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Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska | |
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     .jpg) Left to right, from top: Overhead view ofHomer andKachemak Bay, sunrise on Kachemak Bay, view ofKenai Lake, theCoral Seymour Memorial Ballpark, view ofMount Alice atSeward, view of theKenai Mountains | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofAlaska | |
.svg) Alaska's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:60°25′00″N151°15′00″W / 60.416666666667°N 151.25°W /60.416666666667; -151.25 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Alaska |
| Incorporated | January 1, 1964[1][2] |
| Named after | Kenai Peninsula |
| Seat | Soldotna |
| Largest city | Kalifornsky |
| Area | |
• Total | 24,752 sq mi (64,110 km2) |
| • Land | 16,075 sq mi (41,630 km2) |
| • Water | 8,677 sq mi (22,470 km2) 35.1% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 58,799 |
• Estimate (2024) | 61,259 |
| • Density | 3.6578/sq mi (1.4123/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−9 (Alaska) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−8 (ADT) |
| Congressional district | At-large |
| Website | www |
Kenai Peninsula Borough is aborough in theU.S. state ofAlaska. As of the2020 census, the population was 58,799, up from 55,400 in 2010.[3] Theborough seat isSoldotna,[4] the largest city isKenai, and the most populated community is thecensus-designated place ofKalifornsky.
The borough includes most of theKenai Peninsula and a large area of the mainland of Alaska on the opposite side ofCook Inlet.
The borough has a total area of 24,752 square miles (64,110 km2), of which 16,075 square miles (41,630 km2) is land and 8,677 square miles (22,470 km2) (3.4%) is water.[5]
Bear Lake, Tutka Bay, and theTrail Lakes, have been the site ofsalmon enhancement activities. All three sites are managed by theCook Inlet Aquaculture Association[6] Some of the fish hatched at these facilities are released into the famousHomer fishing hole.Cook Inlet Keeper and theCook Inlet Regional Citizen's Advisory Council are groups that attempt to influence public policy on the use of the area's resources.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 6,097 | — | |
| 1970 | 14,250 | 133.7% | |
| 1980 | 25,282 | 77.4% | |
| 1990 | 40,802 | 61.4% | |
| 2000 | 49,691 | 21.8% | |
| 2010 | 55,400 | 11.5% | |
| 2020 | 58,799 | 6.1% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 61,259 | [7] | 4.2% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[3] | |||
As of thecensus of 2020, there were 58,799 people.
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 49,700 people, 18,400 households, and 12,700 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1 people/km2 (2.6 people/sq mi). There were 24,900 housing units at an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77 units/km2). Theracial makeup of the borough was 86% White, 7% Native American, 2% Hispanic or Latino (any race), and 4% from two or more races. Black orAfrican Americans,Asians, andPacific Islanders each were less than 1%.[12] Just under 1% were from other races combined. 1.92% reported speakingRussian at home, while 1.74% spokeSpanish.[13]
Of the 18,400 households, 38% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55% were married couples living together, 9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31% were non-families. 25% of households were one person, and 5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.6 and the average family size was 3.2.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 30% under the age of 18, 7% from 18 to 24, 30% from 25 to 44, 26% from 45 to 64, and 7% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 109 males; for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 110 males.
There is a borough-wide government based in Soldotna, consisting of a strong mayor and an assembly of representatives from all areas of the borough. They collect sales and property taxes and provide services such as road maintenance, waste collection facilities, emergency services and major funding for public schools, along with mitigation of damage fromspruce bark beetles that infested the borough in the late 1990s and early 2000s.[14] Incorporated towns also have their own local governments and city councils. TheAlaska Department of Corrections operates theSpring Creek Correctional Center near Seward[15][16] and theWildwood Correctional Complex near Kenai.
Kenai Peninsula is one of the most Republican boroughs in the state, having last backed a Democrat for president in 1968.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1960 | 1,573 | 47.29% | 1,753 | 52.71% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 1,265 | 35.49% | 2,299 | 64.51% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 2,044 | 39.35% | 2,169 | 41.76% | 981 | 18.89% |
| 1972 | 3,214 | 57.45% | 1,520 | 27.17% | 860 | 15.37% |
| 1976 | 4,697 | 60.32% | 2,528 | 32.46% | 562 | 7.22% |
| 1980 | 7,020 | 60.78% | 2,178 | 18.86% | 2,352 | 20.36% |
| 1984 | 10,297 | 70.38% | 3,687 | 25.20% | 646 | 4.42% |
| 1988 | 8,633 | 61.05% | 4,718 | 33.37% | 789 | 5.58% |
| 1992 | 6,902 | 37.50% | 4,828 | 26.23% | 6,676 | 36.27% |
| 1996 | 10,606 | 58.13% | 5,177 | 28.37% | 2,462 | 13.49% |
| 2000 | 15,053 | 66.81% | 4,633 | 20.56% | 2,846 | 12.63% |
| 2004 | 10,478 | 67.93% | 4,648 | 30.13% | 299 | 1.94% |
| 2008 | 18,949 | 67.30% | 8,362 | 29.70% | 845 | 3.00% |
| 2012 | 17,157 | 67.35% | 7,721 | 30.31% | 598 | 2.35% |
| 2016 | 18,408 | 67.02% | 7,578 | 27.59% | 1,481 | 5.39% |
| 2020 | 21,761 | 64.10% | 10,965 | 32.30% | 1,222 | 3.60% |
| 2024 | 21,861 | 65.50% | 10,347 | 31.00% | 1,168 | 3.50% |
The school district for the whole borough isKenai Peninsula Borough School District.[18]
Places adjacent to Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska | |
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60°25′N151°15′W / 60.417°N 151.250°W /60.417; -151.250
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