The map below shows the geographical distribution of Alaska’s boroughs and census areas:
Alaska Borough and Census Area Map: 30 County Equivalents [AK, US]
Alaska does not use counties as its primary regional divisions. The U.S. Census Bureau recognizes 30 county-equivalent units in the state: 19 organized borough governments and 11 census areas within the Unorganized Borough. The organized group includes units officially styled as boroughs, city and boroughs, and municipalities. Valdez–Cordova Census Area is no longer current; it was divided into Chugach Census Area and Copper River Census Area on January 2, 2019. Current federal and Alaska population data use the 30-unit structure listed on this page.
Alaska Borough and Census Area Map
The interactive map marks the geographic center of each current county-equivalent unit. These center points help identify the statewide distribution of boroughs and census areas but do not replace legal boundary files.
Alaska’s County-Equivalent Types
The 30-unit total combines legal regional governments and statistical areas. Census datasets place all four types at the same county-equivalent geographic level.
All 30 Alaska Boroughs and Census Areas
Land area values are rounded to the nearest square mile from current Census geographic records. Census areas have no borough government or official borough seat, so selected communities are listed instead.
| Borough or Census Area | Type | GEOID | Government Seat or Status | Land Area | Selected Communities or Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aleutians East Borough | Borough | 02013 | Sand Point | 6,985 sq mi | Sand Point, Cold Bay, False Pass, Akutan |
| Aleutians West Census Area | Census area | 02016 | No borough seat | 4,387 sq mi | Unalaska and Atka; western Aleutian Islands |
| Anchorage Municipality | Municipality | 02020 | Anchorage | 1,707 sq mi | Alaska’s largest population center |
| Bethel Census Area | Census area | 02050 | No borough seat | 40,655 sq mi | Bethel and lower Kuskokwim communities |
| Bristol Bay Borough | Borough | 02060 | Naknek | 481 sq mi | Naknek, South Naknek, and King Salmon area |
| Chugach Census Area | Census area | 02063 | No borough seat | 9,574 sq mi | Valdez, Cordova, and Whittier; created in 2019 |
| Copper River Census Area | Census area | 02066 | No borough seat | 24,646 sq mi | Glennallen, Copper Center, Gakona, and Chitina; created in 2019 |
| Denali Borough | Borough | 02068 | Healy | 12,641 sq mi | Healy, Anderson, Cantwell, and Denali Park |
| Dillingham Census Area | Census area | 02070 | No borough seat | 18,353 sq mi | Dillingham, Togiak, New Stuyahok, and Manokotak |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough | Borough | 02090 | Fairbanks | 7,335 sq mi | Fairbanks, North Pole, and surrounding Interior communities |
| Haines Borough | Borough | 02100 | Haines | 2,335 sq mi | Haines and northern Lynn Canal communities |
| Hoonah-Angoon Census Area | Census area | 02105 | No borough seat | 6,560 sq mi | Hoonah, Angoon, Gustavus, Pelican, and Tenakee Springs |
| Juneau City and Borough | City and borough | 02110 | Juneau | 2,703 sq mi | State capital and consolidated city-borough government |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough | Borough | 02122 | Soldotna | 16,017 sq mi | Kenai, Soldotna, Homer, Seward, and peninsula communities |
| Ketchikan Gateway Borough | Borough | 02130 | Ketchikan | 4,857 sq mi | Ketchikan, Saxman, and surrounding islands and mainland areas |
| Kodiak Island Borough | Borough | 02150 | Kodiak | 6,689 sq mi | Kodiak and communities across the Kodiak Archipelago |
| Kusilvak Census Area | Census area | 02158 | No borough seat | 17,151 sq mi | Hooper Bay, Chevak, Emmonak, Mountain Village, and Scammon Bay |
| Lake and Peninsula Borough | Borough | 02164 | King Salmon | 23,897 sq mi | Communities along the Alaska Peninsula and large inland lakes |
| Matanuska-Susitna Borough | Borough | 02170 | Palmer | 24,703 sq mi | Palmer, Wasilla, Houston, and the Mat-Su Valley |
| Nome Census Area | Census area | 02180 | No borough seat | 22,970 sq mi | Nome, Unalakleet, Shishmaref, and Bering Strait communities |
| North Slope Borough | Borough | 02185 | Utqiaġvik | 88,798 sq mi | The borough seat’s official name is Utqiaġvik, not Barrow |
| Northwest Arctic Borough | Borough | 02188 | Kotzebue | 35,672 sq mi | Kotzebue and communities of the Kobuk and Noatak regions |
| Petersburg Borough | Borough | 02195 | Petersburg | 2,901 sq mi | Petersburg, Kake, Kupreanof, and nearby territory |
| Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area | Census area | 02198 | No borough seat | 5,268 sq mi | Craig, Klawock, Hydaburg, Thorne Bay, and Hyder |
| Sitka City and Borough | City and borough | 02220 | Sitka | 2,870 sq mi | Consolidated city-borough government on Baranof Island and nearby islands |
| Skagway Municipality | Municipality | 02230 | Skagway | 443 sq mi | Municipal area at the northern end of the Lynn Canal corridor |
| Southeast Fairbanks Census Area | Census area | 02240 | No borough seat | 24,839 sq mi | Tok, Delta Junction, Northway, and eastern Interior communities |
| Wrangell City and Borough | City and borough | 02275 | Wrangell | 2,556 sq mi | Wrangell Island and adjoining mainland and island territory |
| Yakutat City and Borough | City and borough | 02282 | Yakutat | 7,628 sq mi | Large coastal city-borough bordering the Gulf of Alaska |
| Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area | Census area | 02290 | No borough seat | 145,767 sq mi | Galena, Fort Yukon, Nenana, McGrath, and many remote Interior communities |
What Happened to Valdez–Cordova Census Area?
