1956 Map of Bettles

About this map

Bettles and Evansville serve as northern hubs along the John River in this mid-century survey of the Koyukuk region. The landscape is defined by the intersection of the Arctic Circle with a network of winter trails and remote outposts, including Oscars Cabin and Black Jack Cabin. Mining history is visible in the northeast at Gold Bench Mine and Ironsides Bar Mine near the Jim River, reflecting a period when small-scale extraction and subsistence trapping were the primary drivers of settlement. The map documents the critical role of aviation and seasonal transport, anchoring the region with the Bettles Field Airport and several Winter Trails that connect the isolated villages of Allakaket and Alatna to the broader interior. Extensive wetlands and lakes like Sithylemenkat Lake dominate the central lowlands, flanked by the high elevations of the Bettles Range and Caribou Mountain.