Unga, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Unga is a ghost town
on Unga Island
in the Aleutians East Borough
of the U.S. state
of Alaska
, about 2 miles west of Sand Point
. The total length of the island is 15 miles (24 km). Unga's altitude is 59 feet (18 m).
The population was 116 in 1833; 185 in 1880; 159 in 1890; 108 in 1910; 313 in 1920; 150 in 1930; 152 in 1939; and 107 in 1950. The Ounga post office, established in 1888; changed its name to Unga in 1894; discontinued in 1958.
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
on Unga Island
Unga Island
Unga Island is the largest of the Shumagin Islands off the Alaska Peninsula in southwestern Alaska, USA. The island has a land area of 170.73 sq mi , making it the 35th largest island in the United States...
in the Aleutians East Borough
Aleutians East Borough, Alaska
- See also :*List of airports in the Aleutians East Borough*National Register of Historic Places listings in Aleutians East Borough, Alaska-External links:*-References:...
of 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...
, about 2 miles west of Sand Point
Sand Point, Alaska
Sand Point, also known as Qagun Tayagungin, is a city in Aleutians East Borough, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 952. In 2009, the population was 962. It is located on northwestern Popof Island, off the Alaska Peninsula...
. The total length of the island is 15 miles (24 km). Unga's altitude is 59 feet (18 m).
History
It was settled by Aleuts in 1833 and was named Delarov, referring to Evstratii Ivanovich Delarov of the Shelikhov-Golikov Company, with a population of 116. The village was reported as Ougnagok by F. P. Lutke in 1836. Its first post office was established in 1888 and in 1890 Apollo Mining Co. was established. In 1894, its name was changed to Unga. The post office was closed in 1958. In 1969, the last family left Unga. Most of the people who left Unga moved to Sand Point.The population was 116 in 1833; 185 in 1880; 159 in 1890; 108 in 1910; 313 in 1920; 150 in 1930; 152 in 1939; and 107 in 1950. The Ounga post office, established in 1888; changed its name to Unga in 1894; discontinued in 1958.