Petersburg Borough, Alaska

Petersburg Borough is a borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to the 2020 census, the population was 3,398.^[2] The borough seat is Petersburg.^[3]

Petersburg Borough
Borough
Five Finger Islands Light
Location within the U.S. state of Alaska
Alaska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 56°48′16″N 132°56′31″W
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Incorporated	January 3, 2013[1]
Named after	Petersburg
Seat	Petersburg
Largest CDP	Petersburg
Area
• Total	3,829 sq mi (9,920 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,398
• Estimate  (2024)	3,436
• Density	0.89/sq mi (0.34/km2)
Time zone	UTC−9 (Alaska)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−8 (ADT)
Congressional district	At-large
Website	www.petersburgak.gov

History

When the borough was incorporated in 2013, it took area from the Hoonah-Angoon Census Area and the former Petersburg Census Area. The remaining portion of Petersburg Census Area (including Kake) was added to Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area. Petersburg Census Area was created in 2008 from the remaining portion of Wrangell-Petersburg Census Area upon the incorporation of the City and Borough of Wrangell.^[4]

Geography

Located in central Southeast Alaska, the Petersburg Borough encompasses approximately 3,829 square miles (2,921 square miles of land, 908 square miles of water).

Adjacent boroughs and census area

• Juneau Borough, Alaska - northwest (quadripoint)^[5]
• Wrangell Borough, Alaska - southeast
• Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska - southwest
• Hoonah–Angoon Census Area - north and west
• Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, British Columbia, Canada - east

Politics

Petersburg is strongly Republican, having last been carried by a Democrat in 1968.

United States presidential election results for Petersburg Borough, Alaska^[6]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	970	57.13%	640	37.69%	88	5.18%
2020	1,002	62.31%	534	33.21%	72	4.48%
2016	928	53.70%	577	33.39%	223	12.91%
2012	867	50.12%	777	44.91%	86	4.97%
2008	963	55.96%	704	40.91%	54	3.14%
2004	753	59.62%	452	35.79%	58	4.59%
2000	1,125	63.99%	403	22.92%	230	13.08%
1996	727	44.79%	584	35.98%	312	19.22%
1992	583	33.37%	578	33.09%	586	33.54%
1988	712	54.10%	562	42.71%	42	3.19%
1984	898	52.64%	774	45.37%	34	1.99%
1980	727	53.42%	395	29.02%	239	17.56%
1976	616	61.54%	332	33.17%	53	5.29%
1972	506	63.09%	254	31.67%	42	5.24%
1968	438	46.70%	447	47.65%	53	5.65%
1964	220	23.23%	727	76.77%	0	0.00%
1960	391	52.41%	355	47.59%	0	0.00%

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2020	3,398		—
2024 (est.)	3,436	[7]	1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]

As of the 2020 census, there were 3,398 people living in the borough. The population density was 0.89 per square mile (0.34/km²). There were 1,718 housing units. The racial makeup of the borough was 2,870 White, 92 Black or African American, 483 Native American, 209 Asian, 58 Pacific Islander, and 206 from other races. 164 of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.^[2]

Petersburg Borough, Alaska – Racial composition

Race (NH = Non-Hispanic)	% 2020[9]	Pop 2020
White alone (NH)	71.9%	2,444
Black alone (NH)	1.4%	46
American Indian alone (NH)	6.8%	231
Asian alone (NH)	3.4%	117
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0.4%	12
Other race alone (NH)	0.6%	21
Multiracial (NH)	10.7%	363
Hispanic/Latino (any race)	4.8%	164

The most reported ancestries in 2020 were:^[10]

• English (15.5%)
• German (15.3%)
• Norwegian (13.2%)
• Irish (12.3%)
• Tlingit (6.5%)
• Scottish (4.8%)
• Swedish (3.8%)
• Mexican (3%)
• Filipino (2.5%)
• French (2.5%)

Communities

City

• Kupreanof

Census-designated places

• Hobart Bay
• Petersburg (borough seat)

See also

• Alaska portal

• List of boroughs in Alaska