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Nikolai
Nikolai is located in Interior Alaska on
the South Fork of the Kuskokwim River, 46 air miles east of McGrath. It
lies at approximately 62° 58' N Latitude, 154° 09' W Longitude (Sec. 36,
T028S, R023E, Kateel River Meridian). The community is located in the
Mt. McKinley Recording District. The area encompasses 5 sq. miles of
land and 0 sq. miles of water.
 Nikolai
is an Upper Kuskokwim Athabascan village, and has been relocated at
least twice since the 1880s. One of the former sites was reported in
1899 to have a population of six males. The present site was established
around 1918. Nikolai was the site of a trading post and roadhouse during
the gold rush. It was situated on the Rainy Pass Trail, which connected
the Ophir gold mining district to Cook Inlet. It became a winter trail
station along the Nenana-McGrath Trail, which was used until 1926. By
1927, the St. Nicholas Orthodox Church was constructed. In 1948, a
private school was established, and in 1949, a post office opened. Local
residents cleared an airstrip in 1963, which heralded year-round
accessibility to the community.
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