Akutan, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Akutan (Achan-ingiiga in Aleut
) is a city in Aleutians East Borough, Alaska
, United States. The population was 713 at the 2000 census. In 2009, the population was 812.
Akutan is located on Akutan Island
in the eastern Aleutians, one of the Krenitzin Islands
in the Fox Islands
group. It is 35 miles (56.3 km) east of Unalaska
, and 766 miles (1,232.8 km) southwest of Anchorage
. Akutan lies in the maritime climate
zone, resulting in mild winters and cool summers. Mean temperatures range from 22 to 55 °F (-5.6 to 12.8 C), and precipitation averages 28 inch per year. High winds and storms are frequent in the winter, and fog is common in the summer.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.9 square miles (49 km²), of which, 14 square miles (36.3 km²) of it is land and 4.9 square miles (12.7 km²) of it (25.69%) is water.
After the Japanese attacked Unalaska in June 1942, the U.S. government evacuated Akutan residents to the Ketchikan area. In June 1942, a Japanese A6M Zero
fighter piloted by Tadayoshi Koga crashed on Akutan Island. It was recovered in July by the United States Army Air Force. This plane, dubbed the Akutan Zero
, significantly aided American tacticians in devising dog fighting
techniques to defeat the Zero, and helped change the course of the war.
The village was re-established in 1944, although many villagers chose not to return. This exposure to the outside world brought many changes to the traditional lifestyle and attitudes of the community. The City was incorporated in 1979.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community—the Native Village of Akutan. The population of the community consists of 16.4% Alaska Native or part Native. Akutan is a fishing community, and is the site of a traditional Unangan village. Approximately 75 persons are year-round residents; the majority of the population are transient fish processing
workers that live in group quarters. During the 2000 U.S. Census, total housing units numbered 38, and vacant housing units numbered 4. U.S. Census data for Year 2000 showed 97 residents as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 83.89 percent, although 84.84 percent of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $33,750, per capita income was $12,259, and 45.48 percent of residents were living below the poverty level.
, 2.10% Black
or African American
, 15.71% Native American
, 38.57% Asian
, 0.28% Pacific Islander
, 18.23% from other races
, and 1.54% from two or more races. 20.76% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 34 households out of which 20.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.4% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.1% were non-families. 38.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 3.1% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 48.2% from 25 to 44, 36.2% from 45 to 64, and 1.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 334.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 342.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,750, and the median income for a family was $43,125. Males had a median income of $13,988 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,258. None of the families and 45.5% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 40.0% of those over 64.
operates its own water, sewer and electric facilities. Electricity is provided by Akutan Electric Utility. There is one school located in the community, attended by 18 students. Local hospitals or health clinics include Anesia Kudrin Memorial Clinic (907-698-2208). Anesia Kudrin Memorial Clinic is a Primary Health Care facility. Eastern Aleutian Tribes
Inc. operates the Anesia Kudrin clinic as part of its health care system. The clinic is a qualified Emergency Care Center. Akutan is classified as an isolated town/Sub-Regional Center, it is found in EMS Region 2H in the Aleutian/Pribilof Region. Emergency Services have coastal and helicopter access. Emergency service is provided by volunteers and a health aide. There is a physician assistant certified at the Anesia Kudrin clinic, and for much of the year there a physician assistant or nurse practitioner at the processing plant's occupational medicine/urgent care clinic. Auxiliary health care is provided by Akutan First Responders (907-698-2208/2315); or by flight to Unalaska or Anchorage.
Transportation is provided by Seaplane, by private or fleet fishing vessels, and the State Ferry makes monthly visits in summer weather.
is available and open to the public. Daily air service is provided from nearby Unalaska. High waves may limit accessibility during winter months.
An airport for Trident is currently under construction on Akun Island
, about 6 miles away, and is scheduled to be completed late 2012. This work is being promoted by the local residents and will benefit the community and business. The airport is expected to cost $77 million of which nearly $60 million comes from the U.S. federal government. Trident is paying $1 million towards the cost of the airport.
Aleut language
Aleut is a language of the Eskimo–Aleut language family. It is the heritage language of the Aleut people living in the Aleutian Islands, Pribilof Islands, and Commander Islands. As of 2007 there were about 150 speakers of Aleut .- Dialects :Aleut is alone with the Eskimo languages in the...
) is a city in Aleutians East Borough, Alaska
Aleutians East Borough, Alaska
- See also :*List of airports in the Aleutians East Borough*National Register of Historic Places listings in Aleutians East Borough, Alaska-External links:*-References:...
, United States. The population was 713 at the 2000 census. In 2009, the population was 812.
