Editing Big Lake, Alaska

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Big Lake, Alaska
|settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place|CDP]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = BGQ-a.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Aerial photograph of Big Lake in 1996
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Matanuska-Susitna Borough Alaska incorporated and unincorporated areas Big Lake highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 260px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska|Matanuska-Susitna Borough]] and the state of [[Alaska]]

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = [[United States]]
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Alaska]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of boroughs and census areas in Alaska|Borough]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska|Matanuska-Susitna]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Borough [[mayor]]
|leader_name              = [[Edna DeVries]]
|leader_title1            = [[Alaska Senate|State senators]]
|leader_name1             = [[Shelley Hughes]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])<br>[[Mike Shower]] (R)
|leader_title2            = [[Alaska House of Representatives|State reps.]]
|leader_name2             = [[Kevin J. McCabe|Kevin McCabe]] (R)<br>[[Cathy Tilton]] (R)
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_02.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 29, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 330.84
|area_land_km2            = 298.98
|area_water_km2           = 31.86
|area_total_sq_mi         = 127.74
|area_land_sq_mi          = 115.44
|area_water_sq_mi         = 12.30

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 3833

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Alaska Time Zone|Alaska (AKST)]]
|utc_offset               = -9
|timezone_DST             = AKDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -8
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 44
|elevation_ft             = 144
|coordinates              = {{coord|61|32|15|N|149|53|28|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 99652
|area_code                = [[Area code 907|907]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 02-07070
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1866933
|website                  = 
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|unit_pref = Imperial
|population_density_sq_mi = 33.20
|population_density_km2 = 12.82
}}
'''Big Lake''' ([[Denaʼina language|Dena'ina]]: ''K'enaka Bena''<ref>{{cite web |last=Kari |first=James |title=Dena'ina Qenaga -- Placenames |url=http://qenaga.org/placenames.html |access-date=August 10, 2022 |website=Dena'ina Qenaga Du'idnaghelnik}}</ref>)is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska|Matanuska-Susitna Borough]], [[Alaska]], [[United States]]. It is part of the [[Anchorage, Alaska]] [[Anchorage metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].  The population was 3,833 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], up from 3,350 in 2010.<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>

==Geography==
Big Lake is located at {{coord|61|32|15|N|149|53|28|W|type:city}} (61.537449, -149.891104).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|144.8|sqmi|km2}}, of which, {{convert|131.9|sqmi|km2}} of it is land and {{convert|12.9|sqmi|km2}} of it (8.89%) is water.

It contains [[Big Lake Airport]], a general use airport with a gravel runway.

==Climate==

Big Lake, Alaska experiences an average of 51.4 inches of snowfall per year, 109 precipitation days, 131 sunny days,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Climate in Big Lake, Alaska |url=http://www.bestplaces.net/climate/city/alaska/big_lake |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128055705/https://www.bestplaces.net/climate/city/alaska/big_lake |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |access-date=August 10, 2022 |website=Best Places}}</ref> and an average annual wind speed of 8.18 MPH.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Big Lake, AK Weather - USA.com™ |url=http://www.usa.com/big-lake-ak-weather.htm |access-date=August 10, 2022 |website=www.usa.com}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|collapsed=
|single line= Y
|location= Big Lake, Alaska
|temperature colour= <!-- Enter "pastel" for pastel temperature colors, remove this line for the standard coloring. -->
|Jan record high F= 47
|Feb record high F= 49
|Mar record high F= 54
|Apr record high F= 69
|May record high F= 83
|Jun record high F= 88
|Jul record high F= 89
|Aug record high F= 86
|Sep record high F= 76
|Oct record high F= 62
|Nov record high F= 54
|Dec record high F= 49

|Jan high F= 16
|Feb high F= 24
|Mar high F= 35
|Apr high F= 47
|May high F= 60
|Jun high F= 68
|Jul high F= 69
|Aug high F= 66
|Sep high F= 56
|Oct high F= 39
|Nov high F= 22
|Dec high F= 18

|Jan low F= −2
|Feb low F=  2
|Mar low F=  8
|Apr low F= 22
|May low F= 34
|Jun low F= 44
|Jul low F= 49
|Aug low F= 46
|Sep low F= 36
|Oct low F= 33
|Nov low F=  5
|Dec low F=  1

|Jan record low F= −50
|Feb record low F= −48
|Mar record low F= −36
|Apr record low F= −21
|May record low F=  16
|Jun record low F=  28
|Jul record low F=  31
|Aug record low F=  22
|Sep record low F= −14
|Oct record low F= −20
|Nov record low F= −40
|Dec record low F= −42
|precipitation colour= <!-- Enter "green" for green precipitation colors, remove this line for blue coloring. -->
|Jan precipitation inch= 1.17
|Feb precipitation inch= 0.95
|Mar precipitation inch= 0.71
|Apr precipitation inch= 0.83
|May precipitation inch= 0.90
|Jun precipitation inch= 1.28
|Jul precipitation inch= 2.15
|Aug precipitation inch= 3.79
|Sep precipitation inch= 3.78
|Oct precipitation inch= 2.97
|Nov precipitation inch= 1.53
|Dec precipitation inch= 1.69
<!-- Mandatory fields, source -->
|source 1=<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USAK0032 |title=weather.com |publisher= |accessdate=October 17, 2012 }}</ref>
}}<!-- Infobox ends -->

