Unalaska, Alaska facts for kids

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"Dutch Harbor, AK" redirects here. For the harbor, see Dutch Harbor.

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Unalaska

Iluulux̂

City

City of Unalaska

Hilltop view of Unalaska

Crab boats moored in Dutch Harbor in 2009

U.S.C.G. C-130 Hercules on the apron at Dutch Harbor Airport

View from a hill on Amaknak Island

View from the shore at sunrise

Unalaska Island and Iliukliuk Harbor

Seal

Logo

Unalaska

Location in Unalaska

Unalaska

Location in Alaska

Country

United States

March 3, 1942

Area

• Total

210.89 sq mi (546.20 km²)

• Land

102.21 sq mi (264.73 km²)

• Water

108.68 sq mi (281.47 km²)

Elevation

13 ft (4 m)

Population

(2020)

• Total

4,254

• Density

41.62/sq mi (16.07/km²)

Demonym(s)

Unalaskan

Time zone

UTC−9 (Alaska (AKST))

• Summer (DST)

UTC−8 (AKDT)

ZIP code

99685

Area code

907

FIPS code

02-80770

GNIS feature ID

1419424

The City of Unalaska (called Iluulux̂ by the Aleut people and Уналашка in Russian) is a very important town in the Aleutian Islands. These islands are part of Alaska, a state in the United States. Unalaska is located on two islands: Unalaska Island and Amaknak Island.

The Aleut (also known as Unangan) have lived here for thousands of years. They were the first to name the island "Ounalashka," which means "near the peninsula." This name is still used by the local native corporation today.

In 1759, Russian fur traders arrived in Unalaska. For a long time, the community was made up of Aleuts, Russians, and their mixed-heritage descendants. During World War II, many people moved to the Aleutian Islands. This was because the islands were in a very important location for the war.

Most of the city's port facilities are on Amaknak Island. This area is better known as Dutch Harbor. It is one of the biggest fishing ports in the U.S. for the amount of fish caught. Dutch Harbor is part of Unalaska and is connected by a bridge. Many people in Unalaska live on Amaknak Island.

Because of the strong fishing industry, Unalaska is also home to many bald eagles. Hundreds of these birds are attracted to the area by human activities.

History of Unalaska: A Timeline

The port of Unalaska in 1816.

Unalaska view in 1972 with collapsed buildings.

Aerial view of the Point Kadin vents near Makushin Volcano.

The Aleut were the first to live on Unalaska Island. They called it "Ounalashka," meaning "Near the Peninsula." They had a well-developed society long before Russian fur traders arrived.

Early Encounters and Conflicts (1759-1778)

In 1759, the first Russian group, led by Stepan Glotov, came to Unalaska. They traded for three years. Between 1763 and 1766, there was a conflict between Russian traders and the Aleut people. The Aleuts destroyed four Russian ships and killed many hunters.

A Russian fur trading post was set up temporarily in the 1760s. It became a permanent post in 1774. Later, it became part of the Russian-American Company. In 1778, Captain James Cook met a navigator named Gerasim Izmailov here.

In 1788, Spanish explorers also visited Unalaska. They claimed the island for Spain, calling it Puerto de Dona Marie Luisa Teresa.

Russian Influence and Population Changes (1825-1867)

In 1825, the Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Ascension was built in Unalaska. The first priest, Ivan Veniaminov, created the first Aleut writing system. He also translated religious texts into the Aleut language.

Between 1836 and 1840, diseases like measles and chicken-pox greatly reduced the population. By the end of this time, only a few hundred Aleuts lived in Unalaska. On October 18, 1867, the United States bought Alaska. This made Unalaska part of the U.S. territory.

American Era and World War II (1880-1950s)

In 1880, the Methodist Church opened a school and a clinic in Unalaska. The Gold Rush (1899-1905) brought many ships through Dutch Harbor.

More epidemics, like the Spanish flu in 1919, continued to reduce the population. In 1940, the U.S. began building up defenses in Dutch Harbor. This led to the creation of the Dutch Harbor Naval Operating Base and Fort Mears, U.S. Army.

