The Copper River Meridian, established in 1905 after copper was discovered in the region, was the first principal meridian run as part of a PLSS survey in the state of Alaska. The Copper River Meridian survey covers the southeastern corner of Alaska, stretching down the panhandle approximately from Tok, Alaska in the north, to Metlakatla, Alaska at its southernmost extent, and also including Valdez and Cordova, Alaska in the west. The controlling base line for the Copper River Meridian Survey lies in 62° north latitude. The initial point for this survey is located in 61°49'04"N latitude, 145°18'37"W longitude.