Geography
Akutan is located at 54°7′57"N 165°46′30"W. Akutan is located in the Aleutian Islands Recording District.Akutan is located on Akutan Island
Akutan Island
Akutan Island is an island in the Fox Islands group of the eastern Aleutian Islands in the U.S. state of Alaska. The island is approximately 18 mi in length. It contains the Mount Akutan volcano, which had a major lava eruption in 1979...
in the eastern Aleutians, one of the Krenitzin Islands
Krenitzin Islands
The Krenitzin Islands are a group of small islands located in the eastern portion of the Fox Islands group of the eastern Aleutian Islands, Alaska. The Krenitizins are situated between Unalaska Island to the southwest and Unimak Island to the northeast...
in the Fox Islands
Fox Islands (Alaska)
The Fox Islands are a group of islands in the eastern Aleutian Islands of the U.S. state of Alaska. The Fox Islands are the closest to mainland North America in the Aleutian chain, and just east of Samalga Pass and the Islands of Four Mountains group....
group. It is 35 miles (56.3 km) east of Unalaska
Unalaska, Alaska
Unalaska is a city in the Aleutians West Census Area of the Unorganized Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. Unalaska is located on Unalaska Island and neighboring Amaknak Island in the Aleutian Islands off of mainland Alaska....
, and 766 miles (1,232.8 km) southwest of Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
. Akutan lies in the maritime climate
Oceanic climate
An oceanic climate, also called marine west coast climate, maritime climate, Cascadian climate and British climate for Köppen climate classification Cfb and subtropical highland for Köppen Cfb or Cwb, is a type of climate typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes of some of the...
zone, resulting in mild winters and cool summers. Mean temperatures range from 22 to 55 °F (-5.6 to 12.8 C), and precipitation averages 28 inch per year. High winds and storms are frequent in the winter, and fog is common in the summer.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.9 square miles (49 km²), of which, 14 square miles (36.3 km²) of it is land and 4.9 square miles (12.7 km²) of it (25.69%) is water.
History and culture
Akutan began in 1878 as a fur storage and trading port for the Western Fur & Trading Company. The company's agent established a commercial cod fishing and processing business that quickly attracted nearby Unangan to the community. A Russian Orthodox church and a school were built in 1878, but was replaced by the St. Alexander Nevsky Chapel, built in 1918. The Pacific Whaling Company built a whale processing station across the bay from Akutan in 1912. It was the only whaling station in the Aleutians, and operated until 1939.After the Japanese attacked Unalaska in June 1942, the U.S. government evacuated Akutan residents to the Ketchikan area. In June 1942, a Japanese A6M Zero
A6M Zero
The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was a long-range fighter aircraft operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service from 1940 to 1945. The A6M was designated as the , and also designated as the Mitsubishi A6M Rei-sen and Mitsubishi Navy 12-shi Carrier Fighter. The A6M was usually referred to by the...
fighter piloted by Tadayoshi Koga crashed on Akutan Island. It was recovered in July by the United States Army Air Force. This plane, dubbed the Akutan Zero
Akutan Zero
The Akutan Zero, also known as Koga's Zero and the Aleutian Zero, was a type 0 model 21 Mitsubishi A6M Zero Japanese fighter plane that crash-landed on Akutan Island, Alaska Territory, during World War II. It was captured intact by the Americans in July 1942 and became the first flyable Zero...
, significantly aided American tacticians in devising dog fighting
Dog fighting
Dog fighting is a form of blood sport in which game dogs are made to fight, sometimes to the death. It is illegal in most developed countries. Dog fighting is used for entertainment and may also generate revenue from stud fees, admission fees and gambling....
techniques to defeat the Zero, and helped change the course of the war.
The village was re-established in 1944, although many villagers chose not to return. This exposure to the outside world brought many changes to the traditional lifestyle and attitudes of the community. The City was incorporated in 1979.
A federally-recognized tribe is located in the community—the Native Village of Akutan. The population of the community consists of 16.4% Alaska Native or part Native. Akutan is a fishing community, and is the site of a traditional Unangan village. Approximately 75 persons are year-round residents; the majority of the population are transient fish processing
Fish processing
The term fish processing refers to the processes associated with fish and fish products between the time fish are caught or harvested, and the time the final product is delivered to the customer...
workers that live in group quarters. During the 2000 U.S. Census, total housing units numbered 38, and vacant housing units numbered 4. U.S. Census data for Year 2000 showed 97 residents as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 83.89 percent, although 84.84 percent of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $33,750, per capita income was $12,259, and 45.48 percent of residents were living below the poverty level.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 713 people, 34 households, and 17 families residing in the city. The population density was 50.8 people per square mile (19.6/km²). There were 38 housing units at an average density of 2.7 per square mile (1.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 23.56% WhiteRace (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.10% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 15.71% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 38.57% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.28% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 18.23% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.54% from two or more races. 20.76% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 34 households out of which 20.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.4% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.1% were non-families. 38.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 3.1% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 48.2% from 25 to 44, 36.2% from 45 to 64, and 1.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 334.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 342.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,750, and the median income for a family was $43,125. Males had a median income of $13,988 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $12,258. None of the families and 45.5% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 40.0% of those over 64.
