Kodiak

Kodiak is a coastal city on Kodiak Island in Alaska that serves as a hub connecting seven island communities. Streets climb uphill from the harbor, where wooden homes sit among spruce forests with views toward the water and surrounding mountains.

Russian fur traders arrived in 1792 and founded a settlement that became the first capital of Russian Alaska. Control passed to American hands in 1867, and the community gradually developed into a major fishing port.

The city takes its name from the Alutiiq word Kut'aq, referring to the island and its first inhabitants. Life here revolves around fishing, and along the harbor front you can see trawlers, nets, and gear stacked on the docks while crews unload the morning catch.

Weatherproof clothing is useful year-round, as rain and wind are common and temperatures stay cool even in summer. The harbor and downtown area are walkable, while reaching more distant points requires a vehicle.

Two hydroelectric plants and several wind turbines supply the community with renewable energy. These facilities reduce reliance on imported diesel significantly, making power generation more sustainable than in most remote Alaskan coastal settlements.

Location: Kodiak Island Borough

Inception: September 11, 1940

Elevation above the sea: 15 m

Website: https://city.kodiak.ak.us

GPS coordinates: 57.79306,-152.39417

Latest update: December 13, 2025 19:58