Fort Davis was a United States Army post established in the Nome Census Area of Alaska in 1900. It was named for General Jefferson C. Davis, the military commander of Alaska from 1868 to 1870. The Nome Gold Rush led to unrest from claim jumping, claim filing errors, and a general lack of authority. The Army was sent to the Nome area to maintain order. Before Fort Davis was established soldiers from the port of St. Michael was sent to maintain order in Nome. St. Michael was a transit harbour for the Klondike gold rush and due to its growth during this rush a military fort was build here in 1897