Atlin (Village) adopted in the 18th Report Geographic Board of Canada, 31 March 1924, as labelled on BC map 1H, 1917; form of name changed to Atlin (Post Office) 1 October 1951 on 104 N, as listed in the 1930 BC Gazetteer; form of name changed to Atlin (Community) 15 December 1982 on 104 N/12.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Atlin Post Office opened 1 April 1899, the year after the start of the gold rush. "Post Office & mining town. Has offices of Provincial Government Agent, Assessor and Collector, Gold Commissioner and Mining Recorder, Provincial Police, Land Commissioner, Registrar of Supreme and County Courts, telegraph, school, hospital, and churches." (1930 BC Gazetteer)

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Situated on Atlin Lake, which name is derived in turn from the (Taku River) Tlinkit name "Ahklen" or "Aht'lah" meaning "big water" (Atlin Claim, 1903). Same explanation given by Chief Henry Taku Jack, Vancouver Province, 25 March 1948. A Tagish word meaning "big water" or "stormy water" (BC Historical Quarterly July-Oct 1952, p.129).

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Fritz Miller and his partner Kenny McLaren staked the Discovery claim at Pine Creek, 25 July 1898. Their original cabin was still standing in the late 1970's. The cabin's owner at the time, Whispering Bill Husselbee, frustrated by tourists searching for souvenirs posted this sign on the door: "This Cabin belongs to W.G. Husselbee, Atlin. Keep out i am dam mad at peoples braking in heer and there is not eny gold in their or eny think Else werth a dam, ant do not brake in ore brake the Door down like the other rats."

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office