Kenai is a city on the west side of the Kenai Peninsula, where the Kenai River meets Cook Inlet, about 158 road miles southwest of Anchorage. Incorporated on 10 May 1960, it had 7,424 residents in 2020 and is the seventh most populous city in Alaska.[1]
| Borough | Kenai Peninsula Borough |
|---|---|
| Population | 7,424 (2020) |
| Incorporated | 10 May 1960 |
| Dena’ina name | Shk’ituk’t |
History
The Kachemak people occupied the area from about 1000 B.C., and Dena’ina Athabaskans settled it around A.D. 1000. The Dena’ina village was called Shk’ituk’t, meaning where we slide down. In 1786 Pytor Zaykov built Nikolaevskaia krepost (Fort Nicholas) for the Lebedev-Lastochkin Company, described as the first European settlement on the Alaskan mainland. Conflict in 1797 led to an attack on the fort known as the battle of Kenai. After the Alaska Purchase, the U.S. Army established Fort Kenay in 1869, soon abandoned.[1]
Economy
Commercial fishing dominated through the 1920s. Oil was found at Swanson River, about 20 miles northeast, in 1957, and offshore Cook Inlet discoveries in 1965 brought rapid growth. Many fishing boats are based in Kenai, but the nearest deep-water port is Nikiski. Sport fishing is a major draw because the Kenai River is known for record Chinook salmon.[1]
FAQs
Where is Kenai, Alaska? On the western Kenai Peninsula at the mouth of the Kenai River.
What is the population of Kenai? 7,424 at the 2020 census.
When was oil found near Kenai? At Swanson River in 1957.
Sources
Key facts
- Population 7,424 (2020)
- Fort Nicholas 1786
- Swanson River oil 1957
Quick checkWhat is Kenai known for?Show answer
Salmon fishing, oil and Russian-era history.
Sources
- Wikipedia. Kenai, Alaska. 2026 (accessed 2026-11-12)
Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 12, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue