Where are the hot, young stars believed to be ionizing the gas in NGC 7000 located?

Answer

Within the dense, dark dust cloud adjacent to the nebula

The ionizing stars are likely located within the dense, dark dust cloud that often forms the shape known as the "Mexico" part of the nebula.

Where are the hot, young stars believed to be ionizing the gas in NGC 7000 located?
astronomynebulabrightnessNorth America Nebula