List of boroughs and census areas in Alaska facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Boroughs and census areas of Alaska
Borough • City-borough • Census areas of the Unorganized Borough
Location	State of Alaska
Number	19 organized boroughs 11 census areas
Populations	(Organized boroughs): 687 (Yakutat) – 286,075 (Anchorage) (Census areas): 2,262 (Hoonah-Angoon) – 18,224 (Bethel)
Areas	(Organized boroughs): 434 square miles (1,120 km²) (Skagway) – 88,824 square miles (230,050 km²) (North Slope) (Census areas): 4,393 square miles (11,380 km²) (Aleutians West) – 145,576 square miles (377,040 km²) (Yukon-Koyukuk)
Government	Borough government
Subdivisions	Communities, consolidated city-borough

The state of Alaska is divided into 19 special areas called organized boroughs. It also has one very large area called the Unorganized Borough. Alaska and Louisiana are the only U.S. states that do not use "counties" as their main local government areas. Louisiana uses "parishes" instead.

When Alaska became a state, its leaders wanted a different system. They created their own unique way to divide the state. This system uses different types of boroughs, each with its own powers and duties.

Many of Alaska's most populated areas are part of these organized boroughs. They work much like counties in other states. There are four main types of organized boroughs:

Unified Home Rule or Non-unified Home Rule: These boroughs can make almost any law that isn't forbidden by state law.
First Class: These can make laws for their area, as long as it's not against state law.
Second Class: These need voters to approve many of their powers before they can use them.

Unlike other states, Alaska's organized boroughs do not cover the whole state. The parts of Alaska not in an organized borough are called the Unorganized Borough. The U.S. Census Bureau works with Alaska to divide this Unorganized Borough into 11 census areas. These areas are mainly for collecting statistics and information. They do not have their own local governments. Both boroughs and census areas are treated like counties by the Census Bureau.

Some parts of the Unorganized Borough get basic public services directly from the Alaska state government. This often includes law enforcement from the Alaska State Troopers and money for schools.

Seven areas in Alaska have a combined city and borough government. These are:

Juneau City and Borough
Skagway Municipality
Sitka City and Borough
Yakutat City and Borough
Wrangell City and Borough
Haines Borough
Anchorage, which is Alaska's largest city. Even though its official name is the Municipality of Anchorage, it works like a combined city-borough.

There are 30 main divisions in Alaska.

Understanding Alaska's Boroughs
- List of Organized Boroughs
The Unorganized Borough and Census Areas
- List of Census Areas in the Unorganized Borough
Images for kids
See also

Understanding Alaska's Boroughs

Alaska's boroughs are like local governments that manage different parts of the state. Each borough has a "borough seat," which is like a main town or city where the government offices are.

List of Organized Boroughs

Here is a list of the organized boroughs in Alaska:

