Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska | |
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 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofAlaska | |
.svg) Alaska's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:62°24′N149°35′W / 62.4°N 149.58°W /62.4; -149.58 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Alaska |
| Incorporated | January 1, 1964[1][2] |
| Named after | Matanuska River andSusitna River |
| Seat | Palmer |
| Largest CDP | Knik-Fairview |
| Government | |
| • Borough Mayor | Edna DeVries |
| Area | |
• Total | 25,258 sq mi (65,420 km2) |
| • Land | 24,608 sq mi (63,730 km2) |
| • Water | 650 sq mi (1,700 km2) 2.6% |
| Population | |
• Total | 107,081 |
• Estimate (2024) | 117,613 |
| • Density | 4.3515/sq mi (1.6801/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−9 (Alaska) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−8 (ADT) |
| Congressional district | At-large |
| Website | www |
Matanuska-Susitna Borough (often referred to as theMat-Su Borough) is aborough located in theU.S. state ofAlaska. Its borough seat isPalmer, and the largest incorporated community is theWasilla. As of the2020 census, the borough's population was 107,081.[3]
The borough is part of theAnchorage Metropolitan Statistical Area, along with themunicipality of Anchorage on its south.
The Mat-Su Borough is designated as so because it contains the entireMatanuska andSusitna Rivers. They empty into Cook Inlet, which is the southern border of the Mat-Su Borough. It is one of the few agricultural areas of Alaska.
Theborough seat isPalmer,[4] and the largest community is the census-designated place ofKnik-Fairview, Alaska.
As of the2020 census, the population was 107,081, up from 88,995 in 2010. It is the fastest growing subdivision in Alaska.[5]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 25,258 square miles (65,420 km2), of which 24,608 square miles (63,730 km2) is land and 650 square miles (1,700 km2) (2.6%) is water.[6]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5,188 | — | |
| 1970 | 6,509 | 25.5% | |
| 1980 | 17,816 | 173.7% | |
| 1990 | 39,683 | 122.7% | |
| 2000 | 59,322 | 49.5% | |
| 2010 | 88,995 | 50.0% | |
| 2020 | 107,081 | 20.3% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 117,613 | [7] | 9.8% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10] 1990–2000[11] 2010–2020[3] | |||
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 59,322 people, 20,556 households, and 15,046 families residing in the borough. Thepopulation density was 2 people per square mile (0.77 people/km2). There were 27,329 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0.39/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 87.55%White, 0.69%Black orAfrican American, 5.50%Native American, 0.70%Asian, 0.12%Pacific Islander, 0.86% fromother races, and 4.57% from two or more races. 2.50% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 20,556 households, out of which 42.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% weremarried couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.80% were non-families. 20.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 32.20% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 5.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.10 males.
Schools in the borough are administered by theMatanuska-Susitna Borough School District.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1960 | 1,152 | 52.20% | 1,055 | 47.80% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 964 | 43.72% | 1,241 | 56.28% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 1,076 | 46.42% | 892 | 38.48% | 350 | 15.10% |
| 1972 | 2,004 | 66.62% | 694 | 23.07% | 310 | 10.31% |
| 1976 | 2,884 | 60.70% | 1,485 | 31.26% | 382 | 8.04% |
| 1980 | 5,012 | 61.36% | 1,316 | 16.11% | 1,840 | 22.53% |
| 1984 | 9,944 | 73.69% | 2,940 | 21.79% | 610 | 4.52% |
| 1988 | 8,856 | 65.01% | 4,172 | 30.63% | 594 | 4.36% |
| 1992 | 7,564 | 39.13% | 4,379 | 22.66% | 7,385 | 38.21% |
| 1996 | 11,306 | 59.81% | 4,522 | 23.92% | 3,074 | 16.26% |
| 2000 | 17,976 | 69.31% | 5,379 | 20.74% | 2,579 | 9.94% |
| 2004 | 17,569 | 72.71% | 6,201 | 25.66% | 394 | 1.63% |
| 2008 | 30,246 | 74.50% | 9,297 | 22.90% | 1,056 | 2.60% |
| 2012 | 27,339 | 72.68% | 9,317 | 24.77% | 959 | 2.55% |
| 2016 | 31,947 | 74.39% | 8,598 | 20.02% | 2,398 | 5.58% |
| 2020 | 38,492 | 71.90% | 12,849 | 24.00% | 2,195 | 4.10% |
| 2024 | 40,140 | 72.50% | 13,343 | 24.10% | 1,882 | 3.40% |
Republicans have carried the Matanuska-Susitna borough in every election except for1964.[13] Though the borough has aligned with the statewide presidential election winner in Alaska in every election since statehood, it has come to stand out as one of the most Republican areas in Alaska, alongside the neighboring, less populatedSoutheast Fairbanks Census Area. In2020, around 20% ofDonald Trump's vote share in the state came from this borough alone.
Edna DeVries is the mayor of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. The borough has a strong-manager form of government. Mike Brown is the borough manager. Long-time Manager John Duffy retired in 2010.[14]
Sarah Palin was previously the mayor ofWasilla, the largest city in the borough.
In July 2018, the borough's computer systems, including the library and animal shelter, were hit by aransomware attack, forcing employees to do without computers, using electric typewriters where available.[15] The borough declared a state of emergency[16] and incurred over $2 million in costs.[17] The method is thought to have been a targetedphishing e-mail; data left by the malware indicated Mat-Su was the 210th target attacked.[18]
The school district isMatanuska-Susitna Borough School District.[19]
Places adjacent to Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska | |
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Municipalities and communities ofMatanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska,United States | ||
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| Unincorporated communities |
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62°24′N149°35′W / 62.40°N 149.58°W /62.40; -149.58
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