Bethel Census Area is a census area in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2020 census, the population is 18,666, up from 17,013 in 2010.[2] It is part of the unorganized borough and therefore has no borough seat. Its largest community is the city of Bethel, which is also the largest city in the unorganized borough.
Bethel Census Area | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Alaska | |
.svg) Alaska's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 60°45′N 160°30′W / 60.75°N 160.5°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Alaska |
| Established | 1980[1] |
| Largest city | Bethel |
| Area | |
| • Total | 45,504 sq mi (117,850 km2) |
| • Land | 40,570 sq mi (105,100 km2) |
| • Water | 4,934 sq mi (12,780 km2) 10.8% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 18,666 |
| • Estimate (2023) | 18,224  |
| • Density | 0.42/sq mi (0.16/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−9 (Alaska) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−8 (ADT) |
| Congressional district | At-large |
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the census area has an area of 45,504 square miles (117,850 km2), of which 40,570 square miles (105,100 km2) is land and 4,934 square miles (12,780 km2) (10.8%) is water.[3] Its territory includes the large Nunivak Island in the Bering Sea.
Its land area is comparable to that of Kentucky, which has an area of slightly under forty thousand square miles.[4]
Adjacent boroughs and census areas
- Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska - northwest
- Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska - north
- Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska - east
- Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska - southeast
- Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska - south
- Dillingham Census Area, Alaska - south
National protected areas
- Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (part of the Bering Sea unit)
- Lake Clark National Park and Preserve (part)
- Lake Clark Wilderness (part)
- Togiak National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- Togiak Wilderness (part)
- Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge (part)
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5,537 | — | |
| 1970 | 7,579 | 36.9% | |
| 1980 | 10,999 | 45.1% | |
| 1990 | 13,656 | 24.2% | |
| 2000 | 16,006 | 17.2% | |
| 2010 | 17,013 | 6.3% | |
| 2020 | 18,666 | 9.7% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 18,224 | [5] | −2.4% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8] 1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[2] | |||
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,006 people, 4,226 households, and 3,173 families living in the census area. The population density was 0 people per square mile (0 people/km2). There were 5,188 housing units at an average density of 0 per square mile (0/km2). The racial makeup of the census area was 12.53% White, 0.38% Black or African American, 81.93% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 3.85% from two or more races. 0.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[10]Of the 4,226 households, 51.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.20% were married couples living together, 15.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.90% were non-families. 19.90% of households were one person, and 2.80% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.73 and the average family size was 4.41.
In the census area the population was spread out, with 39.80% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 16.40% from 45 to 64, and 5.20% 65 or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 113.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.80 males.
Bethel Census Area is one of only 38 county-level census divisions of the United States where the most spoken language is not English and one of only 3 where it is neither English nor Spanish. 63.14% of the population speak a Yupik language at home, followed by English at 34.71%.[11]
Politics
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 1,670 | 32.70% | 3,085 | 60.41% | 352 | 6.89% |
| 2016 | 1,103 | 22.31% | 2,719 | 55.00% | 1,122 | 22.69% |
| 2012 | 1,150 | 23.90% | 3,425 | 71.19% | 236 | 4.91% |
| 2008 | 2,250 | 43.50% | 2,695 | 52.10% | 228 | 4.41% |
| 2004 | 1,935 | 49.01% | 1,832 | 46.40% | 181 | 4.58% |
| 2000 | 2,025 | 42.10% | 2,232 | 46.40% | 553 | 11.50% |
| 1996 | 1,467 | 30.39% | 2,790 | 57.80% | 570 | 11.81% |
| 1992 | 1,844 | 40.10% | 1,840 | 40.01% | 915 | 19.90% |
| 1988 | 1,951 | 51.79% | 1,669 | 44.31% | 147 | 3.90% |
| 1984 | 2,402 | 51.49% | 2,104 | 45.10% | 159 | 3.41% |
| 1980 | 860 | 25.41% | 2,068 | 61.09% | 457 | 13.50% |
| 1976 | 1,344 | 46.89% | 1,410 | 49.20% | 112 | 3.91% |
| 1972 | 1,033 | 40.57% | 1,426 | 56.01% | 87 | 3.42% |
| 1968 | 939 | 39.29% | 1,293 | 54.10% | 158 | 6.61% |
| 1964 | 257 | 13.48% | 1,649 | 86.52% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 785 | 67.27% | 382 | 32.73% | 0 | 0.00% |
Like most counties or equivalents with a Native American majority, Bethel tends to support Democratic presidential candidates. However, Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, who has faired well with Alaska Native voters, carried the census area overwhelmingly in 2022.
Communities
Cities
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
Education
School districts include:[13]