Untitled - Research and Analysis Home - State of Alaska

Chapter 4
Alaska Places
Introduction
This chapter contains 2000-2004 population estimates and
2000 Census population statistics for places. Places include
incorporated cities or areas that are legally formed under
the laws of the state, Census Designated Places (CDP), and
Alaska Native Village Statistical Areas (ANVSA).
Table 4.1 shows Alaska’s population by size of place, with
separate listings for places with population greater than
and less than 2,500 (formerly urban and rural). The largest
incorporated cities are listed in Table 4.2. Provisional
population estimates by borough/census area and by place
for the 2001-2004 period are presented in Table 4.3, along
with the 2000 Census. Table 4.4 provides an alphabetical
listing of places and their population ranked by size.
Characteristics of Places
Places in Alaska include: incorporated cities or city/boroughs;
Census Designated Places (CDP), Alaska Native
Village Statistical Areas (ANVSA) and Tribal Designated
Statistical Areas (TDSA). As noted above, changes in the
population for places between 1990 and 2000 may have
resulted from changes in geography as well
as in population. If you wish to compare the
population data given in this edition to years
before 2000, you must consult the previous
edition of this work, entitled Population
Overview 2001-2002 and Census 2000 for
year 1990 population estimates using year
2000 geography. For 1990 population in
1990 boundaries the reader should refer to
the 1999 Alaska Population Overview. In
the case of cities, change over time can result
from annexation as well as from changes
in the normal population components
such as births, deaths, and migration. In the
case of CDPs and ANVSAs, all boundaries
were as defined by the 2000 census.
Urban is redefined
The U.S. Bureau of the Census formerly
defined as “urban” places with populations
of 2,500 or more. In 1999, Alaska had 20
cities large enough to be considered urban.
With the 2000 Census, the Census Bureau
changed its definition of urban to more
complicated criteria, based on Urban Areas
or Urban Clusters as defined by block
population density and other factors. This
new definition cannot be replicated in annual
estimates, nor can it change until the next
census. The Census Bureau has warned
that it is to be used for statistical purposes only and not
programmatic purposes. We will continue to report the
number of cities and places with population greater than
or equal to 2,500 in order to provide continuity to the older
definition.
Alaska is the largest of the United States in area, and has
the lowest population density. It is larger than the states
of Texas, California and Montana combined, and its overall
population density averages only 1.1 persons per square
mile. The average U.S. population density was 79.6 persons
per square mile in 2000. This, however, paints a somewhat
misleading picture of population distribution in the state.
According to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources,
60% of the land in Alaska is owned by the federal government,
another 28% is owned by the state, and 11% is
owned by Native corporations. Only about one percent of
the state is in other private ownership. The other private
ownership lands cover an area about 27% less than the
land area of the states of Massachusetts or New Jersey.
Most of the federal and state lands are in parks and refuges
or have development prohibitions or restrictions, and while
Figure 4.1
Alaska’s Population by Size of Place, 2004*
Population
2,500 or over
75.1%
10,000-49,999
5,000-9,999
11.2%
13.4%
50,000+
42.3%
8.3% 5.6%
11.7%
7.6%
Outside
Places
2,500-4,999 1,000-2,499
Under 1,000
* Totals in some cases may not equal 100% due to rounding.
Population
under 2,500
24.9%
Source: Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development, Research and Analysis Section,
Demographics Unit
Alaska Population Overview • 2003-2004 Estimates 113