KNIK

NAME: Knik
COUNTY: Matanuska Susitna (Bourough)
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 1
CLIMATE: Cold winters
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Summertime
COMMENTS: Reddington Of Iditerod Fame Approx. 13 miles so. of wasilla. on Knik/Goose bay Rd. to Knik lake and bar.
REMAINS: Cemetaries. Old town hall that is now the Dog Mushers Hall of Fame.
Not much left but Knik was once the landing/supply point for mines in the Talkeetna mts./Hatcher pass area it served Grubstake and Willow creek The town was founded around the turn of the century at an existing indian village. By 1915 it had about 500 white families. That year the Govt. began the Alaska RR. which bypassed Knik and the town died. In 1902 George Palmer received the mail contract as Postmaster. Some buildings were moved to Wasilla at the railhead. Some of the towns main characters were Orville J. Herrning owner of the Knik Trading Co, Frank Cannon owner of the Pioneer Hotel and George Palmer for whom the town of Palmer is named. The town was deserted by 1919 except Palmers store. Submitted by: Carl Birdsell

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