Bethel Census Area, Alaska

Bethel Census Area is a census area in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2020 census, the population is 18,666, up from 17,013 in 2010. It is part of the unorganized borough and therefore has no borough seat. Its largest community is the city of Bethel, which is also the largest city in the unorganized borough. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the census area has an area of 45,504 square miles (117,850 km2), of which 40,570 square miles (105,100 km2) is land and 4,934 square miles (12,780 km2) (10.8%) is water. Its territory includes the large Nunivak Island in the Bering Sea. Its land area is comparable to that of Kentucky, which has an area of slightly under forty thousand square miles. Adjacent boroughs and census areas Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska - northwest Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska - north Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska - east Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska - southeast Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska - south Dillingham Census Area, Alaska - south National protected areas Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (part of the Bering Sea unit) Bering Sea Wilderness Lake Clark National Park and Preserve (part) Lake Clark Wilderness (part) Togiak National Wildlife Refuge (part) Togiak Wilderness (part) Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge (part) Nunivak Wilderness Demographics 2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 18,666. The median age was 27.6 years. 35.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 8.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 109.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 111.4 males. The racial makeup of the county was 8.9% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 83.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.3% from some other race, and 5.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.1% of the population. 27.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 72.7% lived in rural areas. There were 4,897 households in the county, of which 53.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 5,984 housing units, of which 18.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 60.9% were owner-occupied and 39.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.5%. 2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 16,006 people, 4,226 households, and 3,173 families living in the census area. The population density was 0 people per square mile (0 people/km2). There were 5,188 housing units at an average density of 0 per square mile (0/km2). The racial makeup of the census area was 12.53% White, 0.38% Black or African American, 81.93% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 3.85% from two or more races. 0.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 4,226 households, 51.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.20% were married couples living together, 15.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.90% were non-families. 19.90% of households were one person, and 2.80% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.73 and the average family size was 4.41. In the census area the population was spread out, with 39.80% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 16.40% from 45 to 64, and 5.20% 65 or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 113.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.80 males. Languages Bethel Census Area is one of only 38 county-level census divisions of the United States where the most spoken language is not English and one of only 4 where it is neither English nor Spanish. 63.14% of the population speak a Yupik language at home, followed by English at 34.71%. Politics Like most counties or equivalents with a Native American majority, Bethel tends to support Democratic presidential candidates. However, Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, who has fared well with Alaska Native voters, carried the census area overwhelmingly in 2022. Republicans Mike Dunleavy and Sean Parnell also won its vote for governorship in 2022 and 2010. Communities Cities Census-designated places Unincorporated communities Crow Village Georgetown Napaimute Umkumiute Education School districts include: Transportation Bethel has Bethel Airport and Bethel Seaplane Base. See also Nunathloogagamiutbingoi Dunes References External links Census Area map, 2000 census: Alaska Department of Labor Census Area map, 2010 census: Alaska Department of Labor