ALASKA - When tracing the history of the Last Frontier, the timeline points to the rugged islands of the Gulf of Alaska. Kodiak, established in 1784 (and moved to its current location in 1792), holds the title of the oldest permanent European settlement in Alaska.
The Founding: 1784
Kodiak’s origins are Russian, driven by the lucrative and often brutal maritime fur trade.
- Three Saints Bay: In 1784, Russian explorer Grigory Shelikhov founded the first permanent settlement at Three Saints Bay (Gavanskay) on the southern side of Kodiak Island.
- St. Paul Harbor: Recognizing that the original site was too exposed, Alexander Baranov (the manager of the Russian-American Company) moved the settlement to the northeast corner of the island in 1792. He named it Pavlovskaya Gavan (St. Paul Harbor). This site is the modern-day city of Kodiak. It served as the capital of Russian America until 1804, when the seat of government moved to Sitka.
Indigenous Roots
Long before the Russian "promyshlenniki" (fur traders) arrived, the archipelago was the home of the Alutiiq (Sugpiaq) people. Archaeological evidence shows the Alutiiq have inhabited the region for at least 7,500 years. They were skilled mariners who hunted whales and seals from skin boats called baidarkas. The arrival of Shelikhov was catastrophic for the Alutiiq; the Russians used advanced weaponry to massacre the local defenders at Awa’uq (Refuge Rock) in 1784, forcing the survivors into forced labor to hunt sea otters.
A Technical Distinction: Unalaska and Sitka
While Kodiak is the oldest permanent settlement, other locations contest the timeline.
- Unalaska (Dutch Harbor): Russian fur traders were operating in the Aleutian Islands as early as the 1750s, nearly 30 years before Kodiak was founded. The settlement of Iluiliuk (Unalaska) became a key trading port by the 1770s. However, because these early outposts were often temporary or fluctuated wildly with the fur catch, Kodiak is generally cited as the first "colony."
- Sitka: Founded as "New Archangel" in 1799 (and re-founded in 1804 after a Tlingit victory), Sitka became the most important city in Russian America, known as the "Paris of the Pacific." While it eclipsed Kodiak in power, it is younger chronologically.
Settlement vs. Incorporation
There is a massive gap between the founding of Alaskan settlements and their legal incorporation as U.S. cities.
- The Gold Rush Era: Under U.S. rule, civil government arrived late. Juneau holds the distinction of being the first city to officially incorporate under the new Civil Code on June 29, 1900.
- Kodiak: despite being the oldest settlement (1784), Kodiak remained a quiet fishing village for over a century and did not legally incorporate as a city until 1940.
Kodiak is the oldest permanent European settlement in Alaska, founded by Grigory Shelikhov in 1784 at Three Saints Bay and moved to its present location in 1792. It served as the first capital of Russian America. The Alutiiq people have inhabited the island for over 7,000 years. While Unalaska saw earlier Russian activity and Juneau (1900) was the first to legally incorporate under U.S. law, Kodiak remains the oldest continuous colonial community in the state.
Sources
- Alaska Historical Society. "Russian America."
- City of Kodiak. "History of Kodiak."
- Alutiiq Museum. "Alutiiq History."
- Library of Congress. "Meeting of Frontiers: The Russian-American Company."
- State of Alaska. "Community Database Online: Juneau."