On June 3, 1942, Japanese forces attacked Dutch Harbor. This was part of the Aleutian Islands campaign during World War II. After the attack, most native residents were moved to camps in Southeast Alaska. Conditions in these camps were poor, and many people died.

Fishing Industry and Modern Times (1950s-Present)

In the 1950s, Unalaska became a center for the Alaskan king crab fishing industry. By 1978, it was the largest fishing port in the United States. A decline in king crab harvests in 1982 led to a shift towards bottom fishing.

Since 2005, the TV show Deadliest Catch on the Discovery Channel has featured fishermen based in Dutch Harbor.

Geography and Climate

Satellite shot of the islands of Umnak (left) and Unalaska (right).

Unalaska covers about 212 square miles (546 square kilometers). About half of this area is land, and the other half is water.

Makushin Volcano: A Nearby Giant

Makushin Volcano is on Unalaska Island. It is about 5,691 feet (1,735 meters) tall. You can't quite see it from the town of Unalaska. However, on clear days, you can see steam rising from its top. If you climb a smaller hill nearby, you can get a good view of the snow-covered volcano.

Ancient Discoveries: Paleontology

In 2015, scientists made an exciting discovery. They found fossils of giant, tusked, four-legged marine mammals. These fossils were found during the building of a school. These unique animals lived near the shore and belong to an extinct group called Desmostylia. They might be related to elephants or manatees.

Unalaska's Weather: Rainy and Mild

Unalaska has a subpolar oceanic climate. This means it has mild temperatures and lots of rain. Fog is also very common, even when it's not raining. Summers are cooler than in other parts of Alaska, but winters are similar.

The average yearly temperature in Unalaska is about 40.9°F (4.9°C). January is the coldest month, averaging 32.5°F (0.3°C). August is the warmest, averaging 53.3°F (11.8°C). Unalaska gets about 225 rainy days a year. This makes it one of the rainiest places in the United States.

Climate data for Dutch Harbor, Unalaska, Alaska
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	58 (14)	54 (12)	61 (16)	58 (14)	60 (16)	73 (23)	75 (24)	81 (27)	74 (23)	65 (18)	57 (14)	59 (15)	81 (27)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	36.8 (2.7)	37.3 (2.9)	38.6 (3.7)	40.9 (4.9)	46.1 (7.8)	51.7 (10.9)	56.8 (13.8)	58.9 (14.9)	54.0 (12.2)	47.3 (8.5)	42.6 (5.9)	39.0 (3.9)	45.8 (7.7)
Daily mean °F (°C)	32.5 (0.3)	32.5 (0.3)	33.5 (0.8)	36.2 (2.3)	41.4 (5.2)	46.8 (8.2)	51.4 (10.8)	53.3 (11.8)	48.8 (9.3)	42.3 (5.7)	37.4 (3.0)	34.7 (1.5)	40.9 (4.9)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	28.1 (−2.2)	27.6 (−2.4)	28.3 (−2.1)	31.4 (−0.3)	36.7 (2.6)	41.9 (5.5)	46.0 (7.8)	47.7 (8.7)	43.5 (6.4)	37.2 (2.9)	32.1 (0.1)	30.3 (−0.9)	35.9 (2.2)
Record low °F (°C)	−8 (−22)	0 (−18)	2 (−17)	−5 (−21)	15 (−9)	30 (−1)	21 (−6)	30 (−1)	19 (−7)	2 (−17)	8 (−13)	5 (−15)	−8 (−22)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	7.28 (185)	6.35 (161)	5.40 (137)	3.46 (88)	3.98 (101)	2.48 (63)	2.19 (56)	2.69 (68)	5.21 (132)	7.17 (182)	6.76 (172)	7.89 (200)	60.86 (1,545)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	23.8 (60)	20.4 (52)	16.5 (42)	6.6 (17)	0.2 (0.51)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0.5 (1.3)	6.4 (16)	17.1 (43)	91.5 (231.81)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 inch)	21	20	20	17	17	14	13	14	18	23	23	23	223
Source: WRCC

