The History of
the Aleutians East Borough

Based in Sand Point, the Borough comprises the westernmost portion of the Alaska Peninsula, and a number of Aleutian islands. There are five incorporated cities and two unincorporated villages within the boundaries of the borough. It lies at approximately 57° 00' N Latitude, 162° 00' W Longitude . The community is located in the Aleutian Islands Recording District. The area encompasses 6,985 sq. miles of land and 8,027 sq. miles of water.

According to archaeological evidence, the area has been inhabited by Aleuts since the last ice age. Early contact was with Russian fur traders who sought sea otters in these islands. Whaling, fishing and cannery operations brought an influx of Scandinavian and European fishermen in the early 1900s. During World War II the area was a strategic military site for the Aleutian Campaign, and many locals were evacuated to Ketchikan.

To Community Histories Index Alaska DCCED Community Database Online

History and map graphic used with permission from the Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development