Prior
to Russian settlement, Kenai was a Dena'ina Athabascan Indian village.
Russian fur traders first arrived in 1741. At that time, about 1,000
Dena'ina lived in the village of Shk'ituk't, near the River. The traders
called the people "Kenaitze," or "Kenai people." In
1791, a fortified Russian trading post, Fort St. Nicholas, was constructed
for fur and fish trading. It was the second permanent Russian settlement
in Alaska. In 1849, the Holy Assumption Russian Orthodox Church was
established by Egumen Nicholai. In 1869 the U.S. military established a
post for the Dena'ina Indians in the area, called Fort Kenay, which was
abandoned in 1870 after Alaska was purchased by the U.S. A post office was
established in 1899. Through the 1920s, commercial fishing was the primary
activity. In 1940, homesteading enabled the area to develop. The first
dirt road from Anchorage was constructed in 1951. In 1957, oil was
discovered at Swanson River, 20 miles northeast of Kenai - the first major
Alaska oil strike. In 1965, offshore oil discoveries in Cook Inlet fueled
a period of rapid growth. Kenai has been a growing center for oil
exploration, production and services since that time
Prior
to Russian settlement, Kenai was a Dena'ina Athabascan Indian village.
Russian fur traders first arrived in 1741. At that time, about 1,000
Dena'ina lived in the village of Shk'ituk't, near the River. The traders
called the people "Kenaitze," or "Kenai people." In
1791, a fortified Russian trading post, Fort St. Nicholas, was constructed
for fur and fish trading. It was the second permanent Russian settlement
in Alaska. In 1849, the Holy Assumption Russian Orthodox Church was
established by Egumen Nicholai. In 1869 the U.S. military established a
post for the Dena'ina Indians in the area, called Fort Kenay, which was
abandoned in 1870 after Alaska was purchased by the U.S. A post office was
established in 1899. Through the 1920s, commercial fishing was the primary
activity. In 1940, homesteading enabled the area to develop. The first
dirt road from Anchorage was constructed in 1951. In 1957, oil was
discovered at Swanson River, 20 miles northeast of Kenai - the first major
Alaska oil strike. In 1965, offshore oil discoveries in Cook Inlet fueled
a period of rapid growth. Kenai has been a growing center for oil
exploration, production and services since that time