Valdez–Cordova Census Area, former GEOID 02261, was removed from the Census county-equivalent system on January 2, 2019. Its territory was divided between two new statistical units:
The Organized and Unorganized Borough
Alaska’s constitution divides the entire state into organized and unorganized borough territory. Nineteen organized borough governments cover part of the state. The remaining territory forms the Unorganized Borough, where the Alaska State Legislature serves as the governing body for borough-level matters.
The Unorganized Borough is divided into 11 census areas for federal statistical work. Those census areas are the county-equivalent units used in Census tables and maps. The Unorganized Borough itself is therefore not added as a separate thirty-first county equivalent.
- Organized borough geography: 13 boroughs, four city and boroughs, and two municipalities.
- Unorganized Borough geography: 11 census areas without borough governments.
- Federal county-equivalent total: 30 units rather than 19, 20, or 31.
Utqiaġvik and the Former Name Barrow
The government seat of the North Slope Borough is Utqiaġvik. The city officially changed its name from Barrow to Utqiaġvik in 2016. Current tables, maps, captions, and location references should use Utqiaġvik. The former name may appear in historical records or older datasets and can be included in parentheses when needed to identify the same place.
Major Alaska Cities and Their County Equivalents
| City or Community | Current County Equivalent | Unit Type | Map Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | Anchorage Municipality | Municipality | Largest population center |
| Fairbanks | Fairbanks North Star Borough | Borough | Main Interior urban center |
| Juneau | Juneau City and Borough | City and borough | State capital |
| Wasilla | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | Borough | Mat-Su Valley population center |
| Kenai | Kenai Peninsula Borough | Borough | Cook Inlet and peninsula center |
| Ketchikan | Ketchikan Gateway Borough | Borough | Southern Southeast Alaska center |
| Kodiak | Kodiak Island Borough | Borough | Kodiak Archipelago center |
| Bethel | Bethel Census Area | Census area | Lower Kuskokwim regional center |
| Nome | Nome Census Area | Census area | Bering Sea regional center |
| Utqiaġvik | North Slope Borough | Borough | Arctic borough seat |
| Valdez | Chugach Census Area | Census area | Prince William Sound community formerly listed under Valdez–Cordova |
| Glennallen | Copper River Census Area | Census area | Copper River Basin community formerly listed under Valdez–Cordova |
Map Data Notes
- Boundary vintage: Census county-equivalent geography as of January 1, 2025.
- Population reference: Alaska’s January 28, 2026 release reports July 1, 2025 estimates for all 30 boroughs and census areas.
- Area values: Rounded land area derived from Census TIGERweb records; water area is not included in the table.
- Map points: Markers use geographic center coordinates for each county equivalent rather than government offices or community addresses.
- Census areas: Selected communities are supplied for orientation and are not administrative seats.
- Former geography: Valdez–Cordova Census Area should appear only in historical datasets dated before its 2019 division.
Official Sources
- U.S. Census TIGERweb: Alaska County Equivalents, Data as of January 1, 2025
- U.S. Census Bureau: County and County-Equivalent Changes During the 2010s
- U.S. Census Bureau: Alaska Geographic Areas Reference Map
- Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development: 2025 Population Estimates Released January 2026
- Alaska Division of Community and Regional Affairs: Municipal Government Structure
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Alaska have counties?
No. Alaska uses boroughs, city and boroughs, municipalities, and census areas. The Census Bureau treats these units as county equivalents.
How many county equivalents are in Alaska?
Alaska has 30 current county-equivalent units: 19 organized borough governments and 11 census areas.
Is the Unorganized Borough a separate county equivalent?
No. The Unorganized Borough is divided into 11 census areas for county-level statistical reporting. Those census areas are counted individually, while the Unorganized Borough is not added as another row.
Does Valdez–Cordova Census Area still exist?
No. It was removed on January 2, 2019, and divided into Chugach Census Area and Copper River Census Area.
Is Barrow still the official name of the North Slope Borough seat?
No. The official city name is Utqiaġvik. Barrow is the former name and should be limited to historical references or clarifying parenthetical notes.
Why do some older Alaska maps show fewer units?
Older maps may omit newer boroughs, use former census-area names, or treat the Unorganized Borough as a single broad region. The map date and GEOIDs should be checked before using the boundaries for current data.
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