Russian Society

The number of posts established by the Russians during their 127 years in Alaska did not mean there were many Russians in the territory. In 1817, the Russian-American Company had 450 to 500 workers and 26 sailors scattered in 16 Alaska sites. The Russian population peaked in 1839 when there were 832 Russians throughout Alaska.

The Russians thought of themselves as comprising three social groups. The "distinguished" group included the navy and army officers, as well as other high officials. The "semi-distinguished" group included low-level administrators, such as trading post managers, navigators, and other skilled or educated tradesmen. The third group were commoners, such as laborers, sailors, and soldiers.

Naval governors usually served in Alaska for five years. Other Russians came to Alaska as temporary residents under seven-year contracts. As permanent legal residents of mainland Russia, they continued to pay taxes in their home provinces. However, many employees married Native women, had children, and did not return to Russia. 

When Russians who chose to stay in Alaska became too old or ill to be active workers, the government dealt with them by establishing a class of "colonial citizens." The people in this class could remain in Alaska permanently. Although not fit enough to work directly in the fur trade, they were given tools and seeds. With these, they were expected to contribute to the company's needs by producing food. 

In Cook Inlet, where the land and climate were most productive for agriculture, retirement farming villages were created in the 1830s. It was hoped that the retirees could support the colony by farming and help solve the ongoing food supply problem. These villages were created at Ninilchik, Seldovia, Kasilof, and Knik. 

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