Bristol Bay Borough, Alaska

Bristol Bay Borough is a borough of the U.S. state of Alaska on Bristol Bay. As of the 2020 census the borough population was 844,^[3] down from 997 in 2010,^[4] the second-least populated borough in Alaska. The borough seat is Naknek.^[5] There are no incorporated settlements.

Bristol Bay Borough
Borough
Brooks Falls at Katmai National Park and Preserve.
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Alaska
Alaska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 58°45′00″N 156°50′00″W
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Incorporated	October 2, 1962[1]
Named after	Bristol Bay
Seat	Naknek
Largest community	Naknek
Government
• Mayor	David R. Lax[2]
Area
• Total	888 sq mi (2,300 km2)
• Land	504 sq mi (1,310 km2)
• Water	384 sq mi (990 km2)  43.2%
Population  (2020)
• Total	844
• Estimate  (2024)	884
• Density	0.95/sq mi (0.37/km2)
Time zone	UTC−9 (Alaska)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−8 (ADT)
Congressional district	At-large
Website	www.bristolbayboroughak.us

Incorporated in 1962, Bristol Bay was the first of Alaska's boroughs. It is also among the smallest, consisting of little more than the rectangle of land around Naknek on the coast and King Salmon (which, uniquely, serves as the borough seat for the neighboring Lake and Peninsula Borough) inland.^{[citation needed]}

Geography

The borough has a total area of 888 square miles (2,300 km²), of which 504 square miles (1,310 km²) is land and 384 square miles (990 km²) (43.2%) is water.

^[6]

Adjacent boroughs and census areas

• Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska (east, north and south)
• Dillingham Census Area, Alaska (west)

National protected area

• Katmai National Park and Preserve (part)
  • Katmai Wilderness (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1970	1,147		—
1980	1,094		−4.6%
1990	1,410		28.9%
2000	1,258		−10.8%
2010	997		−20.7%
2020	844		−15.3%
2024 (est.)	884	[7]	4.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[4]

At the 2000 census there were 1,258 people, 490 households, and 300 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2 people per square mile (0.77 people/km²). There were 979 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (0.77/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 52.54% White, 0.56% Black or African American, 43.72% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.48% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 2.38% from two or more races. 0.56%.^[11] were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 490 households 38.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.20% were married couples living together, 6.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.60% were non-families. 31.20% of households were one person and 2.90% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.33.

The age distribution was 31.30% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 34.80% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 3.80% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 119.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 125.60 males.

Communities

Census-designated places

• King Salmon
• Naknek (Borough seat)
• South Naknek

Politics

Bristol Bay Borough only voted for the Democratic candidate twice, in 1960 and 1964, and sided with Republicans ever since.

United States presidential election results for Bristol Bay Borough, Alaska^[12]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	254	61.65%	139	33.74%	19	4.61%
2020	304	60.08%	193	38.14%	9	1.78%
2016	274	59.05%	103	22.20%	87	18.75%
2012	251	58.92%	147	34.51%	28	6.57%
2008	366	69.85%	142	27.10%	16	3.05%
2004	285	68.18%	122	29.19%	11	2.63%
2000	383	54.79%	202	28.90%	114	16.31%
1996	268	46.45%	183	31.72%	126	21.84%
1992	290	40.85%	196	27.61%	224	31.55%
1988	309	61.31%	175	34.72%	20	3.97%
1984	359	70.81%	129	25.44%	19	3.75%
1980	209	52.91%	119	30.13%	67	16.96%
1976	169	50.60%	147	44.01%	18	5.39%
1972	167	57.00%	112	38.23%	14	4.78%
1968	127	44.10%	122	42.36%	39	13.54%
1964	54	21.77%	194	78.23%	0	0.00%
1960	83	29.64%	197	70.36%	0	0.00%

• 
  The Bering Sea and Kvichak Bay, at Pederson Point
• 
  Tundra outside Naknek
• 
  Bristol Bay Borough Fire and EMS
• 
  Kvichak Bay at low tide, with fishermen in the distance. Fishing is a major industry in the Bristol Bay Borough.

See also

• Alaska portal

• List of airports in the Bristol Bay Borough
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Bristol Bay Borough, Alaska