Administrative divisions of Alaska facts for kids

The administrative divisions of Alaska are like different levels of local government that help manage the state of Alaska. Think of them as the different ways Alaska is divided up to make sure towns and areas have the services they need, like schools, roads, and public safety.

What are Boroughs?

In Alaska, the main way the state is divided is into areas called boroughs. These boroughs are very similar to the counties you might find in most other states. They are the first level of division for local government.

Organized and Unorganized Boroughs

Alaska has two types of boroughs: organized and unorganized.

• Organized boroughs are like regular counties. They have their own local governments that provide services to the people living there.
• The Unorganized Borough is a huge area of Alaska that doesn't have its own local government. It's so big that the United States Census Bureau divides it into smaller parts called census areas. This helps them count people and gather information more easily during the United States Census.

What are Cities?

Besides boroughs, Alaska also has cities. Cities are another important part of local government. A city in Alaska must be located completely inside one of the boroughs. This means cities are usually smaller areas within a larger borough.

How Municipalities are Classified

In Alaska, local governments are called municipalities. They are grouped into two main types:

• Home rule municipalities
• General law municipalities

Home Rule Municipalities

Home rule municipalities are like local governments that have a special "charter." This charter gives them a lot of freedom to make their own laws and decisions. They can do almost anything that isn't specifically forbidden by state law.

General Law Municipalities

General law municipalities are different. They don't have a special charter. This means they can only do what the state laws specifically allow them to do. They have less freedom than home rule municipalities.

General law municipalities are further divided into different classes:

• There are first-, second-, and third-class boroughs.
• There are also first- and second-class cities.

Each of these classes has specific rules about how they can be formed and what they can do. The Local Boundary Commission is a group that helps oversee how these municipalities are organized, changed, or even dissolved.