Russian Mission is located in the Yukon- Kuskokwim Delta on the west bank of the Yukon River, 25 miles southeast of Fortuna Ledge. This settlement was established in 1837 as the first Russian American Company fur trading post on the Yukon River. The Russian Explorer, Zagoskin, recorded the Yup’ik village as “Ikogamiut” at the site in 1842 meaning “People of the point”.
A Russian-Aleut priest, Jacob Netzuetov, established the first Russian Orthodox mission in the interior of Alaska here in 1857. Originally called “Pokrovskaya Mission”, the title “Russian Mission” replaced the previous name in 1900. The term “Russian Mission” is often confused with a village located on the Kuskokwim River that was also called “Russian Mission”; this Kuskokwim village has been renamed Chauthbaluk. Approximate population 310. |
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