Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

Matanuska-Susitna Borough (often referred to as the Mat-Su Borough) is a borough located in the U.S. state of Alaska. Its borough seat is Palmer, and the largest community is the census-designated place of Knik-Fairview. As of the 2020 census, the borough's population was 107,801.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref>

The borough is part of the Anchorage Metropolitan Statistical Area, along with the municipality of Anchorage on its south.

The Mat-Su Borough is so designated because it contains the entire Matanuska and Susitna 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.

Geography

File:Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska.jpg

Mount Bradley in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, 2014

The borough seat is Palmer,<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> and the largest community is the census-designated place of Knik-Fairview, Alaska.

As of the 2020 census, the population was 107,081, up from 88,995 in 2010. It is the fastest growing subdivision in Alaska.<ref name="2020 Census Data">Template:Cite web</ref>

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (2.6%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Adjacent boroughs and census areas

Denali Borough, Alaska - north
Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska - northeast
Copper River Census Area, Alaska - east
Chugach Census Area, Alaska - east
Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska - south
Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska - south
Bethel Census Area, Alaska - west
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska - west

National protected areas in the borough

Chugach National Forest (part)
Denali National Park and Preserve (part)
- Denali Wilderness (part)
Lake Clark National Park and Preserve (part)
- Lake Clark Wilderness (part)

Demographics

Template:US Census population

As of the census of 2000, there were 59,322 people, 20,556 households, and 15,046 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 27,329 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 87.55% White, 0.69% Black or African American, 5.50% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.86% from other races, and 4.57% from two or more races. 2.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino 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% were married 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 the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District.

Politics and government

File:AKStateFair.jpg

The midway area of the Alaska State Fair, held annually in Palmer during late August and early September

Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresFoot

Republicans have carried the Matanuska-Susitna borough in every election except for 1964.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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 populated Southeast Fairbanks Census Area. In 2020, around 20% of Donald 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.<ref>Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Matsugov.us. Retrieved on August 2, 2013.</ref>

Sarah Palin was previously the mayor of Wasilla, the largest city in the borough.

Communities

Cyber attack

In July 2018, the borough's computer systems, including the library and animal shelter, were hit by a ransomware attack, forcing employees to do without computers, using electric typewriters where available.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The borough declared a state of emergency<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and incurred over $2 million in costs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The method is thought to have been a targeted phishing e-mail; data left by the malware indicated Mat-Su was the 210th target attacked.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>