Chandalar, Alaska

At least two communities bore the name of Chandalar before the present one. The Chandalar Mining Camp[2] was located several miles to the northeast of the current Chandalar.[3] 67°35′28″N 148°09′37″W[4] This settlement was developed as a mining camp in about 1906-07, and a post office was established in 1908, but it was shut down in 1944.[5]

Also at or adjacent to this location was the mining camp of Little Squaw, which was along the same named creek. Little Squaw had been named for the daughter of Frank & Nevelo Yasuda, who helped found this mining area.[6] Little Squaw appeared twice on the U.S. Census, reporting a population of 8 in 1930[7] and 10 in 1940.[8] In at least one instance, Little Squaw and Chandalar were reported as being the same place on the 1951 USGS Chandalar Topographical Map.[9]

The present-day census-designated place of Venetie, Alaska was also called Chandalar Village.[10] It is unclear if this was the "Chandalar" reported on the 1920 and 1930 U.S. Censuses. Maps of the time were not clear on the location, though the 1929 USGS Topographical Map of Chandalar-Sheenjek Region, Alaska [11] reported Chandalar at the present location of Venetie. A review of the names on the census rolls for 1930 Chandalar and 1940 Venetie would confirm whether this was the same location.

The name was removed to the present settlement on Chandalar Lake by the airport around the 1940s.

Chandalar has a continental subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc). The nearest weather station is at Chandalar Lake.

• Lanigan's Retreat