Aleutians West Census Area
Borough
A World War II bunker abandoned in Dutch Harbor, Amaknak Island
A World War II bunker abandoned in Dutch Harbor, Amaknak Island
Map of Alaska highlighting Aleutians West Census Area
Location within the U.S. state of Alaska
Map of the United States highlighting Alaska
Alaska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 52°09′47″N 174°17′06″W / 52.16298°N 174.28505°W / 52.16298; -174.28505
Country United States
State Alaska
Established1980[1]
Named forAleutian Islands
Largest cityUnalaska
Area
 • Total14,116 sq mi (36,560 km2)
 • Land4,390 sq mi (11,400 km2)
 • Water9,726 sq mi (25,190 km2)  68.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total5,122
 • Density1.27/sq mi (0.49/km2)
Time zonesUTC−9 (Alaska)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−8 (ADT)
UTC−10 (Hawaii–Aleutian)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−9 (HADT)
Congressional districtAt-large
The "Peace Monument" on Attu Island

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,[2] down from 5,561 in 2010.[3]

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.[4] It borders the Aleutians East Borough to the east.

National protected areas

Capes

Demographics

A 2014 analysis by The Atlantic found the Aleutians West Census Area to be the most racially diverse county-equivalent in the United States.[5] According to the Brookings Institution, Asian Americans are the largest population of color in the census area, a majority of which are Filipino Americans.[6]

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%.[7] were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 13.89% reported speaking Tagalog at home, while 11.22% speak Spanish, 5.97% Aleut, and 4.51% Vietnamese.[8]

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.

2020 Census

Races (alone or in combination with other) in Aleutians West Census Area (2020 United States Census) [9]
Race Percentage of Population
White 37.82%
Black or African American 6.02%
American Indian or Alaska Native 17.16%
Asian 31.02%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 5.39%
Some other race 10.55%
Most Self-Reported Ancestries in Aleutians West Census Area (American Community Survey 2020 five year estimates) [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]
Ancestry Percentage of Population
Filipino 39.68%
Aleut 11.79%
Mexican 8.62%
German 5.71%
Black or African American 4.63%
European 4.08%
Irish 3.98%
Vietnamese 3.56%
Samoan 2.65%
Cuban 2.30%
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19606,011—
19708,05734.0%
19807,768−3.6%
19909,47822.0%
20005,465−42.3%
20105,5611.8%
20205,232−5.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[16]
1790-1960[17] 1900-1990[18]
1990-2000[19] 2010-2020[3]

Communities

The largest community in the Aleutians West Census Area is the city of Unalaska.

Cities

Census-designated places

Politics and government

United States presidential election results for Aleutians West[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 551 42.98% 692 53.98% 39 3.04%
2016 403 32.84% 699 56.97% 125 10.19%
2012 426 34.38% 778 62.79% 35 2.82%
2008 685 49.71% 648 47.02% 45 3.27%
2004 508 51.00% 455 45.68% 33 3.31%
2000 704 51.20% 514 37.38% 157 11.42%
1996 528 38.88% 598 44.04% 232 17.08%
1992 803 37.56% 687 32.13% 648 30.31%
1988 1,241 66.51% 580 31.08% 45 2.41%
1984 850 65.99% 413 32.07% 25 1.94%
1980 478 48.73% 341 34.76% 162 16.51%
1976 379 59.03% 232 36.14% 31 4.83%
1972 371 64.97% 177 31.00% 23 4.03%
1968 188 50.13% 165 44.00% 22 5.87%
1964 38 10.76% 315 89.24% 0 0.00%
1960 90 28.57% 225 71.43% 0 0.00%

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.

Education

School districts within the census area are: Aleutian Region School District, Pribilof School District, and Unalaska City School District.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ In 1980, the United States Census Bureau divided the Unorganized Borough into 12 census areas.
  2. ^ "2020 Census Data - Cities and Census Designated Places" (Web). State of Alaska, Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 9, 2014. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ^ Narula, Svati Kirsten (April 29, 2014). "The 5 U.S. Counties Where Racial Diversity Is Highest—and Lowest". The Atlantic. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  6. ^ Rowlands, DW; Love, Hanna (September 28, 2021). "Mapping rural America's diversity and demographic change". Brookings. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  7. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  8. ^ "MLA Language Map Data Center". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  9. ^ "2020 Census Demographic Data Map Viewer".
  10. ^ "DP05: ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES".
  11. ^ "B04006: PEOPLE REPORTING ANCESTRY".
  12. ^ "B02018: ASIAN ALONE OR IN ANY COMBINATION BY SELECTED GROUPS".
  13. ^ "AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE (AIAN) ALONE OR IN ANY COMBINATION BY SELECTED TRIBAL GROUPINGS".
  14. ^ "B02019: NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDER ALONE OR IN ANY COMBINATION BY SELECTED GROUPS".
  15. ^ "B03001: HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY SPECIFIC ORIGIN".
  16. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  17. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  18. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  19. ^ "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.
  20. ^ Elections, RRH. "RRH Elections". rrhelections.com. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  21. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Aleutians West Census Area, AK" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022. - Text list

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