Aleutians West Census Area (Russian: Западные Алеутские острова) is a census area located in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,232, down from 5,561 in 2010.
Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska | |
|---|---|
Borough | |
A World War II bunker abandoned in Dutch Harbor, Amaknak Island | |
Location within the U.S. state of Alaska | |
| Coordinates: 52°09′47″N 174°17′06″W / 52.16298°N 174.28505°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Established | October 23, 1987 |
| Named after | Aleutian Islands |
| Largest city | Unalaska |
| Area | |
• Total | 14,116 sq mi (36,560 km2) |
| • Land | 4,390 sq mi (11,400 km2) |
| • Water | 9,726 sq mi (25,190 km2) 68.9% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 5,232 |
| • Density | 1.27/sq mi (0.49/km2) |
| Time zones | UTC−9 (Alaska) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−8 (ADT) |
| UTC−10 (Hawaii–Aleutian) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−9 (HADT) |
| Congressional district | At-large |
It is part of the Unorganized Borough and therefore has no borough seat. Its largest city is Unalaska, home to about 80% of the population. It contains most of the Aleutian Islands, from Attu Island in the west to Unalaska Island in the east, as well as the Pribilof Islands, which lie north of the Aleutians in the Bering Sea.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the census area has a total area of 14,116 square miles (36,560 km2), of which 4,390 square miles (11,400 km2) is land and 9,726 square miles (25,190 km2) (68.9%) is water. It borders the Aleutians East Borough to the east.
National protected areas
- Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (part of the Aleutian Islands and Bering Sea units)
- Aleutian Islands Wilderness (part)
- Bogoslof Wilderness
- Pribilof Islands
- Aleutian World War II National Historic Area
Cape
- Moss Point
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 6,011 | — | |
| 1970 | 8,057 | 34.0% | |
| 1980 | 7,768 | −3.6% | |
| 1990 | 9,478 | 22.0% | |
| 2000 | 5,465 | −42.3% | |
| 2010 | 5,561 | 1.8% | |
| 2020 | 5,232 | −5.9% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 5,424 | 3.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 | |||
A 2014 analysis by The Atlantic found the Aleutians West Census Area to be the most racially diverse county-equivalent in the United States. According to the Brookings Institution, Asian Americans are the largest population of color in the census area, a majority of which are Filipino Americans.
2020 census
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 2,059 | 1,745 | 1,585 | 37.68% | 31.38% | 30.29% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 165 | 318 | 257 | 3.02% | 5.72% | 4.91% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 1,136 | 841 | 709 | 20.79% | 15.12% | 13.55% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 1,338 | 1,575 | 1,502 | 24.48% | 28.32% | 28.71% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 33 | 102 | 238 | 0.60% | 1.83% | 4.55% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 4 | 5 | 10 | 0.07% | 0.09% | 0.19% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 157 | 249 | 263 | 2.87% | 4.48% | 5.03% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 573 | 726 | 668 | 10.48% | 13.06% | 12.77% |
| Total | 5,465 | 5,561 | 5,232 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
| Ancestry | % of Population |
|---|---|
| Filipino | 26.8% |
| Mexican | 8.2% |
| Aleut | 7.6% |
| Ukrainian | 4.1% |
| German | 4% |
| Irish | 3.9% |
| Samoan | 3.8% |
| English | 3.6% |
| Serbian | 2.8% |
| Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska | 2.4% |
2000 Census
At the 2000 census, there were 5,465 people, 1,270 households, and 736 families residing in the census area. The population density was 1.24 people per square mile (0.48 people/km2). There were 2,234 housing units at an average density of 0.51 per square mile (0.20/km2).
The racial makup of the census area was 40.04% White, 3.02% Black or African American, 20.95% Native American, 24.59% Asian, 0.62% Pacific Islander, 7.32% from other races, and 3.46% from two or more races. 10.48%. were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 13.89% reported speaking Tagalog at home, while 11.22% spoke Spanish, 5.97% Aleut, and 4.51% Vietnamese.
Of the 1,270 households 35.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.00% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.00% were non-families. 32.00% of households were one person and 2.10% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.26.
The age distribution was 17.20% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 47.60% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 2.30% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 180.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 202.10 males.
Communities
The largest community in the Aleutians West Census Area is the city of Unalaska.
Cities
- Adak
- Atka
- St. George
- St. Paul
- Unalaska
Census-designated places
- Attu Station
- Eareckson Station
- Nikolski
Politics and government
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| № | % | № | % | № | % | |
| 1960 | 90 | 28.57% | 225 | 71.43% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 38 | 10.76% | 315 | 89.24% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 188 | 50.13% | 165 | 44.00% | 22 | 5.87% |
| 1972 | 371 | 64.97% | 177 | 31.00% | 23 | 4.03% |
| 1976 | 379 | 59.03% | 232 | 36.14% | 31 | 4.83% |
| 1980 | 478 | 48.73% | 341 | 34.76% | 162 | 16.51% |
| 1984 | 850 | 65.99% | 413 | 32.07% | 25 | 1.94% |
| 1988 | 1,241 | 66.51% | 580 | 31.08% | 45 | 2.41% |
| 1992 | 803 | 37.56% | 687 | 32.13% | 648 | 30.31% |
| 1996 | 528 | 38.88% | 598 | 44.04% | 232 | 17.08% |
| 2000 | 704 | 51.20% | 514 | 37.38% | 157 | 11.42% |
| 2004 | 508 | 51.00% | 455 | 45.68% | 33 | 3.31% |
| 2008 | 685 | 49.71% | 648 | 47.02% | 45 | 3.27% |
| 2012 | 426 | 34.38% | 778 | 62.79% | 35 | 2.82% |
| 2016 | 403 | 32.84% | 699 | 56.97% | 125 | 10.19% |
| 2020 | 551 | 42.98% | 692 | 53.98% | 39 | 3.04% |
| 2024 | 469 | 48.30% | 474 | 48.82% | 28 | 2.88% |
At the federal level, the Aleutians West Census Area is part of Alaska's at-large congressional district along with the rest of the state. The census area is represented by Lyman Hoffman (D) in the Alaska Senate and by Bryce Edgmon (D) in the Alaska House of Representatives. In presidential elections, it has consistently backed Democrats since 2012, although Kamala Harris won the borough by five votes in 2024.
Education
School districts within the census area are: Aleutian Region School District, Pribilof School District, and Unalaska City School District.
See also
- List of airports in Alaska
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska
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