Chugach Census Area, Alaska

Chugach Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska, United States. It is part of the Unorganized Borough and therefore has no seat of government. On January 2, 2019, it was split from the Valdez–Cordova Census Area (of which it claims to be the successor), along with neighboring Copper River Census Area.

Chugach Census Area
Borough
Aerial view of Mount Eyak ski area, located in the Chugach Census Area, and location of the oldest working chairlift in North America[2]
Location within the U.S. state of Alaska
Alaska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 60°29′N 146°12′W
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Founded	January 2, 2019[3]
Named after	Chugach Mountains
Largest city	Valdez
Area
• Total	9,530 sq mi (24,700 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	6,874
• Density	0.7/sq mi (0.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−9 (Alaska)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−8 (ADT)
Congressional district	At-large

As of the 2020 census, the census area had a population of 7,102; its largest communities are the cities of Valdez and Cordova.^[4]

Demographics

According to the 2010 United States Census (in which it was reported as the "Chugach Census Subarea"), the census area had a population of 6,684; 5,059 (75.7%) of whom were over the age of 18, and 798 (11.9%) of whom were over the age of 65. 5,095 residents (76.2%) were reported as White alone (4,929/73.7% non-Hispanic white), 35 (0.5%) as Black, 637 (9.5%) as American Indian or Alaska Native, 343 (5.1%) as Asian, 41 (0.6%) as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 41 (0.6%) as some other race, and 492 (7.4%) as two or more races. 296 people (4.4%) were Hispanic or Latino (they may be of any of the above racial categories).^[5]

Communities

Cities

• Cordova
• Valdez
• Whittier

Census-designated places

• Chenega
• Tatitlek

Unincorporated community

• Eyak (within Cordova)

Politics

Chugach Census Area is a Republican stronghold, having backed Donald Trump in both 2020 and 2024, the only two elections it has voted in since its creation. Thus, this is one of six counties or county equivalents that have voted Republican for president in every election since they came into existence.^[a]

United States presidential election results for Chugach Census Area, Alaska^[6]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	1,807	56.70%	1,246	39.10%	134	4.20%
2020	1,938	54.99%	1,395	39.59%	191	5.42%

Education

School districts with territory in the census area include:^[7]

• Chugach School District
• Cordova City School District
• Valdez City School District

See also

• Chugach School District

Notes

1. Along with Leslie County, Kentucky (since 1880); Doniphan County, Kansas (since 1864); Poquoson, Virginia (since 1976); Colonial Heights, Virginia (since 1952); and Copper River Census Area, Alaska (since 2020).