Attu Station, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Attu Station is a census-designated place
(CDP) located on Attu Island
in the Aleutians West Census Area
in the U.S. state
of Alaska
. The population was 20 at the 2000 census
, consisting entirely of coastguardsmen and -women who resided and worked at the United States Coast Guard
LORAN
station. Loran Station Attu has provided a navigational signal for mariners of the north pacific since the 1970s.
Although often considered the westernmost place in the United States due to its location relative to the rest of the country, Attu Station is actually one of the easternmost points in the United States, located at 52°50′47"N 173°11′10"E, on the opposite side of the 180th meridian from the rest of the United States
. (See Extreme Points
.)
and the battle to retake it, the United States government constructed a LORAN
station on the southern tip of the island, at Theodore Point. The equipment to build the station came from Holtz Bay
and was ferried on barges and landing craft to Baxter Cove, about one mile (1.6 km) east of the station. Bulldozers were used to cut a road from Baxter Cove to Theodore Point.
In 1960 the station was moved to Casco Cove, near the former United States Navy
base at Massacre Bay
. Later it was moved to Massacre Bay. LORAN Station Attu ceased transmission of the LORAN signal Feb. 8, 2010 and the Russian-American signal ceased Aug. 1, 2010.
of 2000, there were 20 people, 0 households, and 0 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 0.1 PD/sqmi. There were 0 housing units at an average density of 0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 18 White
, 1 from other races
, and 1 from two or more races. 5 of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 7 from 18 to 24, 12 from 25 to 44, and 1 from 45 to 64. The median age was 30 years. There were nineteen men and one woman.
Males had a median income of $26,250, which is the same for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $26,964. None of the population is below the poverty line.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) located on Attu Island
Attu Island
Attu is the westernmost and largest island in the Near Islands group of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, making it the westernmost point of land relative to Alaska and the United States. It was the site of the only World War II land battle fought on the incorporated territory of the United States ,...
in the Aleutians West Census Area
Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska
Aleutians West Census Area is a census area located in the U.S. state of Alaska. It contains most of the Aleutian Islands, from Attu Island in the west to Unalaska Island in the east, as well as the Pribilof Islands, which lie north of the Aleutians in the Bering Sea. As of 2010, the population is...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. The population was 20 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, consisting entirely of coastguardsmen and -women who resided and worked at the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
LORAN
LORAN
LORAN is a terrestrial radio navigation system using low frequency radio transmitters in multiple deployment to determine the location and speed of the receiver....
station. Loran Station Attu has provided a navigational signal for mariners of the north pacific since the 1970s.
Although often considered the westernmost place in the United States due to its location relative to the rest of the country, Attu Station is actually one of the easternmost points in the United States, located at 52°50′47"N 173°11′10"E, on the opposite side of the 180th meridian from the rest of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. (See Extreme Points
Extreme points of the United States
This is a list of the extreme points of the United States, the points that are farther north, south, east, or west than any other location in the country. Also included are extreme points in elevation, extreme distances, and other points of peculiar geographic interest.-Northernmost:*Point Barrow,...
.)
History
After the Japanese invasion of Attu IslandAttu Island
Attu is the westernmost and largest island in the Near Islands group of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, making it the westernmost point of land relative to Alaska and the United States. It was the site of the only World War II land battle fought on the incorporated territory of the United States ,...
and the battle to retake it, the United States government constructed a LORAN
LORAN
LORAN is a terrestrial radio navigation system using low frequency radio transmitters in multiple deployment to determine the location and speed of the receiver....
station on the southern tip of the island, at Theodore Point. The equipment to build the station came from Holtz Bay
Holtz Bay
Holtz Bay is an inlet on the northeast coast of the island of Attu in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska.Holtz Bay was among the landing sites of United States Army troops in the Battle of Attu on 11 May 1943, which led to the recapture of the island from the Japanese during World War...
and was ferried on barges and landing craft to Baxter Cove, about one mile (1.6 km) east of the station. Bulldozers were used to cut a road from Baxter Cove to Theodore Point.
In 1960 the station was moved to Casco Cove, near the former United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
base at Massacre Bay
Massacre Bay
Massacre Bay is an inlet on the southeast coast of the island of Attu in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska.Massacre Bay was among the landing sites of United States Army troops in the Battle of Attu in May 1943, which led to the recapture of the island from the Japanese during World War...
. Later it was moved to Massacre Bay. LORAN Station Attu ceased transmission of the LORAN signal Feb. 8, 2010 and the Russian-American signal ceased Aug. 1, 2010.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 143.6 square miles (371.9 km²). 142.6 square miles (369.3 km²) of it is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it (0.75%) is water.Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 20 people, 0 households, and 0 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 0.1 PD/sqmi. There were 0 housing units at an average density of 0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 18 White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1 from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1 from two or more races. 5 of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 7 from 18 to 24, 12 from 25 to 44, and 1 from 45 to 64. The median age was 30 years. There were nineteen men and one woman.
Males had a median income of $26,250, which is the same for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $26,964. None of the population is below the poverty line.