Hyder is located at the head of Portland Canal on the fringe of Misty Fjord National Monument, The area was originally settled by many of the Yukon gold rush prospectors, and in 1919 a major gold and silver mine was open. From its heyday around the turn of the century, the population of Hyder has shrunk to about 80 year-round residents and is now known as

"THE FRIENDLIEST GHOST TOWN IN ALASKA"

Although Hyder is a part of the United States and Alaska, the town is geographically isolated from the rest of the state and has developed a number of uniqueties with the neighboring town of Stewart, British Columbia. Since there are no banks in Hyder, residents may use American currency or Canadian currency. Hyder's children attend school in Stewart and Hyder's clocks are set to British Columbia time.