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The History of Denali Borough

More Alaska Community Histories


Denali Borough lies in Interior Alaska, between the Fairbanks North Star and Mat-Su Boroughs. Much of the Borough is the Denali National Park, home to Mount McKinley, the highest mountain in North America, at 20,320'. It lies at approximately 63° 51' N Latitude, 148° 58' W Longitude . The community is located in the Nenana Recording District. The area encompasses 12,780 sq. miles of land and 0 sq. miles of water.

The earliest inhabitants were nomadic Indians who fished, trapped and hunted through the Interior. The first non-Native settlers were miners, who established a camp at Hoseanna Creek near Healy (later known as Lignite Creek) prior to 1902. Construction of the Alaska Railroad brought additional settlers to the area in the early 1920s. Clear Air Force Base, the Usibelli Coal Mine and tourism at the Denali Park have brought growth and development. The Borough was incorporated in December 1990.


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History and map graphic used with permission from the Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development

















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