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Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska facts for kids

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Kenai Peninsula Borough
Wpdms shdrlfi020l matanuska river.jpg
Map of Alaska highlighting Kenai Peninsula Borough
Location within the U.S. state of Alaska
Map of the United States highlighting Alaska
Alaska's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Alaska
Incorporated January 1, 1964
Named for Kenai Peninsula
Seat Soldotna
Largest city Kenai
Area
 • Total 24,752 sq mi (64,110 km2)
 • Land 16,075 sq mi (41,630 km2)
 • Water 8,677 sq mi (22,470 km2)  35.1%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 58,799
 • Density 2.37553/sq mi (0.917195/km2)
Time zone UTC−9 (Alaska)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−8 (ADT)
Congressional district At-large

Kenai Peninsula Borough is a borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,799, up from 55,400 in 2010. The borough seat is Soldotna, the largest city is Kenai, and the most populated community is the census-designated place of Kalifornsky.

The borough includes most of the Kenai Peninsula and a large area of the mainland of Alaska on the opposite side of Cook Inlet.

Geography

The borough has a total area of 24,752 square miles (64,110 km2), of which 16,075 square miles (41,630 km2) is land and 8,677 square miles (22,470 km2) (3.4%) is water.

Adjacent boroughs and census areas

National protected areas

Ecology

Bear Lake, and the Trail Lakes, have been the site of salmon enhancement activities. Both sites are managed by the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association Some of the fish hatched at these facilities are released into the famous Homer fishing hole. Cook Inlet Keeper and the Cook Inlet Regional Citizen's Advisory Council are groups that attempt to influence public policy on the use of the areas resources.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1960 6,097
1970 14,250 133.7%
1980 25,282 77.4%
1990 40,802 61.4%
2000 49,691 21.8%
2010 55,400 11.5%
2020 58,799 6.1%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2020

At the 2000 census there were 49,700 people, 18,400 households, and 12,700 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1/km2 (3/sq mi). There were 24,900 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 86% white, 7% Native American, 2% Hispanic or Latino (any race), and 4% from two or more races. Black or African Americans, Asians, and Pacific Islanders each were less than 1%. Just under 1% were from other races combined. 1.92% reported speaking Russian at home, while 1.74% spoke Spanish.

Of the 18,400 households, 38% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55% were married couples living together, 9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31% were non-families. 25% of households were one person, and 5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.6 and the average family size was 3.2.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 30% under the age of 18, 7% from 18 to 24, 30% from 25 to 44, 26% from 45 to 64, and 7% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 109 males; for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 110 males.

Communities

Kenai Peninsula Borough Building
The George A. Navarre Building on Binkley Street in downtown Soldotna serves as the administrative headquarters for the borough and its school district. Navarre moved to Kenai in 1957, owned and operated a variety of Kenai-based businesses, and served as an early mayor of the borough. His son, Mike Navarre, is the borough's current mayor.

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Borough de Península de Kenai para niños

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