Borough	FIPS code	Borough seat	Class	Est.	Origin	Etymology	Density	Population	Area
Aleutians East Borough	013	Sand Point	Second	1987	-	Its location in the east Aleutian Islands, which are themselves of uncertain linguistic origin; possibly derived from Chukchi word aliat ("island")	0.50	&&&&&&&&&&&03461.&&&&&03,461	&&&&&&&&&&&06985.&&&&&06,985 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&018091.&&&&&018,091 km²)
Anchorage	020	(Consolidated city-borough)	Unified Home Rule	1964/1975	Anchorage Borough formed in 1964, merged with city in 1975 to form unified city-borough	Derived from the presence of a safe place to anchor and unload supplies for construction of the Alaska Railroad c. 1913, thereby creating a community.	167.59	&&&&&&&&&0286075.&&&&&0286,075	&&&&&&&&&&&01707.&&&&&01,707 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&04421.&&&&&04,421 km²)
Bristol Bay Borough	060	Naknek	Second	1962	-	Named in 1778 by Capt. James Cook for George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol.	1.75	&&&&&&&&&&&&0844.&&&&&0844	&&&&&&&&&&&&0482.&&&&&0482 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01248.&&&&&01,248 km²)
Denali Borough	068	Healy	Home Rule	1990	-	From Denali, the tallest North American mountain, which means "great one" in the Dena'ina language	0.13	&&&&&&&&&&&01584.&&&&&01,584	&&&&&&&&&&012641.&&&&&012,641 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&032740.&&&&&032,740 km²)
Fairbanks North Star Borough	090	Fairbanks	Second	1964	-	Named for its borough seat of Fairbanks, named in turn for Charles Fairbanks (1852–1918), U.S. Senator from Indiana and vice president under Theodore Roosevelt, and for Polaris, the North Star	12.93	&&&&&&&&&&094840.&&&&&094,840	&&&&&&&&&&&07335.&&&&&07,335 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&018998.&&&&&018,998 km²)
Haines Borough	100	(Consolidated city-borough)	Home Rule	1968 (Consolidated 2002)	-	After Haines, which was itself named for Mrs. Francina E. Haines (1819–1870), the key fundraiser for the construction of a Presbyterian mission in the town.	0.88	&&&&&&&&&&&02070.&&&&&02,070	&&&&&&&&&&&02343.&&&&&02,343 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&06068.&&&&&06,068 km²)
Juneau	110	(Consolidated city-borough)	Unified Home Rule	1970	The cities of Juneau and Douglas merged with the surrounding borough to form the municipality	Joseph "Joe" Juneau (1836-1899), prospector and co-founder of the city.	11.67	&&&&&&&&&&031555.&&&&&031,555	&&&&&&&&&&&02704.&&&&&02,704 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&07003.&&&&&07,003 km²)
Kenai Peninsula Borough	122	Soldotna	Second	1964	-	The Kenai Peninsula, whose name may be derived from Kenayskaya, the Russian name for Cook Inlet.	3.82	&&&&&&&&&&061223.&&&&&061,223	&&&&&&&&&&016017.&&&&&016,017 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&041484.&&&&&041,484 km²)
Ketchikan Gateway Borough	130	Ketchikan	Second	1963	-	The borough seat of Ketchikan and the borough's gateway location on the Alaska-Canada border.	2.83	&&&&&&&&&&013738.&&&&&013,738	&&&&&&&&&&&04857.&&&&&04,857 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&012580.&&&&&012,580 km²)
Kodiak Island Borough	150	Kodiak	Second	1963	-	Named after Kodiak Island, which may itself be named for the Koniag people	1.88	&&&&&&&&&&012565.&&&&&012,565	&&&&&&&&&&&06689.&&&&&06,689 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&017324.&&&&&017,324 km²)
Lake and Peninsula Borough	164	King Salmon	Home Rule	1989	-	The borough's many large lakes, and the Alaska Peninsula	0.06	&&&&&&&&&&&01331.&&&&&01,331	&&&&&&&&&&023832.&&&&&023,832 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&061725.&&&&&061,725 km²)
Matanuska-Susitna Borough	170	Palmer	Second	1964	-	Named for the valley that the Matanuska and Susitna Rivers form.	4.66	&&&&&&&&&0115239.&&&&&0115,239	&&&&&&&&&&024707.&&&&&024,707 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&063991.&&&&&063,991 km²)
North Slope Borough	185	Utqiaġvik	Home Rule	1972	-	The Alaska North Slope along the Brooks Range.	0.12	&&&&&&&&&&010603.&&&&&010,603	&&&&&&&&&&088824.&&&&&088,824 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&0230053.&&&&&0230,053 km²)
Northwest Arctic Borough	188	Kotzebue	Home Rule	1986	In 1986, residents of Kotzebue and 10 other area villages voted to form the Northwest Arctic Borough (with boundaries coincident with those of NANA), to be economically based on taxing the Red Dog mine, then under development.	Its geographic location and position above the Arctic Circle.	0.21	&&&&&&&&&&&07361.&&&&&07,361	&&&&&&&&&&035663.&&&&&035,663 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&092367.&&&&&092,367 km²)
Petersburg Borough	195	Petersburg	Home Rule	2013	Incorporated after voters approved borough formation in December 2012.	Named for Norwegian immigrant Peter Buschmann (1849-1903), founder of the former city of Petersburg.	1.18	&&&&&&&&&&&03427.&&&&&03,427	&&&&&&&&&&&02901.&&&&&02,901 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&07514.&&&&&07,514 km²)
Sitka	220	(Consolidated city-borough)	Unified Home Rule	1971	-	Derived from Tlingit word Shee At'iká, meaning "People on the outside of Shee (Baranof Island)."	2.89	&&&&&&&&&&&08282.&&&&&08,282	&&&&&&&&&&&02870.&&&&&02,870 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&07433.&&&&&07,433 km²)
Skagway	230	(Consolidated city-borough)	First	2007	-	Derived from Tlingit word Shgagwèi, meaning "a windy place with white caps on the water."	2.52	&&&&&&&&&&&01095.&&&&&01,095	&&&&&&&&&&&&0434.&&&&&0434 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01124.&&&&&01,124 km²)
Wrangell	275	(Consolidated city-borough)	Unified Home Rule	2008	Formerly part of Wrangell-Petersburg Census Area	Ferdinand von Wrangel, Russian administrator of Alaska, 1840-49.	0.81	&&&&&&&&&&&02064.&&&&&02,064	&&&&&&&&&&&02556.&&&&&02,556 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&06620.&&&&&06,620 km²)
Yakutat	282	(Consolidated city-borough)	Home Rule	1992	-	Yakutat Bay and the Yakutat Alaska Native people	0.09	&&&&&&&&&&&&0687.&&&&&0687	&&&&&&&&&&&07623.&&&&&07,623 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&019743.&&&&&019,743 km²)

