Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska

Lake and Peninsula Borough is a borough in the state of Alaska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,476,^[3] down from 1,631 in 2010.^[4] The borough seat of King Salmon^[5] is located in neighboring Bristol Bay Borough, although is not the seat of that borough. The most populous community in the borough is the census-designated place of Port Alsworth. With an average of 0.017 inhabitants per square kilometre (0.044 inhabitants/mi²), the Lake and Peninsula Borough is the least densely populated organized county-equivalent in the United States; only the unorganized Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area has a lower density.

The borough has an area of 32,922 square miles (85,270 km²), of which 23,652 square miles (61,260 km²) is land and 9,270 square miles (24,000 km²) (28.2%) is water.^[6] The borough contains Iliamna Lake, the largest lake in Alaska and third largest within United States borders, and occupies most of the Alaska Peninsula. Its land area is larger than that of San Bernardino County, California, the largest county in the contiguous Lower 48 states.

• Bethel Census Area, Alaska – north
• Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska – east
• Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska – southeast
• Aleutians East Borough, Alaska – west
• Bristol Bay Borough, Alaska – west
• Dillingham Census Area, Alaska – west

• Alagnak Wild River
• Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (part of the Alaska Peninsula unit)
  • Sutwik Island
• Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge (part)
• Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve
• Becharof National Wildlife Refuge (part)
  • Becharof Wilderness (part)
• Katmai National Park and Preserve (part)
  • Katmai Wilderness (part)
• Lake Clark National Park and Preserve (part)
  • Lake Clark Wilderness (part)

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 1,476. The median age was 32.1 years; 30.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 9.3% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 104.2 males age 18 and over.^[13]

The racial makeup of the county was 20.5% White, 0.1% Black or African American, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.0% from some other race, and 11.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.3% of the population.^[14]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.^[15]

There were 543 households in the county, of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[13]

There were 1,469 housing units, of which 63.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.1% were owner-occupied and 28.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 6.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 15.6%.^[13]

As of the 2000 census^[16], there were 1,823 people, 588 households, and 418 families residing in the borough. The population density was 0.059 people per square mile (0.023 people/km²). There were 1,557 housing units at an average density of 0.05 per square mile (0.019/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 18.76% White, 0.05% Black or African American, 73.51% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 6.97% from two or more races. 1.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. About 5.41% reported speaking a Yupik language at home, while 3.87% speak Alutiiq and 1.23% an Athabaskan language.^[17]

Some 44.70% of households had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.50% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. About 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.90% consisted of a sole occupant 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.10 and the average family size was 3.74.

In the borough, the age of the population was spread out, with 37.80% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 5.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 113.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 124.10 males.

The dominant religion is Orthodox Christianity.

The Borough is governed by an elected assembly. The Borough's mayor is Glen R. Alsworth, Sr. The deputy mayor is Myra J. Olsen. The other members of the assembly are Randy Alvarez, Scott Anderson, Alvin Pedersen, Michelle Pope-Ravenmoon, and Christina Salmon-Bringhurst.^[18]

Lake and Peninsula Borough is somewhat of a national bellwether, having only voted for the losing presidential candidate four times since statehood: in 1976, 1992, 2008, and 2016. It was the county or borough that swung the most towards Trump from 2020 to 2024 at 31.7%

Despite King Salmon being the borough seat, it is not in Lake and Peninsula Borough and instead in Bristol Bay Borough, therefore it is not included in the list.

• Chignik
• Egegik
• Newhalen
• Nondalton
• Pilot Point
• Port Heiden

• Kijik

• List of airports in the Lake and Peninsula Borough

• Official website

Media related to Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska at Wikimedia Commons

• Borough map: Alaska Department of Labor

58°24′N 156°11′W / 58.40°N 156.18°W / 58.40; -156.18