A geothermal energy plant may replace the fish processing plant as Akutan's main employer.
Akutan, Alaska, lies on the island of Akutan, one of the Krenitzin Islands in the eastern Aleutians. It is about 35 miles from Unalaska, on the southwestern tip of Alaska. The region experiences weather patterns in keeping with a small island in the Bering Sea -- winters are stormy, with an average temperature of 22 degrees, while the foggy summers record an average of 55 degrees. The city is home to the Native Village of Akutan, and the main industry is fishing.
HIstory
The Western Fur and Trading Company chose Akutan as the location for a fur storage and fish processing plant in 1878, after which the town grew and a school and church were constructed. In 1942, the city was evacuated to Ketchikan when Japanese forces attacked the nearby city of Unalaska. Akutan was opened to residents again in 1944; however, after the relocation, many people did not return and the exposure to a larger city altered the once-traditional Native culture of Akutan.
Population
Akutan's small population is comprised of approximately 750 residents, 75 percent of whom are male. Many of these residents are transient, due to the seasonal nature of the fishing industry. Therefore, the number of residents who call Akutan home year-round is only about 10 percent. Akutan is ethnically diverse: 16 percent of the residents are of Native American descent, 20 percent are of of European descent, 40 percent are of Asian descent and 2 percent are of African descent.
Economy
Because the town relies on seasonal fishing as an industry, economic details vary depending whether part-time residents are included in the data. Including these individuals, 94 percent of Akutan residents are employed; however, if these individuals are excluded, the permanent residents of Akutan have an 83 percent unemployment rate. The median household income in 2009 was $45,070.
Akutan Geothermal Energy Project
In 2009, a geological survey team began an investigation to research the possibility of harnessing geothermal power from a nearby resource. Using electromagnetic probes, the team hopes to discover a source strong enough to eliminate Akutan's dependence on diesel fuel. Trident Seafoods, which is the company most Akutan residents work for, as well as the Tribal Council and Akutan Community Corporation, are cooperating to make environmentally-friendly power a reality. They also hope the introduction of a geothermal power plant would result in higher employment and promote economic growth in the region.
Tags: descent percent, Akutan Alaska, Akutan main, Akutan residents, fish processing
