Yakutat is a city and borough in southeastern Alaska at the mouth of Yakutat Bay on the Gulf of Alaska, 212 miles northwest of Juneau. It had 662 residents at the 2020 census and is Alaska’s least populous borough or census area.[1]
| Population (2020) | 662 |
|---|---|
| Borough incorporated | 22 Sep 1992 |
| Tlingit name | Yaakwdaat |
| Distance from Juneau | 212 miles |
History
Eyak-speaking people from the Copper River area were the original settlers, and Tlingit people later migrated in and assimilated them. The Shelikhov-Golikov Company built a fort in 1795 that a Tlingit war party destroyed in 1805. A cannery built around 1903 operated until 1970, and during World War II the Army Air Forces built the runway that became Yakutat Airport.[1]
Name and language
The Tlingit name Yaakwdáat means the place where canoes rest. The Yakutat Tlingit Tribe received federal language grants in 2004 and 2007 to revive the Tlingit language.[1]
Hubbard Glacier
Hubbard Glacier, described as North America’s largest tidewater glacier, blocked the entrance to Russell Fjord in 1986 and 2002 before the ice dam failed.[1]
FAQs
What does Yaakwdaat mean? The place where canoes rest.
How many people live in Yakutat? 662 in 2020.
What glacier is nearby? Hubbard Glacier.
Sources
Key facts
- Least populous borough
- Tlingit homeland
- Hubbard Glacier
In the news
Quick checkPopulation?Show answer
662 (2020).
Sources
- Wikipedia. Yakutat, Alaska. 2026 (accessed 2026-11-12)
Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 12, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue