Editing Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska

{{short description|Census area in Alaska, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Aleutians West Census Area
 | state                = Alaska
 | ex image             = World War II Bunker, Dutch Harbor (8230557573).jpg
 | ex image cap         = A World War II bunker abandoned in [[Dutch Harbor]], [[Amaknak Island]]
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = October 23, 1987<ref>The Newberry Library: Alaska Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.</ref>
 | founded date         = 
 | founded title        = Established
 | seat wl              = 
 | largest city wl      = Unalaska
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 14116
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 4390
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 9726
 | area percentage      = 68.9%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 5,122
 | density_sq_mi        = 1.27
 | web                  = 
 | named for            = [[Aleutian Islands]]
 | district             = At-large
 | time zone 1          = Alaska
 | time zone 2          = Hawaii
 | coordinates          = {{coord|52.16298|-174.28505|format=dms|source:wikidata_region:US-AK|display=inline,title}}
}}
[[File:Attu peace monument.jpg|right|thumb|upright|The "Peace Monument" on [[Attu Island]]]]

'''Aleutians West Census Area''' ({{langx|ru|Западные Алеутские острова}}) is a [[census area]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Alaska]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 5,232,<ref name="2020 Census Data">{{cite web | url = https://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/cen/2020-census-data.html | title = 2020 Census Data - Cities and Census Designated Places | format = Web | publisher = State of Alaska, Department of Labor and Workforce Development | access-date = October 31, 2021}}</ref> down from 5,561 in 2010.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/02/02016.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809175813/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/02/02016.html|archive-date=August 9, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

It is part of the [[Unorganized Borough, Alaska|Unorganized Borough]] and therefore has no [[borough seat]]. Its largest city is [[Unalaska, Alaska|Unalaska]], home to about 80% of the population. It contains most of the [[Aleutian Islands]], from [[Attu Island]] in the west to [[Unalaska Island]] in the east, as well as the [[Pribilof Islands]], which lie north of the Aleutians in the [[Bering Sea]].

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the census area has a total area of {{convert|14116|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|4390|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|9726|sqmi}} (68.9%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> It borders the [[Aleutians East Borough, Alaska|Aleutians East Borough]] to the east.

===National protected areas===
* [[Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge]] (part of the Aleutian Islands and Bering Sea units)
** [[Aleutian Islands Wilderness]] (part)
** [[Bogoslof Wilderness]]
** [[Pribilof Islands]]
* [[Aleutian World War II National Historic Area]]

===Cape===
* Moss Point

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1960= 6011
|1970= 8057
|1980= 7768
|1990= 9478
|2000= 5465
|2010= 5561
|2020= 5232
|estyear=2023
|estimate=5160
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 28, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=left
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=U.S. Decennial Census |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 18, 2014 }}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=May 18, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ak190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 18, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 18, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF" />
}}

A 2014 analysis by ''[[The Atlantic]]'' found the Aleutians West Census Area to be the most racially diverse county-equivalent in the United States.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Narula |first=Svati Kirsten |date=April 29, 2014 |title=The 5 U.S. Counties Where Racial Diversity Is Highest—and Lowest |language=en-US |work=The Atlantic |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/04/mapping-racial-diversity-by-county/361388/ |access-date=May 8, 2017}}</ref> According to the [[Brookings Institution]], [[Asian Americans]] are the largest [[Person of color|population of color]] in the census area, a majority of which are [[Filipino Americans]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Rowlands |first1=DW |last2=Love |first2=Hanna |date=September 28, 2021 |title=Mapping rural America's diversity and demographic change |url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2021/09/28/mapping-rural-americas-diversity-and-demographic-change/ |access-date=May 9, 2022 |website=Brookings |language=en-US}}</ref>

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US02016&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US02016&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US02016&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|2,059
|1,745
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,585
|37.68%
|31.38%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |30.29%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|165
|318
|style='background: #ffffe6; |257
|3.02%
|5.72%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.91%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|1,136
|841
|style='background: #ffffe6; |709
|20.79%
|15.12%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |13.55%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|1,338
|1,575
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,502
|24.48%
|28.32%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |28.71%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|33
|102
|style='background: #ffffe6; |238
|0.60%
|1.83%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.55%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|4
|5
|style='background: #ffffe6; |10
|0.07%
|0.09%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.19%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|157
|249
|style='background: #ffffe6; |263
|2.87%
|4.48%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.03%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|573
|726
|style='background: #ffffe6; |668
|10.48%
|13.06%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12.77%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''5,465'''
|'''5,561'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''5,232'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Most Self-Reported Ancestries in Aleutians West Census Area (American Community Survey 2020 five year estimates)

<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=DP05%3A%20ACS%20DEMOGRAPHIC%20AND%20HOUSING%20ESTIMATES&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&g=0500000US02016&tid=ACSDP5Y2020.DP05|title=DP05: ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES}}</ref>

<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=B04006%3A%20PEOPLE%20REPORTING%20ANCESTRY&g=0500000US02013&tid=ACSDT5Y2020.B04006|title=B04006: PEOPLE REPORTING ANCESTRY}}</ref>

<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=B02018%3A%20ASIAN%20ALONE%20OR%20IN%20ANY%20COMBINATION%20BY%20SELECTED%20GROUPS&g=0500000US02013|title=B02018: ASIAN ALONE OR IN ANY COMBINATION BY SELECTED GROUPS}}</ref>

<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=B02017%3A%20AMERICAN%20INDIAN%20AND%20ALASKA%20NATIVE%20%28AIAN%29%20ALONE%20OR%20IN%20ANY%20COMBINATION%20BY%20SELECTED%20TRIBAL%20GROUPINGS&g=0500000US02013|title=AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE (AIAN) ALONE OR IN ANY COMBINATION BY SELECTED TRIBAL GROUPINGS}}</ref>

<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=B02019%3A%20NATIVE%20HAWAIIAN%20AND%20OTHER%20PACIFIC%20ISLANDER%20ALONE%20OR%20IN%20ANY%20COMBINATION%20BY%20SELECTED%20GROUPS&g=0500000US02013&tid=ACSDT5Y2020.B02019|title=B02019: NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDER ALONE OR IN ANY COMBINATION BY SELECTED GROUPS}}</ref>

<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=B03001%3A%20HISPANIC%20OR%20LATINO%20ORIGIN%20BY%20SPECIFIC%20ORIGIN&g=0500000US02013&tid=ACSDT5Y2020.B03001|title=B03001: HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY SPECIFIC ORIGIN}}</ref> 
|-
! Ancestry !! Percentage of Population
|-
| [[Filipino Americans|Filipino]] || 39.68%
|-
| [[Aleut]] || 11.79%
|-
| [[Mexican Americans|Mexican]] || 8.62%
|-
| [[German Americans|German]]|| 5.71%
|-
| [[Black people|Black]] or [[African American]] || 4.63%
|-
| [[European Americans|European]] || 4.08%
|-
| [[Irish Americans|Irish]] || 3.98%
|-
| [[Vietnamese Americans|Vietnamese]] || 3.56%
|-
| [[Samoan Americans|Samoan]] || 2.65%
|-
| [[Cuban Americans|Cuban]] || 2.30%
|}

=== 2000 Census ===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]], there were 5,465 people, 1,270 households, and 736 families residing in the census area. The population density was {{convert|1.24|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 2,234 housing units at an average density of {{convert|0.51|/mi2|/km2}}.

The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makup]] of the census area was 40.04% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 3.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 20.95% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 24.59% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.62% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 7.32% from other races, and 3.46% from two or more races. 10.48%.<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 13.89% reported speaking [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] at home, while 11.22% spoke [[Spanish language|Spanish]], 5.97% [[Aleut language|Aleut]], and 4.51% [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=2&county_id=16&mode=geographic&zip=&place_id=&cty_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930181802/http://www.mla.org/map_data_results%26state_id%3D2%26county_id%3D16%26mode%3Dgeographic%26zip%3D%26place_id%3D%26cty_id%3D%26ll%3D%26a%3D%26ea%3D%26order%3Dr |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |title=MLA Language Map Data Center |access-date=June 3, 2014 }}</ref>

Of the 1,270 households 35.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.00% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.00% were non-families. 32.00% of households were one person and 2.10% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.26.

The age distribution was 17.20% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 47.60% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 2.30% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 180.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 202.10 males.

== Communities ==
The largest community in the Aleutians West Census Area is the city of [[Unalaska, Alaska|Unalaska]].

===Cities===
* [[Adak, Alaska|Adak]]
* [[Atka, Alaska|Atka]]
* [[St. George, Alaska|St. George]]
* [[St. Paul, Alaska|St. Paul]]
* [[Unalaska, Alaska|Unalaska]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Attu Station, Alaska|Attu Station]]
* [[Nikolski, Alaska|Nikolski]]
* [[Eareckson Station, Alaska (CDP)|Eareckson Station]]

==Politics and government==
{{PresHead|place=Aleutians West|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rrhelections.com/index.php/2018/02/02/alaska-results-by-county-equivalent-1960-2016/|title=RRH Elections|first=RRH|last=Elections|website=rrhelections.com|access-date=January 12, 2020}}</ref>}}
<!--{{PresRow|Year|Winner|GOP #|Dem #|3rd #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|469|474|28|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|551|692|39|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|403|699|125|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|426|778|35|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|685|648|45|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|508|455|33|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|704|514|157|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|528|598|232|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|803|687|648|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,241|580|45|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|850|413|25|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|478|341|162|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|379|232|31|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|371|177|23|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|188|165|22|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|38|315|0|Alaska}}
{{PresFoot|1960|Democratic|90|225|0|Alaska}}

At the federal level, the Aleutians West Census Area is part of [[Alaska's at-large congressional district]] along with the rest of the state. The census area is represented by [[Lyman Hoffman]] (D) in the [[Alaska Senate]] and by [[Bryce Edgmon]] (D) in the [[Alaska House of Representatives]]. In presidential elections, it has consistently backed Democrats since 2012, although Kamala Harris won the borough by five votes in 2024.

==Education==
School districts within the census area are: [[Aleutian Region School District]], [[Pribilof School District]], and [[Unalaska City School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st02_ak/schooldistrict_maps/c02016_aleutians_west/DC20SD_C02016.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st02_ak/schooldistrict_maps/c02016_aleutians_west/DC20SD_C02016.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Aleutians West Census Area, AK|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 22, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st02_ak/schooldistrict_maps/c02016_aleutians_west/DC20SD_C02016_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Alaska}}
* [[List of airports in Alaska]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20161225190117/https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/dcra/DCRAExternal/community/Details/8989e29a-119e-427d-a699-075d6e447443 Aleutians West Census Area] at the Community Database Online from the [[Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development|Alaska Division of Community and Regional Affairs]]
* Maps from the [[Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development]]: [https://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/cen/maps.cfm]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre = Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska
|North = ''[[Bering Sea]]''
|Northeast =
|East = [[Aleutians East Borough, Alaska|Aleutians East Borough]]
|Southeast =
|South = ''[[Pacific Ocean]]''
|Southwest =
|West = ''[[Bering Strait]]''<br>([[Aleutsky District]], [[Kamchatka Krai]], [[Russia]])
|Northwest =
}}
{{Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska}}
{{Alaska}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska| ]]
[[Category:Alaska census areas]]
[[Category:Bering Sea]]