Alaska Borough Map

Why Alaska has boroughs instead of counties

Alaska never had counties. The Organic Act of 1912 barred the territorial legislature from creating county government without the approval of Congress, so local government served only the towns. The delegates who wrote the state constitution avoided the word county and created a new unit, the borough. Article X calls for maximum local self-government with a minimum of local government units. The borough system dates from 1961. Bristol Bay became the first organized borough in 1962, and the Mandatory Borough Act of 1963 forced nine regions, among them Anchorage, Fairbanks North Star and Kenai Peninsula, to form boroughs. Everything outside the organized boroughs makes up the Unorganized Borough, which covers more than half of Alaska's land but holds only about 10.5 percent of its people. For statistics it is split into census areas.

Alaska boroughs and census areas: questions and answers

How many boroughs and census areas are in Alaska?

Alaska has 30 boroughs and census areas. Alaska has no counties. The Census Bureau counts 30 county-equivalents: 19 organized boroughs (including city-boroughs and unified municipalities such as Anchorage and Juneau) and 11 census areas, which divide the Unorganized Borough for statistics.

What is the largest borough in Alaska?

By land area, Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area is the largest (145,768 sq mi). By population, Anchorage Municipality is the largest, with 287,155 people (2025 estimate).

What is the smallest borough in Alaska?

Skagway Municipality is the smallest by land area (442.9 sq mi). Yakutat City and Borough has the fewest people: 672 (2025 estimate).

What is the wealthiest borough in Alaska?

By median household income, Aleutians West Census Area ranks first with $135,500 (American Community Survey 2020–2024). The lowest is Kusilvak Census Area at $51,471.

What borough is Anchorage in?

Anchorage is in Anchorage Municipality.

What borough is Juneau in?

Juneau is in Juneau City and Borough.

What borough is Fairbanks in?

Fairbanks is in Fairbanks North Star Borough.

How can I see borough lines on Google Maps?

Google Maps does not draw borough lines. Download the KML file from the printable maps section above and import it into Google My Maps (Create a new map › Import) or open it in Google Earth to see every Alaska borough boundary on top of Google's map.

Can I use this map for free?

Yes. The maps and files on this page are free to print, share and use in your own work, including commercial projects, under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Please credit “WhichCounty (whichcounty.com)”.

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