Dillingham is a city on Nushagak Bay in southwestern Alaska, the regional hub of the Bristol Bay salmon fishing district. It had 2,249 residents at the 2020 census and is reached only by air or boat.[1]
| Population (2020) | 2,249 |
|---|---|
| Incorporated | 1963 |
| Trading post | Alexandrovski, 1818 |
| First cannery | 1883 |
History
The Yup’ik people inhabited the area for millennia. The Russian-American Company built the Alexandrovski trading post at Nushagak Point in 1818, and the Arctic Packing Company built the first Bristol Bay cannery in 1883. The community was named for Senator William P. Dillingham and incorporated in 1963.[1]
Fishery
The Nushagak district produces an average of 6.4 million salmon a year, and as many as 12.4 million in 2006. Bristol Bay supports the world’s largest wild sockeye runs.[1]
FAQs
How do you reach Dillingham? By air or boat.
What drives its economy? The Bristol Bay salmon fishery.
Who is it named for? Senator William P. Dillingham.
Sources
Key facts
- Bristol Bay hub
- Cannery 1883
- Incorporated 1963
Quick checkPopulation?Show answer
2,249 (2020).
Sources
- Wikipedia. Dillingham, Alaska. 2026 (accessed 2026-11-12)
Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 12, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue