The mystery of Portlock, Alaska remains one of America's most intriguing ghost town stories. This small settlement, established in the early 20th century and formally recognized with a post office in 1921, disappeared almost overnight in 1949 when all 31 residents suddenly abandoned their homes. Named after British Sea Captain Nathaniel Portlock who visited the area in 1787, the town was primarily inhabited by Russo-Alyuts—descendants of Russian colonizers and native Alaskans.

Russian colonization of Alaska began in earnest during the 1780s, following Vitus Bering's exploratory mission in 1741. Though Bering himself never set foot on Alaskan soil, his crew's return with valuable sea otter pelts sparked Russian interest in the territory. By the time the United States purchased Alaska in 1867, the population had become a unique blend of Russian and indigenous heritage, forming the cultural foundation of communities like Portlock. Despite appearing in census records in both 1940 and curiously again in 1980 (long after its abandonment), the true story of why these residents fled their homes remains shrouded in local legend and speculation.

Key Takeaways

Portlock, Alaska was mysteriously abandoned in 1949 when all 31 residents suddenly left without explanation.
The town was primarily populated by Russo-Alyuts, descendants of Russian colonizers and indigenous Alaskans.
Despite being abandoned for decades, Portlock mysteriously reappeared in the 1980 census with the same population count as its 1940 record.

Mystery of the Abandoned Town Portlock, Alaska

The small settlement of Portlock, Alaska holds a peculiar place in American history as a town completely abandoned due to alleged Bigfoot encounters. Established in the early 20th century and named after British Sea Captain Nathaniel Portlock, who had visited the bay in 1787, the town only gained official recognition with the establishment of a post office in 1921.

Portlock's population primarily consisted of Russo-Alyuts – descendants of Russian colonizers who had begun establishing settlements in Alaska since the 1780s and the indigenous Alyut people. These two groups had intermarried over generations, creating a distinct mixed community by the time Portlock was formally established.

Despite having a post office from 1921, Portlock only appeared on the U.S. Census in 1940, recording 31 residents. Strangely, the town appeared again in the 1980 census with the same number of residents, despite having been abandoned for decades – likely a bureaucratic error rather than a supernatural occurrence.

The town's mysterious abandonment occurred around 1949, when all residents seemingly disappeared overnight. The event has become legendary in Alaskan folklore, with many attributing the mass exodus to Bigfoot or Sasquatch encounters that frightened the townspeople away.

In 1973, the abandoned settlement was visited by author Robert J. Dulitzal and his friend Janelle during a sailing expedition. They had spotted Portlock on their outdated maps and decided to investigate when seeking shelter from poor weather. Upon arrival, they discovered the completely deserted ghost town, with no signs of the 31 residents who had once called it home.

The Russian connection to the area dates back to the 1720s when Czar Peter the Great, inspired by his travels through Western Europe, sought to modernize Russia through colonial expansion. In 1741, Vitus Bering led an expedition across what would later be named the Bering Strait, though he never set foot on Alaskan soil before his death.

The high quality of sea otter pelts brought back by Bering's surviving crew convinced Russia of Alaska's value. By 1867, when Alaska was sold to the United States, the Russian population in the territory had thoroughly integrated with native peoples, creating the mixed heritage that would later characterize Portlock's residents.

Historical Overview: Portlock's Origins and Development

Portlock, Alaska presents a fascinating case study in frontier development and eventual abandonment. This small coastal settlement emerged in the early 20th century and maintained a modest but stable presence for approximately half a century before its puzzling desertion.

The Bay's Namesake: Captain Nathaniel Portlock

Portlock Bay received its name in 1789, honoring British sea captain Nathaniel Portlock who visited the area two years earlier in 1787. Captain Portlock had previously served under the renowned explorer Captain James Cook during Cook's third Pacific voyage. After leaving Cook's expedition, Portlock established the King James Sound Company, focusing on expanding the North American fur trade, particularly in Canada and Alaska's untamed territories. His exploration of the bay that would later bear his name was part of these commercial ventures into the region's rich natural resources.

Community Growth and Postal Recognition

While the exact founding date of Portlock remains unconfirmed, the settlement achieved official recognition in 1921 when it established a U.S. Post Office. This administrative milestone marked Portlock's transition from a temporary settlement to a permanent community. The census first documented Portlock in 1940, recording a population of 31 residents.

The community primarily consisted of Russo-Alyuts – individuals of mixed heritage descended from Russian colonizers and indigenous Alaskan populations. This demographic reflected Alaska's complex colonial history, beginning with Russian exploration in the 1720s under Czar Peter the Great and continuing through formal Russian colonization in the 1780s. By the time of the 1867 Alaska Purchase, the region featured a distinctly mixed population that eventually formed the foundation of Portlock's small community.

Curiously, despite being abandoned after 1949, Portlock appeared again in the 1980 U.S. Census, still listing 31 residents – likely an administrative error that added a peculiar footnote to the settlement's already mysterious history.

Russian-Alaskan Historical Settlement

Russian Expansion and Early Colonization

Russia's journey toward Alaskan colonization began in the 1720s under Tsar Peter the Great. Unlike other European powers seeking colonial expansion purely for territory, Peter was motivated by a desire to modernize Russia after observing developments in France and Germany. Russia faced geographical constraints and competition from established colonial powers like France, England, Spain, and Portugal, limiting their options for expansion.

