Bristol Bay Borough, Alaska
Borough
Brooks Falls at Katmai National Park and Preserve.
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Alaska
Coordinates: 58°45′00″N 156°50′00″W / 58.75°N 156.83333333333°W / 58.75; -156.83333333333
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Incorporated	October 2, 1962[1]
Named after	Bristol Bay
Seat	Naknek
Largest community	Naknek
Government
• Mayor	David R. Lax[2]
Area
• Total	888 sq mi (2,300 km2)
• Land	504 sq mi (1,310 km2)
• Water	384 sq mi (990 km2)  43.2%
Population  (2020)
• Total	844
• Estimate  (2024)	884
• Density	1.67/sq mi (0.647/km2)
Time zone	UTC−9 (Alaska)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−8 (ADT)
Congressional district	At-large
Website	www.bristolbayboroughak.us

Bristol Bay Borough is a borough of the U.S. state of Alaska on Bristol Bay. As of the 2020 census the borough population was 844,^[3] down from 997 in 2010,^[4] the second-least populated borough in Alaska. The borough seat is Naknek.^[5] There are no incorporated settlements.

Incorporated in 1962, Bristol Bay was the first of Alaska's boroughs. It is also among the smallest, consisting of little more than the rectangle of land around Naknek on the coast and King Salmon (which, uniquely, serves as the borough seat for the neighboring Lake and Peninsula Borough) inland.^{[citation needed]}

The borough has a total area of 888 square miles (2,300 km²), of which 504 square miles (1,310 km²) is land and 384 square miles (990 km²) (43.2%) is water.

^[6]

• Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska (east, north and south)
• Dillingham Census Area, Alaska (west)

• Katmai National Park and Preserve (part)
  • Katmai Wilderness (part)

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1970	1,147		—
1980	1,094		−4.6%
1990	1,410		28.9%
2000	1,258		−10.8%
2010	997		−20.7%
2020	844		−15.3%
2024 (est.)	884	[7]	4.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[4]

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 844. The median age was 41.4 years. 22.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 108.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 110.9 males age 18 and over.^[20]

The racial makeup of the county was 43.8% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 36.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 0.4% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.4% from some other race, and 16.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.3% of the population.^[21]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.^[22]

There were 357 households in the county, of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 19.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[20]

There were 857 housing units, of which 58.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 57.4% were owner-occupied and 42.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.4%.^[20]

At the 2000 census there were 1,258 people, 490 households, and 300 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2 people per square mile (0.77 people/km²). There were 979 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (0.77/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 52.54% White, 0.56% Black or African American, 43.72% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.48% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 2.38% from two or more races. 0.56% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.^[23]

Of the 490 households 38.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.20% were married couples living together, 6.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.60% were non-families. 31.20% of households were one person and 2.90% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.33.^[23]

The age distribution was 31.30% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 34.80% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 3.80% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 119.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 125.60 males.^[23]

• King Salmon
• Naknek (Borough seat)
• South Naknek

Bristol Bay Borough only voted for the Democratic candidate twice, in 1960 and 1964, and sided with Republicans ever since.

• 
  The Bering Sea and Kvichak Bay, at Pederson Point
• 
  Tundra outside Naknek
• 
  Bristol Bay Borough Fire and EMS
• 
  Kvichak Bay at low tide, with fishermen in the distance. Fishing is a major industry in the Bristol Bay Borough.

• List of airports in the Bristol Bay Borough
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Bristol Bay Borough, Alaska

• Official website

58°45′N 156°50′W / 58.750°N 156.833°W / 58.750; -156.833