Location and Climate
Huslia is located on the north bank of the Koyukuk River, about 170 river miles northwest of Galena and 290 air miles west of Fairbanks. It lies within the Koyukuk National Wildlife Refuge. It lies at approximately 65.698610° North Latitude and -156.399720° West Longitude (Sec. 33, T004N, R012E, Kateel River Meridian). Huslia is located in the Nulato Recording District. The area encompasses 16.4 sq. miles of land and 0.7 sq. miles of water. 

The area has a cold, continental climate with extreme temperature differences. The average daily maximum temperature is 72 during July; the average minimum is below zero during January. Record temperatures have been recorded from -65 to above 90. The annual precipitation averages 13 inches, with 70 inches of snowfall. The Koyukuk River is ice-free from May through September.

History
The Koyukon Athabascans lived between the south fork of the Koyukuk River and the Kateel River.  They had spring, summer, fall, and winter camps, and moved as the wild game migrated. In the summer many families would float on a raft to the Yukon to fish for salmon. The Koyukon often traded with the Kobuk River Eskimos. By 1843, Russian explorers had made contact with Athabascans approximately 50 miles downriver from the current site. The Western Union Telegraph Company explored the River around 1867, and missionary activity increased after 1870.  Cutoff Trading Post (also called Old Town) was established in the 1920s about 4 miles overland, or 16 river miles, from modern Huslia. In 1949, the community moved to the present site because Cutoff flooded frequently and the ground was swampy.  

Huslia (originally spelled Huslee) was named after a local stream. Huslia had been used as a burial site since 1886, but by the time of the move, most of the old cemetery had been destroyed by erosion. In 1950, the first school was established, followed by a post office, airport and road construction in 1952. At this time, families began to live year-round at Huslia. In 1960, a health clinic was constructed, and in 1963, 29 individual hand-pumped water wells were installed. The City government was incorporated in 1969. Running water and indoor plumbing arrived in 1974.

Economy
Subsistence is central to the local economy. Salmon, whitefish, moose, bear, caribou, small game, waterfowl and berries provide most food sources. The City, Tribe, school, clinic and stores provide the only full-time employment. During summer months, BLM fire-fighting and construction jobs outside of the village supplement income. Two residents hold a commercial fishing permit.

Facilities
Piped water and sewer has existed in Huslia since 1974. Water is derived from a well and is treated.  Funds have been provided to connect 25 new HUD homes and 11 others to the piped water and sewer system, including indoor plumbing. Funds have been requested to replace the water storage tank, water treatment building, washeteria and landfill. A new airstrip site was constructed during the summer of 2000 and the landfill must be relocated.

Transportation
River transportation is used extensively in the summer. Cargo arrives by barge twice each year. Huslia is accessible by air year-round, and the 4,000 ft. long by 75 ft. wide lighted gravel airstrip is owned by the State. Plans are underway to relocate the airport. Snowmachines, ATVs and skiffs are used for local transportation.  Huslia has a network of winter trails, and the frozen River is used as an "ice road" to neighboring villages.

See photos of Huslia at the UAF Jukebox project.