obtained by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and published on maps since 1954. Description: on Dan Creek Road at May Creek crossing, 9 mi. SE of McCarthy, St. Elias Mts.

McCarthy

History: Mining camp named for the stream established about 1908 with a population of 127 in 1920; 115 in 1930; and 49 in 1939. The McCarthy post office operated from 1912 to 1943. See Kennicott. Description: at mouth of McCarthy Creek, near Kennicott Glacier, 12 mi. NE of the junction of the Nizina and Chitina Rivers, Wrangell Mts.

Meakerville

History: Name of a settlement reported in 1955 by Rand McNally.
Description: population 48, on Odiak Slough, 0.5 mi. S of Cordova, Chugach Mts.

Mendeltna

No information available. Located on USGS Gulkana A-5 map

Mendeltna Lodge

No information available. Located on USGS Gulkana A-6 map

Mentasta Lake

History: this appears to be an early Indian settlement site which has been located in more than one place around Mentasta Lake. P. G. Lowe in 1898 reported near the lake an Indian's house which he called John's House or John's Village, after the Indian occupant. The U.S. Army Signal Corps established a telegraph station in the pass in 1902. area has been the best known route of native migration across the Alaska Range since the first native settlements here. Mentasta Lake post office was established in 1947 and discontinued in 1951 (Rices, 1965, p. 42). "Montasta Lake native village" with a population of 15. Description: population 40, on shore of Mentasta Lake, on W side of Mentasta Pass, 38 mi. SW of Tok; Alaska Range.

Nabesna

History: This village began as a camp of the Nabesna Mining Co., from which its name was derived. Its first post office was established in 1909 (Ricks, 1965, p. 44). Description: population 41, W of Nabesna River, at base of White Mtn., 84 mi. NE of Glennallen, Wrangell Mts

Nelchina

No information available. Located on USGS Valdez D-8 map

Nuchek (historical)

History: site of an abandoned Eskimo village (Hodge, 1910, p. 90). The Russians built a stockade post here about 1793 called "Fort Konstantine" probably named for Grand Duke Constantine, the younger brother of Czar Alexander II. 1880 was 74, in 1890, 145. Description: on Hinchinbrook I., on N shore of Port Etches, 35 mi. SW of Cordova; Chugach Mts

Old Valdez

Description: On the E end of Port Valdez, 3.1 mi SE of the City of Valdez.

Orca

History: Named for a fishing vessel of the Pacific Steam Whaling Co. which opened a cannery here at the end of the 19th century. A post office was established here in July 1804, but discontinued in 1909 (Ricks, 1965,p49).(AK-T1) Description: Located on the southeast shore of Orca Inlet, 2.5 miles northeast of Cordova, Chugach Mountains.

Paxson

No information available. Located on USGS Mount Hayes A-4 map

Port Ashton

History: Fishing village reported in 1943 by US@C&GS. A post office was established here in 1952 (Ricks, 1965, p. 53). Description: on E coast of Evans I., NW shore of Sawmill Bay, 17 mi. S of Chenega, Chugach Mts.

Port San Juan

No information available. Located on USGS Seward A-3 map

Ptarmigan

History: This place originated as a roadhouse or station on the Valdez winter trail. Description: along Richardson Highway, at junction of Ptarmigan Creek and Tsina River, 1 mi. E of Ptarmigan Drop and 22 mi. NE of Valdez, Chugach Mts.

Redwood
(historical)

History: Name of a mining community reported in 1905 by G. C. Martin, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The village is now abandoned. Description: on right bank of Mitcher Creek, 3.5 mi. E of Katalla, Chugach Mts.

Slana

History: Indian village name derived from name of river on which it is located; published in 1936 by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Description: population 12, S of Glenn Highway, on N bank of Slana River near its junction with Copper River, 53 mi. SW of Tok, Alaska Range

Strelna

History: This small community and mining camp were named in association with the stream, and the name was reported by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 1910. The Strelna Post Office was in operation from 1912 to 1925. Description: Located on Strelna Creek, 1.7 mi north of its junction with the Kuskulana River, 77 mi northeast of Valdez, in the Wrangell Mountains.

Tatitlek

History: Indian village reported by Ivan Petroff in the 1880 Census as "Tatikhlek," population 73; 90 in 1890. The present spelling was published by Grant and Higgins (1910, pl. 2), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). T. E. Gerdine, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) wrote, "formerly it stood at the head of Gladhaugh Bay, but some years ago it was moved to its present site near Copper Mountain." A post office was established here in 1946 (Ricks, 1965, p. 64). Description: population 96, on NE shore of Tatitlek Narrows, 1 mi. NE of Bligh I. and 40 mi. NW of Cordova, Chugach Mts.

Tazlina

History: Local name of a roadhouse reported by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (in Brooks and others, 1914, pl. 11) as being on the Copper River at the mouth of the Tazlina River. The name has been transferred to this lodge on the Glenn Highway. Description: on Glenn Highway, 30 mi. W of Glennallen, Copper River Basin.

Tolsona

No information available. Located on USGS Gulkana A-5 map

Tonsina

History: A telegraph station was established here in 1902 by the U.S. Army Signal Corps. was discontinued in 196. discontinued in 1933. Description: on Richardson Highway, 0.5 mi. S of Tonsina River and 52 mi. NE of Valdez; Chugach Mts.

Valdez

History: Town established in 1898 as a debarkation point, with an excellent ice-harbor, for men seeking a route to the Klondik gold region. It was originally called "Copper City" but name was changed when the Valdez post office was established in 1899. Valdez soon became the supply center of its own gold mining region. The town is located on the distributary delta of Valdez Glacier, and was severely damaged during the 1964 Good Friday earthquake (plans are being made to move the town to more stable ground three miles northwest.) The population was 315 in 1900; 810 in 1910; 466 in 1920; 442 in 1930; 529 in 1939; and 554 in 1950. Description: On E end of Port Valdez, 45 mi. NW of Cordova and 115 mi. E of Anchorage Chugach Mts.

Whitshed

History: Local name published in 1951 by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on a map indicating a probable cannery with two or three buildings. Name derived from nearby Point Whitshed. Description: In the Chugach Mountains, on peninsula 8 mi SW of Cordova.

Whittier

History: Port and RR terminus established during World War II. The name derived from nearby Whittier Glacier was reported in 1943 by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The population in 1950 was 629. A post office was established here in 1946 and was discontinued in 1961 (Ricks, 1965, p. 71). Description: population 809, on NE end of Kenai Peninsula, at head of Passage Canal, 28 mi. SE of Sunrise and 50 mi. SE of Anchorage, Chugach Mts.

Willow Creek

No information available. Located on USGS Valdez D-4 map

Wortmanns

History: Former roadhouse and mining camp reported 1908 by Moffit and Maddren (190 (1909, pl. 1) U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Description: on Richardson Highway 1.5 mi. NE of mouth of Bear Creek and 15 mi. E of Valdez, Chugach Mts.

VITAL RECORDS

Handled by the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics. Under Alaska law, all Vital Statistics records are strictly confidential until they become public records. Births become public records 100 years after the event; deaths, marriages, and divorces become public records 50 years after the event.

YEARBOOKS

This is an area where volunteers can be of great help. If you have an old yearbook, scan it in and send it to the Borough Coordinator.

This page was last modified: Wednesday, 15-Sep-2010 15:15:09 MDT

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ALASKA GENWEB PROJECT

VALDEZ - CORDOVA CENSUS AREA

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