Akutan is a city on Akutan Island in the Aleutians East Borough, about 35 miles east of Unalaska and 766 miles southwest of Anchorage. It had 1,589 residents in 2020, most of them seasonal fish processing workers, and it is home to the federally recognised Native Village of Akutan.[1]
| Population (2020) | 1,589 (1,027 in 2010) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1878 |
| Incorporated | 1979 |
| Borough | Aleutians East |
| Climate | Maritime; about 28 in precipitation |
| Year-round residents | About 75 |
History
Akutan was founded in 1878 as a fur storage and trading port for the Western Fur and Trading Company, which also began a cod fishing and processing business. In 1912 the Pacific Whaling Company opened a whale processing station across the bay, the only whaling station in the Aleutians, and it operated until 1939.[1]
Residents were evacuated to the Ketchikan area in 1942 after Japanese attacks on Unalaska. A Japanese A6M Zero crashed on the island that June and was recovered by the U.S. Army Air Force in July. The village was re-established in 1944, though many residents did not return, and the city was incorporated in 1979.[1]
People
Around 16.4 percent of residents are Alaska Native or part Native, and about 75 people live in the community year-round. Most of the population is transient processing workers in group quarters. Since 1990 Asian residents have been the largest group, at 31.4 percent in 2020, with Hispanic or Latino residents at 35.4 percent.[1]
Economy
Commercial fish processing dominates the cash economy. Trident Seafoods operates a large plant west of the city that processes cod, crab, pollock and fish meal, and the population can quadruple or quintuple during processing months. Subsistence foods include seal, salmon, halibut, clams and game birds.[1]
Climate
The climate is maritime, with mean temperatures from 22 to 55°F and about 28 inches of precipitation a year.[1]
FAQs
Where is Akutan? On Akutan Island in the Aleutians East Borough.
What is the main industry? Commercial fish processing.
When was Akutan founded? 1878.
Sources
Key facts
- 1,589 residents (2020)
- Whaling station 1912-1939
Quick checkWhen was Akutan founded?Show answer
1878
Sources
- Wikipedia. Akutan, Alaska. 2026 (accessed 2026-11-13)
Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 13, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue