Editing Butte, Alaska

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Butte, Alaska
| settlement_type    = [[Census-designated place|CDP]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = File:Atop of the Butte.jpg
| imagesize          = 300px
| image_caption      = View looking south from atop Bodenburg Butte
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = Matanuska-Susitna Borough Alaska incorporated and unincorporated areas Butte 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 senator]]
| leader_name1       = [[Shelley Hughes]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
| leader_title2      = [[Alaska House of Representatives|State rep.]]
| leader_name2       = [[DeLena Johnson]] (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     = 90.31
| area_land_km2      = 87.52
| area_water_km2     = 2.79
| area_total_sq_mi   = 34.87
| area_land_sq_mi    = 33.79
| area_water_sq_mi   = 1.08

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 3589

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[Alaska Time Zone|Alaska (AKST)]]
| utc_offset         = -9
| timezone_DST       = AKDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -8
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 28
| elevation_ft       = 92
| coordinates        = {{coord|61|32|53|N|149|1|36|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 99645<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zipdatamaps.com/99645|title=Butte AK ZIP Code|publisher=zipdatamaps.com|year=2023|access-date=January 26, 2023}}</ref>
| area_code          = [[Area code 907|907]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 02-09710
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1416898
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| population_density_sq_mi = 106.21
| population_density_km2 = 41.01
}}

'''Butte''' 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]]. At the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 3,589, up from 3,246 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>  Butte is located between the [[Matanuska River]] and the [[Knik River]], approximately {{convert|5|mi|km|0}} southeast of [[Palmer, Alaska|Palmer]]. It is accessible via the Old [[Glenn Highway]].

==Education==
Butte has its own elementary school, although the closest high school is [[Palmer High School (Alaska)|Palmer High School]].

==Recreation==
The town of Butte surrounds the geological formation [[Bodenburg Butte]] (''Hutnaynut'i'' in the indigenous [[Dena'ina language]]), from which the town draws its name. There are two hikes to the 900-foot summit, which offers 360-degree views of the surrounding Matanuska Valley and distant [[Knik Glacier]].

Located within the town is the Knik River Public Use Area (KRPUA), which provides a full spectrum of outdoor recreational opportunities and is open to motorized and non-motorized recreational pursuits. Activities common to the area include riding off-highway vehicles (OHVs), hunting, fishing, trapping, target shooting, boating, flying planes, horseback riding, biking, hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Knik River Public Use Area|url = http://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/krpua/|website = dnr.alaska.gov|accessdate = January 1, 2016}}</ref>

Butte is also home to the [[Alaska Raceway Park]], which has been operating for more than 50 years. The track holds races from Mother’s Day until Labor Day and most between.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Alaska Raceway Park {{!}} Celebrating 51 years of racing|url = http://www.alaskaracewaypark.com/|website = www.alaskaracewaypark.com|accessdate = January 1, 2016}}</ref> The 1/3 mile asphalt oval track is certified for [[NASCAR]] races in the [[Whelen All-American Series|Whelen All American Series.]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.adn.com/sports/2016/05/27/driving-in-circles-alaska-raceway-park-debuts-nascar-approved-oval/|title = Driving in circles: Alaska Raceway Park debuts NASCAR-approved oval}}</ref>

Located on the southern flank of the Bodenburg Butte is the Williams Reindeer Farm, which has been operating since 1987. The Reindeer farm is featured in an episode of Discovery's Dirty Jobs.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Reindeer Farm|url = http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/dirty-jobs/videos/reindeer-farm/|website = Discovery|access-date = February 4, 2016}}</ref>

==Economy==
The economic backbone of Butte is a substantial agricultural network of producing farms as well as the State of Alaska Plant Materials Center.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Alaska Plant Materials Center {{!}} State of Alaska {{!}} Department of Natural Resources {{!}} Division of Agriculture|url = http://plants.alaska.gov/|website = plants.alaska.gov|accessdate = December 31, 2015}}</ref> Organic and conventional farms in the area supply a bounty of produce to the local farmer's markets of the surrounding areas.

A variety of other small businesses in the area include  equestrian centers, coffee shops and restaurants, various auto and fleet repair shops, Butte Municipal Airport, a boatbuilder and 2 fire stations.

==Geography==
Butte is located at {{coord|61|32|53|N|149|1|36|W|type:city}} (61.548030, -149.026617).<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|41.0|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|40.3|sqmi|km2}} of it is land and {{convert|0.7|sqmi|km2}} of it (1.80%) is water.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1960= 559
|1970= 448
|1980= 988
|1990= 2039
|2000= 2561
|2010= 3246
|2020= 3589
|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>
}}
Butte first appeared on the 1960 U.S. Census as an unincorporated village.<ref>{{cite web |title=Number of Inhabitants - Alaska |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/37721577v1p3ch2.pdf |website=United States Census Bureau |date=1960}}</ref> In 1980, the name was changed to "Bodenburg Butte" and was made a census-designated place (CDP).<ref>{{cite web |title=Characteristics of the Populations - Number of Inhabitants - Alaska |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_akABCD-01.pdf |website=United States Census Bureau |date=May 1982}}</ref> In 1990, the name reverted to Butte.<ref>{{cite web |title=1990 Census of Population and Housing - Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics - Alaska |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph5/cph-5-3.pdf |website=United States Census Bureau |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223233331/https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph5/cph-5-3.pdf |archive-date=February 23, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</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 2,561 people, 884 households, and 671 families residing in the CDP.  The population density was {{convert|63.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 964 housing units at an average density of {{convert|23.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.5% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.5% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 2.9% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.5% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.4% from two or more races.  1.3% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 884 households, out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.28.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 30.5% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.9 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $55,573, and the median income for a family was $58,796. Males had a median income of $46,298 versus $32,933 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $22,522.  About 7.2% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska}}
{{Authority control}}

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