The first significant Russian expedition eastward occurred in 1741, led by Vitus Bering, a Danish explorer employed by the Russian Empire. Though Bering never actually set foot on Alaskan soil—having been shipwrecked and perishing on an island now bearing his name—his crew returned to Russia with sea otter pelts of exceptional quality. These furs convinced Russian authorities that Alaska held valuable resources worth pursuing.

Formal Russian colonies were established in Alaska beginning in the 1780s, with the first settlement founded in 1784 by Grigori Shelikov. Despite controlling what became known as Russian Alaska, ethnic Russians typically numbered only about 500 of the approximate 4,000 total inhabitants at any given time. The remainder consisted primarily of indigenous peoples, including Aleuts and Tlingit tribes.

The Blended Heritage of Portlock's Community

By the time the United States purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867, the population had become considerably mixed through intermarriage between ethnic Russians and indigenous Aleuts. This blended Russo-Aleut population would later form the core community of Portlock, Alaska in the early 20th century.

Portlock itself, also known as Port Chatham, was likely named after British Sea Captain Nathaniel Portlock, who had served under the more famous Captain James Cook during his third Pacific voyage. After leaving Cook's expedition, Portlock formed the King James Sound Company to establish stronger fur trading networks in North America, including Alaska. He visited what would become Portlock Bay in 1787, with the bay being named after him two years later.

Though stories about the settlement date back to 1905, Portlock wasn't officially documented until 1921 when it became established enough to warrant a U.S. post office. Despite having this official recognition, the village only appeared on the U.S. Census in 1940, recording 31 residents. Curiously, it appeared again in the 1980 census with the same population count, despite having been abandoned decades earlier—likely a bureaucratic error.

The small community existed for approximately half a century before its mysterious abandonment in 1949. Historical records about this remote settlement remain limited, leaving many questions about what daily life was like for its Russo-Aleut inhabitants and what ultimately led to the town's sudden desertion.

Unraveling the Mystery: The Abandoned Settlement of Portlock

The Anchorage Daily News Report on Portlock

In the April 15, 1973 issue of the Anchorage Daily News, travel writer Robert J. Dulitzal documented his encounter with the abandoned settlement of Portlock. Dulitzal, primarily known for his outdoor and travel publications, was not prone to sensationalism or supernatural beliefs. He and his companion Janelle had been sailing along the Alaskan coastline for approximately a month when weather conditions forced them to seek shelter. Their outdated maps indicated a small settlement called Portlock where they hoped to refuel their backup motor. Upon arrival, they discovered a completely deserted ghost town, abandoned for over three decades. Despite finding no inhabitants, the pair's curiosity led them to explore the remnants of this once-inhabited community.

Population Records and Mysterious Abandonment

The settlement's documented history contains several peculiar inconsistencies. Although Portlock established a U.S. post office in 1921, indicating it had reached a significant level of permanence, it oddly first appeared on the U.S. Census only in 1940. Even more perplexing is that the 1980 Census, conducted long after the community's 1949 abandonment, recorded 31 residents—identical to its pre-abandonment population count. This statistical anomaly suggests either a clerical error or something more mysterious.

The community's population primarily consisted of Russo-Alyuts, descendants of mixed marriages between Russian colonists and indigenous Alyut people. These residents were legacies of Russia's colonial presence in Alaska, which began in the 1780s after Vitus Bering's expeditions sparked Russian interest in the region. By 1867, when the United States purchased Alaska, the population had become thoroughly integrated through generations of intermarriage.

What caused all 31 residents to suddenly abandon their homes in 1949 remains one of Alaska's enduring mysteries. The settlement, believed to be named after British Sea Captain Nathaniel Portlock who visited the area in 1787, had survived for only about half a century before its unexplained abandonment.

Present-Day Insights and Expedition Journal

Robert J. Dulitzal's Coastal Voyage and Findings

In April 1973, outdoor writer Robert J. Dulitzal and his companion Janelle undertook a month-long sailing expedition along the Alaskan coastline. While returning from Kodiak Island toward Seward, they needed shelter from unfavorable weather and sought to refuel their backup motor.

Consulting their admittedly outdated maps, they identified a small settlement called Portlock as a potential stopover point. Upon arrival, they discovered something unexpected—a completely abandoned town. Though Portlock had been marked on their maps, the settlement had been deserted for decades by this point.

The pair's curiosity was naturally piqued by this ghost town phenomenon. Despite having existed since the early 20th century and maintaining a U.S. post office since 1921, Portlock had a mysterious history. The settlement had been primarily populated by Russo-Alyuts—descendants of Russian colonists who had intermarried with indigenous Alaskan peoples following Russia's exploration efforts that began in the 1720s under Czar Peter the Great.

Portlock's census records contained peculiar inconsistencies. Though the town appeared in the 1940 census with 31 residents, it strangely reappeared with the exact same population count in 1980—long after it had been abandoned. This statistical anomaly likely represented a documentation error rather than an actual population return.

The settlement's name originated from British Sea Captain Nathaniel Portlock, who had sailed with the famous Captain James Cook on his third Pacific voyage. After leaving Cook's expedition, Portlock established the King James Sound Company to develop the North American fur trade, particularly focusing on the valuable sea otter pelts that had proven so lucrative to Russian interests in the region.

What makes Portlock particularly intriguing is not just its abandonment, but the abruptness with which it occurred in 1949, when all residents seemingly departed overnight.

The Haunting Mystery of Portlock, Alaska: Why an Entire Town Vanished in 1949