Central is located in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area. The town of Central began as the Central Roadhouse in 1896, serving the Circle Mining District, the oldest in the state and still active.
The town is located on Crooked Creek along the Steese Hwy at Mile 127.5. The town triples its population in summer, reaching 400. The Circle District Historical Society has a museum here, Circle District Museum, which shows the history of the mining district and its people. There are also displays of preglacial Alaskan mammals from nearby Mammoth and Mastodon Creeks.