==Parks==
The area is home to three [[Alaska State Parks]] facilities. '''Big Lake North State Recreation Site''' is a {{convert|19|acre}} park with a large campground, picnic areas, boat launch, and jetski rentals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Big Lake North State Recreation Site |url=http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/matsu/biglakenosrs.htm |access-date=August 10, 2022 |website=dnr.alaska.gov}}</ref> '''Big Lake South State Recreation Site''' has a smaller campground, picnic sites, and boat launch.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Big Lake South State Recreation Site |url=http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/matsu/biglakesosrs.htm |access-date=August 10, 2022 |website=dnr.alaska.gov}}</ref> Winter activities in both parks include cross country skiing, ice fishing, and dog mushing.

The '''Rocky Lake State Recreation Site''' is a {{convert|49|acre}} park with a  campground, picnic areas, and lake access.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rocky Lake State Recreation Site |url=http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/matsu/rockylksrs.htm |access-date=August 10, 2022 |website=dnr.alaska.gov}}</ref>

==Demographics==
As of the 2010 census, Big Lake had a population of 3,350.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=U.S. Census website|publisher=United States Census Bureau|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|language=en|access-date=January 31, 2020}}</ref> As of the 2017 American Community Survey, it was estimated to have 3,136 residents, of whom 53.2% were male, 46.8% were female, 82.8% were white, 5.2% were Native American or Alaska Native, 0.7% were Asian, and 11.3% were two or more races. 5.4% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=U.S. Census website|publisher=United States Census Bureau|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|language=en|access-date=February 4, 2020}}</ref>

==Big Lake==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1960= 74
|1970= 36
|1980= 410
|1990= 1477
|2000= 2635
|2010= 3350
|2020= 3833
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 6, 2013}}</ref>
}}
Big Lake first appeared on the 1960 U.S. Census as an unincorporated village.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Number of Inhabitants |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/37721577v1p3ch2.pdf |access-date=August 10, 2022 |website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> It was made a census-designated place (CDP) in 1980.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Balridge |first1=Malcolm |last2=Wright |first2=Joseph A. |last3=Dederick |first3=Robert G. |title=Characteristics of the Population Number of Inhabitants Alaska |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_akABCD-01.pdf |access-date=August 10, 2022 |website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 2,635 people, 971 households, and 647 families residing in the CDP.  The population density was {{convert|20.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 2,122 housing units at an average density of {{convert|16.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the CDP was 87.13% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.34% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 7.32% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.27% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.87% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.02% from two or more races.  1.97% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 971 households, out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 27.5% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.4% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 118.7 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 125.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $43,382, and the median income for a family was $47,542. Males had a median income of $40,000 versus $30,139 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $19,285.  About 9.8% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 1.0% of those age 65 or over.

== Former City of Long Island (1965–1975) ==
{{US Census population|align=left
|1970= 7
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 6, 2013}}</ref>
}}

Within Big Lake is the former short-lived incorporated city of '''Long Island''', which existed from 1965–1975 and had just 7 residents on the 1970 census.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Brown |first1=George Hay |last2=Hagan |first2=Robert |last3=Taueber |first3=Conrad |last4=Levine |first4=Daniel B. |last5=Kaplan |first5=David L. |title=1970 Census of Population |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ak-01.pdf |access-date=August 10, 2022 |website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 29, 2015 |title=City Governments in Alaska That Have Been Dissolved or Otherwise Ceased to Exist |url=https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/Portals/4/pub/LBC/04_29_15%20LIST%20OF%20DISSOLVED%20ALASKA%20CITY%20GOVERNMENTS.pdf |access-date=August 10, 2022 |website=Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development}}</ref> It was located on the northeast side of Big Lake at {{Coord|61|32|35|N|149|52|45|W|region:US-AK_type:landmark_source:GNIS|name=Long Island, Alaska}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Domestic Names &#124; U.S. Geological Survey |url=https://geonames.usgs.gov/apex/f?p=138:3:0::NO:3:P3_FID,P3_TITLE:1895477,Long%20Island |access-date=August 10, 2022 |website=USGS}}</ref> This is not to be confused with the former logging camp of [[Long Island (Alaska)|Long Island]].

==References==
<references />

{{Commons category}}
{{Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Alaska]]
[[Category:Anchorage metropolitan area]]