Akutan lies in the maritime climate zone, resulting in mild winters and cool summers.

The company's agent established a commercial cod fishing and processing business that quickly attracted nearby Unangan to the community.

After the Japanese attacked Unalaska in June 1942, the U.S. government evacuated Akutan residents to the Ketchikan area.

In June 1942, a Japanese A6M Zero fighter piloted by Tadayoshi Koga crashed on Akutan Island.

This plane, dubbed the Akutan Zero, significantly aided American tacticians in devising dog fighting techniques to defeat the Zero, and helped change the course of the war.

Approximately 75 persons are year-round residents; the majority of the population are transient fish processing workers that live in group quarters.

Sewage is piped to a community septic tank, with effluent discharge through an ocean outfall.

Refuse is collected three times a week; a new landfill site and incinerator were recently completed.

Eastern Aleutian Tribes Inc. operates the Anesia Kudrin clinic as part of its health care system.

Auxiliary health care is provided by Akutan First Responders (907-698-2208/2315); or by flight to Unalaska or Anchorage.

Transportation is provided by seaplane, by private or fleet fishing vessels, and the State Ferry makes monthly visits in summer weather.

Commercial fish processing dominates Akutan's cash-based economy, and not many locals are seasonally employed.

Trident Seafoods operates a large processing plant west of the city for cod, crab, pollock and fish meal.

Subsistence foods include seal, salmon, herring, halibut, clams, wild cattle, and game birds.

Plans are underway to develop a practical way to get to a large boat harbor that has been built at the head of the bay.

Cargo is delivered weekly by freighter from Seattle; the City owns and operates a landing craft, the M/V Akutan.

Akutan has no airstrip due to the steep terrain, however, a seaplane base is available and open to the public.

The only airline company serving the airport is Grant Aviation, flying to nearby Dutch Harbor.