Nome Census Area, Alaska
Nome Census Area, Alaska | |
|---|---|
Location within the U.S. state of Alaska | |
| Coordinates: 64°44′N 164°11′W / 64.74°N 164.19°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Established | 1980[1] |
| Named after | Nome |
| Largest city | Nome |
| Area | |
• Total | 28,278 sq mi (73,240 km2) |
| • Land | 22,962 sq mi (59,470 km2) |
| • Water | 5,316 sq mi (13,770 km2) 18.8% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 10,046 |
• Estimate (2022) | 9,835 |
| • Density | 0.43751/sq mi (0.16892/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−9 (Alaska) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−8 (ADT) |
| Congressional district | At-large |
Nome Census Area is a census area located in the U.S. state of Alaska, mostly overlapping with the Seward Peninsula. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,046, up from 9,492 in 2010.[2] It is part of the unorganized borough and therefore has no borough seat. Its largest community by far is the city of Nome.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the census area has a total area of 28,278 square miles (73,240 km2), of which 22,962 square miles (59,470 km2) is land and 5,316 square miles (13,770 km2) (18.8%) is water.[3] It also includes the large offshore St. Lawrence Island, which has about 14 percent of the census area's population and two of its larger cities in Gambell and Savoonga. Nome Census Area is the 7th largest county-equivalent in the state of Alaska.
Adjacent boroughs and census areas
- Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska - north
- Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska - east
- Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska - south
- Chukotsky District, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug - west
National protected areas
- Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (part of the Bering Sea unit)
- Bering Land Bridge National Preserve (part)
- Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- Andreafsky Wilderness (part)
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 6,091 | — | |
| 1970 | 5,749 | −5.6% | |
| 1980 | 6,537 | 13.7% | |
| 1990 | 8,288 | 26.8% | |
| 2000 | 9,196 | 11.0% | |
| 2010 | 9,492 | 3.2% | |
| 2020 | 10,046 | 5.8% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 9,763 | [4] | −2.8% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7] 1990-2000[8] 2010-2020[2] | |||
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 10,046 and a median age of 29.8 years. 32.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 8.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older.[9]
For every 100 females there were 111.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 115.1 males age 18 and over.[9]
The racial makeup of the county was 14.2% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 75.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 8.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.9% of the population.[10]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[11]
There were 3,030 households in the county, of which 46.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[9]
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[12] | Pop 1990[13] | Pop 2000[14] | Pop 2010[15] | Pop 2020[16] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 1,266 | 1,987 | 1,752 | 1,511 | 1,393 | 19.37% | 23.97% | 19.05% | 15.92% | 13.87% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 21 | 9 | 35 | 27 | 52 | 0.32% | 0.11% | 0.38% | 0.28% | 0.52% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 5,174 | 6,132 | 6,881 | 7,175 | 7,508 | 79.15% | 73.99% | 74.83% | 75.59% | 74.74% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 32 | 51 | 62 | 88 | 109 | 0.49% | 0.62% | 0.67% | 0.93% | 1.09% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [17] | x [18] | 2 | 9 | 5 | x | x | 0.02% | 0.09% | 0.05% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 17 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 25 | 0.26% | 0.04% | 0.02% | 0.08% | 0.25% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [19] | x [20] | 370 | 559 | 768 | x | x | 4.02% | 5.89% | 7.64% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 27 | 106 | 92 | 115 | 186 | 0.41% | 1.28% | 1.00% | 1.21% | 1.85% |
| Total | 6,537 | 8,288 | 9,196 | 9,492 | 10,046 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,196 people, 2,693 households, and 1,898 families living in the census area. The population density was 0.3 people per square mile (0.12 people/km2). There were 3,649 housing units at an average density of 0 per square mile (0/km2). The racial makeup of the census area was 19.32% White, 0.38% Black or African American, 75.20% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 4.21% from two or more races. 1.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.32% reported speaking a Yupik language at home, while 8.75% speak Inupiaq; a further 2.02% reported speaking "Eskimo", a term that covers both Yupik and Inupiaq.[21]
Of the 2,693 households, 45.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.40% were married couples living together, 15.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 23.20% of households were one person, and 3.30% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.33 and the average family size was 4.01.
In the census area 37.10% of the population was under the age of 18, 9.30% was from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 18.60% from 45 to 64, and 5.90% was 65 or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 117.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 122.70 males.
Communities
Cities
Census-designated place
Unincorporated communities
Politics
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1960 | 1,007 | 55.98% | 792 | 44.02% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 410 | 23.60% | 1,327 | 76.40% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 817 | 44.21% | 929 | 50.27% | 102 | 5.52% |
| 1972 | 911 | 49.48% | 812 | 44.11% | 118 | 6.41% |
| 1976 | 989 | 51.16% | 887 | 45.89% | 57 | 2.95% |
| 1980 | 938 | 43.41% | 953 | 44.10% | 270 | 12.49% |
| 1984 | 1,657 | 59.60% | 1,059 | 38.09% | 64 | 2.30% |
| 1988 | 1,452 | 57.17% | 993 | 39.09% | 95 | 3.74% |
| 1992 | 1,147 | 38.01% | 1,222 | 40.49% | 649 | 21.50% |
| 1996 | 1,206 | 40.42% | 1,444 | 48.39% | 334 | 11.19% |
| 2000 | 1,637 | 51.51% | 1,217 | 38.29% | 324 | 10.20% |
| 2004 | 1,489 | 52.91% | 1,171 | 41.61% | 154 | 5.47% |
| 2008 | 1,618 | 48.31% | 1,728 | 51.60% | 3 | 0.09% |
| 2012 | 1,096 | 30.80% | 2,264 | 63.61% | 199 | 5.59% |
| 2016 | 935 | 28.40% | 1,689 | 51.31% | 668 | 20.29% |
| 2020 | 1,287 | 35.09% | 2,131 | 58.10% | 250 | 6.82% |
| 2024 | 1,167 | 41.78% | 1,424 | 50.98% | 202 | 7.23% |
Nome Census Area is somewhat of a national bellwether, having backed the national winner all but six times since statehood. In recent years, it has become significantly Democratic, like other places with a large Native majority. Downballot, Nome has been more consistently left-wing and voted for Democrats until Mike Dunleavy's 2022 landslide.
See also
References
- ^ In 1980, the United States Census Bureau divided the Unorganized Borough into 12 census areas.
- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
- ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
- ^ "Alaska: 1980, General Social and Economic Characteristics, Table 59: Persons by Race, Hispanic Origin, and Sex" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 18, 2025.
- ^ "Alaska: 1990, General Population Characteristics, Table 5: Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 30, 2025.
- ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Nome Census Area, Alaska". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Nome Census Area, Alaska". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Nome Census Area, Alaska". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
- ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
- ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
- ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
- ^ MLA Language Map Data Center
- ^ Elections, RRH (February 2, 2018). "RRH Elections". rrhelections.com. Retrieved January 12, 2020.