Public services
Water is supplied by a local stream and dam, originally constructed in 1927. Water is treated and piped into all homes. Funds have been requested to develop two new water catchment dams, and construct a new 125,000-gal. water storage tank and treatment plant. Sewage is piped to a community septic tank, with effluent discharge through an ocean outfall. Refuse is collected three times a week; a new landfill site and incinerator were recently completed. The City recycles aluminum. Trident SeafoodsTrident Seafoods
Trident Seafoods is the largest seafood company in the United States. It manages a network of fishing ships, processing plants, and a vertically integrated distributorship of its products. Founded in 1973, and based in Seattle, Washington, the company acquired Tyson Seafoods in 1999. Trident...
operates its own water, sewer and electric facilities. Electricity is provided by Akutan Electric Utility. There is one school located in the community, attended by 18 students. Local hospitals or health clinics include Anesia Kudrin Memorial Clinic (907-698-2208). Anesia Kudrin Memorial Clinic is a Primary Health Care facility. Eastern Aleutian Tribes
Eastern Aleutian Tribes
Eastern Aleutian Tribes was formed in 1991 and includes seven Aleut tribes from the Aleutian Islands and Alaska Peninsula.- Origins and development :...
Inc. operates the Anesia Kudrin clinic as part of its health care system. The clinic is a qualified Emergency Care Center. Akutan is classified as an isolated town/Sub-Regional Center, it is found in EMS Region 2H in the Aleutian/Pribilof Region. Emergency Services have coastal and helicopter access. Emergency service is provided by volunteers and a health aide. There is a physician assistant certified at the Anesia Kudrin clinic, and for much of the year there a physician assistant or nurse practitioner at the processing plant's occupational medicine/urgent care clinic. Auxiliary health care is provided by Akutan First Responders (907-698-2208/2315); or by flight to Unalaska or Anchorage.
Transportation is provided by Seaplane, by private or fleet fishing vessels, and the State Ferry makes monthly visits in summer weather.
Economy and transportation
Commercial fish processing dominates Akutan's cash-based economy, and not many locals are seasonally employed. Trident Seafoods operates a large processing plant west of the City for cod, crab, pollock and fish meal. The population of Akutan can quadruple or quintuple during processing months. Seven residents hold commercial fishing permits, primarily for halibut and other groundfish. Subsistence foods include seal, salmon, herring, halibut, clams, wild cattle, and game birds.Transportation
Boats and amphibious aircraft, or helicopter are the only means of transportation into and out of Akutan. A 200 feet (61 m) dock and a small boat mooring basin are available. Plans are underway to develop a large boat harbor; construction will begin in 2004. The State Ferry operates from Kodiak bi-monthly between May and October. Cargo is delivered weekly by freighter from Seattle; the City owns and operates a landing craft, the M/V Akutan. Akutan has no airstrip due to the steep terrain, however, a seaplane baseAkutan Seaplane Base
Akutan Seaplane Base is a public use seaplane base located in Akutan, a city in the Aleutians East Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. Scheduled seaplane service is subsidized by the Essential Air Service program....
is available and open to the public. Daily air service is provided from nearby Unalaska. High waves may limit accessibility during winter months.
An airport for Trident is currently under construction on Akun Island
Akun Island
Akun Island is one of the Fox Islands subgroup of the Aleutian Islands in Aleutians East Borough of southwestern Alaska, USA. It lies east of Akutan Island and southwest of Unimak Island across the Unimak Pass. The Krenitzin Islands lie to its south and southeast across the Avatanak Strait...
, about 6 miles away, and is scheduled to be completed late 2012. This work is being promoted by the local residents and will benefit the community and business. The airport is expected to cost $77 million of which nearly $60 million comes from the U.S. federal government. Trident is paying $1 million towards the cost of the airport.
External links
- State of Alaska, Division of Community Advocacy, Community Information Summary
- State of Alaska, Division of Community Advocacy, Community Photos
- http://dot.alaska.gov/creg/akutan/assets/AkutanEA_report.pdf