Population and People

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1880	406	—
1890	317	−21.9%
1900	428	35.0%
1910	281	−34.3%
1920	299	6.4%
1930	226	−24.4%
1940	298	31.9%
1950	173	−41.9%
1960	218	26.0%
1970	342	56.9%
1980	1,322	286.5%
1990	3,089	133.7%
2000	4,283	38.7%
2010	4,376	2.2%
2020	4,254	−2.8%
source:

Unalaska first appeared on the U.S. Census in 1880. It was listed as the village of Iliuliuk. Most of its residents were Aleut or of mixed Russian and Aleut heritage. The town was officially formed in 1942.

Who Lives in Unalaska? (2020 Census)

**Unalaska city, Alaska – Racial and ethnic composition**
*Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.*
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	1,780	1,473	1,326	41.56%	33.66%	31.17%
Black or African American alone (NH)	157	287	221	3.67%	6.56%	5.20%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	323	260	182	7.54%	5.94%	4.28%
Asian alone (NH)	1,307	1,397	1,483	30.52%	31.92%	34.86%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	24	95	221	0.56%	2.17%	5.20%
Other race alone (NH)	4	5	8	0.09%	0.11%	0.19%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	137	193	219	3.20%	4.41%	5.15%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	551	666	594	12.86%	15.22%	13.96%
Total	4,283	4,376	4,254	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

In 2020, Unalaska had 4,254 people. The population includes many different groups. About 31% were White, 35% Asian, and 14% Hispanic or Latino.

A Look at the 2010 Census

In 2010, Unalaska had 4,376 people. There were 927 households, with 34% of them having children under 18. The average household had 2.5 people.

The population was quite diverse. About 39% were White, 33% Asian (many from the Philippines), and 15% Hispanic or Latino. The median age was 40.7 years. This means half the people were older than 40.7 and half were younger.

Economy and Fishing Industry

Satellite view of Dutch Harbor.

The port of Unalaska / Dutch Harbor is very important for fishing. It is the main base for the Bering Sea king crab fishery. This is why the TV show Deadliest Catch often features Dutch Harbor. The show highlights the fishing boats and local places like the pub.

Dutch Harbor has been the largest fishing port in the United States for many years. This is based on the amount of seafood caught. Until 2000, it also ranked first for the total value of its catch.

Fish Oil Biodiesel Project

Unalaska / Dutch Harbor has a special project. They are making fish oil biodiesel from the local fish processing industry. This project works with the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Shipping fish oil elsewhere is often too expensive. Also, communities in Alaska rely heavily on diesel for power. The local factories produce millions of gallons of fish oil each year. This project helps use it locally.

Education in Unalaska

Unalaska operates its own schools. The Unalaska City School District had 418 students in 2018–2019. Students attend Eagle's View Elementary School (pre-K to 4th grade) and Unalaska Jr/Sr High School (5th to 12th grades).

The Unalaska City School District has been recognized as one of the best in the U.S. It consistently scores high on state exams. In 2006, it received awards for its school board and superintendent. Unalaska Headstart also provides education for younger children.

College Opportunities

The University of Alaska Fairbanks has a campus in Unalaska. It is called the University of Alaska, Aleutian Pribilof campus. This college offers regular classes and online courses. It also provides workshops and allows high school students to earn college credits. About 11% of Unalaska residents aged 25 and older have a college degree.

Transportation in Unalaska

Unalaska is connected to the rest of Alaska by air. The Unalaska Airport has a paved runway. Daily flights go to and from Anchorage. There is also a seaplane base. In 2002, the airport was renamed "Tom Madsen Airport" after a local pilot.

The Alaska Marine Highway ferry system visits Unalaska every two weeks from April to October. Unalaska has ten major docks. Three of these are run by the city. A refurbished World War II dock now offers ship repair services.

Unalaska has about 7 miles (11 km) of paved roads. The total road length is about 38 miles (61 km). The busiest roads are Airport Beach Road, 5th Street, and Broadway Avenue. About 3,000 cars use these roads daily.