ALEUTIANS WEST CENSUS AREA, AK HISTORY AND LOOKUP

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Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska: A Genealogical Overview

Stretching across the remote and storm-tossed terminus of the North American continent, the Aleutians West Census Area is a chain of volcanic islands with a history unlike any other in the United States. This is the ancestral homeland of the Unangax̂ (Aleut) people, a region colonized by Russian fur traders, and the only American soil occupied by a foreign power during World War II. For genealogists, researching this area requires a departure from traditional methods, as there is no county government. Instead, records are found in state, federal, and ecclesiastical archives that tell a story of resilience, conflict, and cultural fusion at the edge of the world.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Understanding the administrative structure of the Aleutians West Census Area is the most critical first step for any researcher, as it is not a county or a borough.

  • Status as a Census Area: The Aleutians West Census Area is part of Alaska’s Unorganized Borough. It has no county-level government, no county seat, and no central courthouse. It is a statistical subdivision created by the U.S. Census Bureau. Governmental functions are performed by individual incorporated cities (like Unalaska) or by the State of Alaska directly.
  • 1987: Area Formed: The current census area was established on January 1, 1987, when the former, larger Aleutian Islands Census Area was divided into the Aleutians West Census Area and the Aleutians East Borough.
  • Predecessor Jurisdictions:
    • Territorial Period (1912-1959): The region was part of the Third Judicial District of the Territory of Alaska. Court records from this era are held at the state and federal level.
    • Russian-American Period (c. 1741-1867): Record keeping was primarily done by the Russian-American Company and the Russian Orthodox Church.
  • Name Origin: The name is purely geographical, denoting the western portion of the Aleutian Islands chain, from Unalaska Island to the westernmost island of Attu.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Ancient Inhabitants: The islands have been home to the Unangax̂ (Aleut) people for nearly 9,000 years. They developed a sophisticated maritime culture, masterfully navigating the treacherous waters in skin-covered kayaks to hunt sea mammals.
  • The Russian Era: Beginning in the 1740s, Russian fur traders arrived in search of sea otter pelts. This period was marked by violent conflict, the subjugation of the Unangax̂ people, and devastating disease. It also brought the Russian Orthodox faith, which was widely adopted and remains a central part of Unangax̂ culture today.
  • World War II: The Aleutians became a key strategic battleground. In June 1942, Japanese forces bombed Dutch Harbor (on Unalaska Island) and subsequently occupied the islands of Attu and Kiska. This was the only part of North America occupied during the war. In May 1943, U.S. forces fought the brutal, bloody Battle of Attu to reclaim the island. During the war, the U.S. government forcibly removed nearly all Unangax̂ residents from the islands and interned them in squalid camps in Southeast Alaska, a traumatic event in which many perished.
  • Modern Economy: After the war, the area’s economy shifted. Today, the city of Unalaska and its port, Dutch Harbor, is consistently one of the top commercial fishing ports in the United States by volume and value.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

There is no county courthouse in the Aleutians West Census Area. Research is centralized at the state, federal, and church levels.

  • State-Level Records:
    • Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics (Juneau): This is the official repository for all birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for the entire state from 1913 to the present. This is the starting point for 20th and 21st-century vital records.
    • Alaska State Archives (Juneau): Holds records from the territorial government, including court records from the Third Judicial District that served the Aleutians.
  • Russian Orthodox Church Records: For research before 1913, the metrical books kept by Russian Orthodox priests are the single most important genealogical source. These records of baptisms, marriages, and burials served as the de facto vital records for the Unangax̂ and Russian populations. Microfilm copies are held at the Alaska State Library and the Library of Congress.
  • Federal Records:
    • National Archives at Seattle: This facility holds federal records pertaining to Alaska, including territorial court documents, Bureau of Indian Affairs records relating to the Unangax̂, and extensive military records documenting the WWII Aleutian Campaign and the construction of military bases.
  • Local and Cultural Resources:
    • Museum of the Aleutians (Unalaska): A world-class museum and essential resource for understanding the deep history and rich culture of the Unangax̂ people and the entire region.
    • City of Unalaska Clerk’s Office: May hold municipal records such as city council minutes or business licenses, but not the vital, probate, or land records typically found in a county courthouse.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions: The Aleutians West Census Area’s only land-based neighbor is the Aleutians East Borough to the east. It shares a maritime border with Russia to the west.

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