ZIP Code 99740 in Fort Yukon, AK

Community Overview

Fort Yukon sits 145 air miles north of Fairbanks in Alaska's interior, where the Yukon River crosses the Arctic Circle. This Gwich'in Athabascan community of 428 residents is one of Alaska's most isolated settlements. With 84% of the population identifying as Alaska Native (359 of 428 residents), Fort Yukon maintains a strong indigenous character while serving as the largest village in the Yukon Flats.

Geographic Context

This ZIP code covers 10,581 square miles of territory, making it one of the largest postal zones in America. For comparison, that's larger than the entire state of Massachusetts. Despite this enormous geographic reach, the community has minimal street addressing infrastructure. The ZIP+4 database records just one street (E 3rd Ave), and there's no carrier route delivery in the traditional sense. Instead, mail arrives by bush plane to the Fort Yukon post office.

Why PO Boxes and General Delivery Are Essential

Fort Yukon is a PO Box Only Zone, meaning there's no alternative mail delivery anywhere across this vast territory. Surprisingly, the post office maintains just 14 PO Boxes for 203 households. This 0.07 adoption rate (7% of households) seems impossibly low for a mandatory PO Box zone, but it's explained by General Delivery service. The data shows General Delivery is available (RouteG_General), and one rural route record exists in the ZIP+4 database. Many residents likely receive mail through General Delivery rather than renting dedicated boxes.

Population and Demographics

Life in Fort Yukon revolves around subsistence hunting and fishing. The median household income of $39,934 and per capita income of $32,542 don't capture the full economic picture in a community where traditional activities provide food security. The population is young by Alaska standards, with a median age of 41.3 years. Of 300 total housing units, 203 are occupied year-round, while 44 are used seasonally.

Demographics Table:

Economic Context

The workforce pattern tells the story of a remote Alaska Native village. Public administration employs 143 workers out of a small labor force, indicating tribal government and federal agencies (BIA, IHS) dominate employment. Another 87 people work in education and health care. Transportation and utilities employ 90 workers, likely including the village's essential air service connections. Only 6 people work from home, and just 1 person works in accommodation or food services.

Educational attainment is low, with only 11.9% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. This reflects limited access to higher education in remote Alaska, though it doesn't mean the community lacks knowledge or skills. Traditional ecological knowledge and subsistence expertise run deep in Gwich'in culture. The nearest university is in Fairbanks, 145 air miles away with no road connection.

The Post Office as Lifeline

Mail to Fort Yukon arrives exclusively by air. Bush planes deliver freight and mail to the village several times per week, weather permitting. Winter temperatures can drop to -60°F, and spring breakup floods make access difficult. The post office serves as a critical lifeline for packages, prescriptions, government documents, and correspondence that can't be delivered any other way.

Mailing to Fort Yukon

Fort Yukon also accepts mail addressed to "Ft Yukon," though this isn't the preferred name. Both variations have been recognized since before October 2004, when USPS address tracking began. For General Delivery service, address mail to:

Recipient Name
General Delivery
Fort Yukon, AK 99740

Street Name Patterns

With only one street in the ZIP+4 database, Fort Yukon has minimal formal addressing infrastructure typical of remote Alaska Native villages.