Atka is located in the Aleutian Islands of western Alaska. Atka is the most westerly city in the United States.
Recent archaelogical evidence in the area suggests that the present village site of Atka may have had human use since prehistoric times. Sea otter hunting was popular in the 19th century, and later, fox farming began in Atka. During WWII, after nearby towns were seized by the Japanese, Atka was burned to the ground to prevent Japanese forces from advancing. The community was rebuilt by the U.S. Navy, and later was used for underground nuclear testing.