Alaskan Russians can refer to three groups: Alaskan Creole people, Old Believers who settled on the Kenai Peninsula, and Russian Americans in Alaska. The Russian-American Company, formed in 1799, shaped much of the Russian presence in the colonial period.[1]
| Groups | Creoles, Old Believers, Russian Americans |
|---|---|
| Russian-American Company formed | 1799 |
| Colonial Russians at any one time | Rarely exceeded 500 |
| Old Believer community | Nikolaevsk, Kenai Peninsula |
| Language noted | Church Slavonic |
Groups and terms
The term covers Alaskan Creoles, an ethnic group native to Alaska, Old Believers who settled on the Kenai Peninsula, and Russian Americans in Alaska.[1]
Russian-American Company
The company was formed in 1799 with the influence of Nikolay Rezanov, to hunt sea otters for their fur. According to a 2004 study cited in the source, non-Alaskan Russians, excluding Creoles, rarely exceeded 500 at any one time.[1]
Old Believers at Nikolaevsk
The Nikolaevsk community is largely Americanised, and praying in Church Slavonic has been described as problematic. In May 2023, the community led by Father Nikola Yakunin, his son Deacon Vasily Yakunin and about 20 families decided to join the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia under edinoverie rights, and a new church was planned in Homer. The old church stays under the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Old-Rite Church under United States law.[1]
FAQs
Who are Alaskan Creoles? An ethnic group native to Alaska, per the source.
When was the Russian-American Company formed? 1799.
Where do Alaska Old Believers live? Nikolaevsk on the Kenai Peninsula.
Sources
Key facts
- Formed 1799
- Nikolaevsk Old Believers
Quick checkWhen was the Russian-American Company formed?Show answer
1799
Sources
- Wikipedia. Alaskan Russians. 2026 (accessed 2026-11-14)
Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 14, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue