History of Platinum

Mining village reported to have been named in the 1930's by Sam Cotten, a former miner, for the platinum deposits in the vicinity. In 1937 Platinum was Alaska's newest boomtown with a population of 50, two trading posts, a roadhouse and a post office which was established in 1935 (Ricks, 1965, p. 51) . Adjoining it was a Eskimo village, now abandoned, named "Agvik," reported to mean "small stone to Sharpen Knives,: The Eskimo name was obtained about 1951 at Goodnews by J. M. Hoare, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). In 1950 the population of Platinum was 72, and the village was the center of most of the commercial activity in t he area (U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, 1954, p. 516). The population was 43 in 1960 and 55 in 1970. Platinum was incorporated as a city on February 13, 1975.

Found on the following Topo Maps

Places Near Platinum

Klahangamut,

Goodnews Bay,

North Spit, South Spit,

Platinum,

Flat Cape,

Machewik Mountain,

Nanvakfak Lake,

Beluga Hill, Kemuk Mountain, Kigtsugtag Mountain, Kigtsugtag Mountain, Lump Mountain, Red Mountain, Susie Mountain, Peak T, Thorsen Mountain,

Kiglapak Mountains,

Limestone Ridge,

Kinegnak River, Salmon River, Salmon River, Smalls River, Tunulik River, Unaluk River,

Anita Creek, Boulder Creek, Clara Creek, Dowry Creek, Happy Creek, Kookukluk Creek, Kookukluk Creek, Last Chance Creek, Last Chance Creek, McCann Creek, Medicine Creek, Platinum Creek, Poker Creek, Quartz Creek, Seattle Creek, Sphinx Creek, Squirrel Creek, Susie Creek, Tundra Creek,

Dry Gulch, Fox Gulch, Snow Gulch,

Goodnews Mining Camp, Kinegnak,