Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska

Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska
Map of Alaska highlighting Kenai Peninsula Borough
Location in the U.S. state of Alaska
Map of the United States highlighting Alaska
Alaska's location in the U.S.
Incorporated January 1, 1964[1][2]
Named for Kenai Peninsula
Seat Soldotna
Largest city Kenai
Area
 • Total 24,752 sq mi (64,107 km2)
 • Land 16,075 sq mi (41,634 km2)
 • Water 8,677 sq mi (22,473 km2), 35.1%
Population (est.)
 • (2016) 58,506
 • Density 3.4/sq mi (1/km²)
Congressional district At-large
Time zone Alaska: UTC-9/-8
Website www.borough.kenai.ak.us

Kenai Peninsula Borough is a borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2010 census, the population was 55,400.[3] The borough seat is Soldotna.[4]

The borough includes the entirety of the Kenai Peninsula and a few areas 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.[5]

Adjacent boroughs and census areas

National protected areas

Ecology

Bear Lake, Tutka Bay, and the Trail Lakes, have been the site of salmon enhancement activities. All three sites are managed by the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association[6] 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. %±
19606,097—
197014,250133.7%
198025,28277.4%
199040,80261.4%
200049,69121.8%
201055,40011.5%
Est. 201658,506[7]5.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2016[3]

As of the census[12] of 2000, 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% of the population. Just under 1% were from other races combined. 1.92% reported speaking Russian at home, while 1.74% speak Spanish.[13]

There were 18,400 households out of which 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 all households were made up of individuals and 5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age 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% who were 65 years of age 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.

Government and infrastructure

There is a Borough-wide government based in Soldotna, consisting of a strong mayor and an assembly of representatives from all areas of the Borough. They collect sales and property taxes and provide services such as road maintenance, waste collection facilities, emergency services and major funding for public schools, along with mitigation of damage from spruce bark beetles that infested the Borough in the late 1990s and early 2000s.[14] Incorporated towns also have their own local governments and city councils. The Alaska Department of Corrections operates the Spring Creek Correctional Center near Seward [15][16] and the Wildwood Correctional Complex near Kenai.

Communities

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

References

  1. ↑ "Kenai Peninsula Borough, Resolution No. 1: Legal Status - Borough and Borough School District" (PDF). Kenai Peninsula Borough. 4 Jan 1964. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  2. ↑ 1996 Alaska Municipal Officials Directory. Juneau: Alaska Municipal League/Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs. January 1996. p. 8.
  3. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  5. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. ↑ "Project Bear Lake". Archived from the original on 2007-09-07. Retrieved 2007-02-03.
  7. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  12. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  13. ↑ "Language Map Data Center". Mla.org. 2007-07-17. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
  14. ↑ "Kenai Peninsula Borough Government official site". Borough.kenai.ak.us. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
  15. ↑ "City of Seward 2020 Comprehensive Plan Volume II." City of Seward. 94/97. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Spring Creek Correctional Center." Alaska Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.

Coordinates: 60°25′N 151°15′W / 60.417°N 151.250°W / 60.417; -151.250

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