Page Contents for Platinum, Alaska

Statistics & Facts

Location

Weather & Climate

History & History-related items

Government

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The Alaska state capital is Juneau.
The population of Platinum is approximately 64 (1990), 61 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 45 (1990), 19 (2010).
The amount of land area in Platinum is 115.413 sq. kilometers.
The amount of land area in Platinum is 45 sq. miles.
The amount of surface water is 0 sq kilometers.
The distance from Platinum to Washington DC is 4314 miles.
The distance to the Alaska state capital is 1097 miles. (as the crow flies)
Platinum is positioned 58.97 degrees north of the equator and 161.72 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Platinum median income is $ 23,056.
Platinum average annual precipitation is 22 inches peryear.
Platinum average annual snowfall is 43 inches per year.
The average high temperature is (summer) 55, (winter) 7 degrees F.

Location

on the Bering Sea coast, below Red Mountain on the south spit of Goodnews Bay. It lies 11 miles from Goodnews Bay. It is 440 miles west of Anchorage
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Climate

marine
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Weather

typical of the area. Temperatures in the area have measured as high as 82 and as low as -34.
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History & History Related Items

Platinum was discovered here in 1926 by an Eskimo man, Walter Smith. The village was founded soon after. Several small mines were opened around the village with good strikes all around. The "big strike" came in October of 1936. This brought many prospectors into the area hoping to strike it rich. The Platinum, for the most part, was too difficult to mine for these prospectors. Large mining companies gradually bought out all the claims. One of the largest, the Goodnews Mining Co., built a "company town" for their workers, including offices, shops, a cafeteria, sleeping areas and more with all amenities supplied by the mining company. Over the years, many thousands of ounces of platinum were brought up out of the earth. The mines eventually closed in 1990.

Most of the population here are Alaskan natives. A recognized tribe is in the community. Because of so many outside people in this area, traditional language and customs have not been retained as much as in other, more remote, areas. English is the first language of the school children.
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Platinum City Government

Platinum is an incorporated second class city and is not located in an organized borough. A borough in Alaska is similar to a county in the other US states.

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City of Platinum
P.O. Box 2
Platinum, AK 99651
Phone: 907-979-8114
Fax: 907-979-8210

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Village Corporation - Arviq, Incorporated
P.O. Box 9
Platinum, AK 99651
Phone: 907-979-8113
Fax: 907-979-8114

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Village Council - Platinum Traditional Village
P.O. Box 8
Platinum, AK 99651
Phone: 907-979-8177
Fax: 907-979-8178
e-mail: Platinum@smtp.ak.bia.gov Platinum

Miscellany

The population of Platinum was:
1990 - 64
1999 - 43