Kodiak Island is the main island among a vast chain of smaller islands known as the Kodiak Archipelago, situated 30 miles south of the Alaskan mainland. The archipelago juts out across the Gulf of Alaska and extends 177 miles east to west. As of the publication date, 6,130 people inhabit the largest city of Kodiak, located on Kodiak Island, while each of the other six villages on the archipelago have a population of 220 or fewer.
Archaeologists conclude that thousands of years ago, the Eskimo tribes native to Alaska, such as the Alutiiq, the Yupik and the Inupiaq, migrated to the area from Asia. During the mid-18th century, Russian traders and merchants sought the valuable sea otter pelts and other marine life so plentiful around Kodiak Island. Subsequently, they colonized the land and made Kodiak their capital city and major fur trading center. In 1867 the United States of America purchased the land from Russia, and during World War II, the population of Kodiak mushroomed to over 25,000 as it became a staging area for North Pacific operations. In 1959 Alaska became the 49th state in the union.
The Kodiak bear, a subspecies of the brown or grizzly bear, lives exclusively on the Kodiak Archipelago. Although many large North American animals are on the endangered species list, the Kodiak bear population continues to thrive, with estimates of 3,500 bears among the islands. Sea lions, otters, whales, porpoises and over 240 species of birds regale residents and tourists alike, while hunters enjoy the Sitka black-tailed deer.
The U.S. Coast Guard and other government agencies employ about 35 percent of the people of Kodiak, and approximately 27 percent work in the fishing industry. Wild-caught red salmon including Chinook, Coho and Sockeye account for only one-tenth of the entire harvest, while pink salmon from fisheries provides the bulk of it. Additionally, tourism contributes over 10 percent of the jobs on Kodiak Island.
Kodiak offers a variety of recreation for people of all ages, particularly for those that love the outdoors. Sports enthusiasts will revel in the hiking, camping, biking, kayaking, fly fishing or boating activities. If you love animals, plan a trip between April and November for breathtaking whale-watching excursions, while the best time to see a Kodiak bear up close is in July, August or September. Indoor types will appreciate touring the Alutiiq Museum, shopping in downtown Kodiak City or feasting on the fresh fish catch-of-the-day in one of the island's restaurants.
