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1956 Map of Bettles

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Bettles
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

The Arctic Circle cuts directly through this 1950s landscape, marking a remote interior region defined by the convergence of the Koyukuk River and its major tributaries. The settlement of Evansville serves as a critical transportation hub, anchored by the Bettles Field Airport, while the original site of Bettles sits just to the northwest. This era of the territory shows a landscape navigated by a network of winter trails, connecting isolated outposts like Henshaw Cabin, Oscars Cabin, and Black Jack Cabin.

Along the western reaches, the neighboring villages of Allakaket and Alatna face each other across the river, illustrating the historical proximity of these distinct communities. Further east, the Jack White Range and Caribou Mountain overlook the complex drainage of the Kanuti River and Jim River. The presence of the Ironsides Bar Mine on the South Fork Koyukuk River hints at the mineral extraction history that drew prospectors into these high latitudes long before the advent of modern infrastructure.