The Unorganized Borough and Census Areas

The Unorganized Borough is a huge part of Alaska that isn't included in any of the 19 organized boroughs. Even though it's called the "Unorganized Borough," it's not a borough itself. This area covers more than half of Alaska's land. It is so big that if it were its own state, it would be the largest state in the United States!

Map of Alaska highlighting the Unorganized Borough

About 10% of all Alaskans live in the Unorganized Borough. Since it doesn't have its own local government, the United States Census Bureau divides it into 11 census areas. These areas help with counting people and collecting information. As new boroughs are formed, these census areas sometimes change.

List of Census Areas in the Unorganized Borough

Here are the census areas within the Unorganized Borough:

Census area	FIPS code	Largest town (as of 2000)	Etymology	Density	Population	Area
Aleutians West Census Area	016	Unalaska	Location in the western Aleutian Islands.	1.17	&&&&&&&&&&&05160.&&&&&05,160	&&&&&&&&&&&04393.&&&&&04,393 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&011378.&&&&&011,378 km²)
Bethel Census Area	050	Bethel	City of Bethel, the largest settlement in the census area, which is itself named for the Biblical term Bethel ("house of God").	0.45	&&&&&&&&&&018224.&&&&&018,224	&&&&&&&&&&040627.&&&&&040,627 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&0105223.&&&&&0105,223 km²)
Chugach Census Area	063	Valdez	The Chugach people (Part of Valdez–Cordova Census Area prior to January 02, 2019)	0.71	&&&&&&&&&&&06769.&&&&&06,769	&&&&&&&&&&&09530.&&&&&09,530 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&024683.&&&&&024,683 km²)
Copper River Census Area	066	Glennallen	The Copper River (Part of Valdez–Cordova Census Area prior to January 02, 2019)	0.11	&&&&&&&&&&&02674.&&&&&02,674	&&&&&&&&&&024692.&&&&&024,692 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&063952.&&&&&063,952 km²)
Dillingham Census Area	070	Dillingham	The city of Dillingham, the largest settlement in the area, which was itself named after United States Senator Paul Dillingham (1843–1923), who had toured Alaska extensively with his Senate subcommittee in 1903.	0.25	&&&&&&&&&&&04607.&&&&&04,607	&&&&&&&&&&018334.&&&&&018,334 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&047485.&&&&&047,485 km²)
Hoonah–Angoon Census Area	105	Hoonah	The cities of Hoonah and Angoon	0.35	&&&&&&&&&&&02262.&&&&&02,262	&&&&&&&&&&&06555.&&&&&06,555 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&016977.&&&&&016,977 km²)
Kusilvak Census Area	158	Hooper Bay	Kusilvak Mountains (Known as Wade Hampton prior to 2015)	0.47	&&&&&&&&&&&08001.&&&&&08,001	&&&&&&&&&&017077.&&&&&017,077 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&044229.&&&&&044,229 km²)
Nome Census Area	180	Nome	City of Nome, the largest settlement in the census area.	0.43	&&&&&&&&&&&09763.&&&&&09,763	&&&&&&&&&&022969.&&&&&022,969 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&059489.&&&&&059,489 km²)
Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area	198	Craig	Prince of Wales Island and the town of Hyder (Known as Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan prior to the expansion of Ketchikan Gateway Borough in 2008)	1.08	&&&&&&&&&&&05696.&&&&&05,696	&&&&&&&&&&&05268.&&&&&05,268 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&013644.&&&&&013,644 km²)
Southeast Fairbanks Census Area	240	Deltana	Its location, southeast of Fairbanks	0.29	&&&&&&&&&&&07077.&&&&&07,077	&&&&&&&&&&024831.&&&&&024,831 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&064312.&&&&&064,312 km²)
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area	290	Fort Yukon	Yukon River ("great river" in Gwich’in), which flows through the census area; and the city of Koyukuk	0.04	&&&&&&&&&&&05129.&&&&&05,129	&&&&&&&&&0145576.&&&&&0145,576 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&0377040.&&&&&0377,040 km²)