With a population of over 6,000 people, the City of Bethel is the main port of the Kuskokwim River in the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta. Bethel serves as the regional hub for 56 surrounding Native villages. Our region is land-locked from urban areas in Alaska.

Bit of History — Bethel was first established by Yup'ik Eskimos who called the village "Mamteriilleq," meaning "Smokehouse People," named for the nearby fish smokehouse. There were 41 people in Bethel during the 1880 U.S. Census.

The Moravian Church established a mission in the area in 1884. A post office was opened in 1905. Before long, Bethel was serving as a trading, transportation and distribution center for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, which attracted Alaska Natives from surrounding villages. The City was incorporated in 1957. Over time, federal and state agencies established regional offices in Bethel.

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