Bethel Census Area, Alaska

Bethel Census Area is a census area located in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of 2000, the population is 16,006. It is part of the unorganized borough and therefore has no borough seat. Its largest community by far is the city of Bethel, which also the largest city in the entire Unorganized Borough.

Geography

The census area has a total area of 45,508 square miles (117,866 km²), of which, 40,633 square miles (105,240 km²) of it is land and 4,875 square miles (12,627 km²) of it (10.71%) is water. Its territory includes the large offshore Nunivak Island in the Bering Sea.

Adjacent boroughs and census areas

* Wade Hampton Census Area, Alaska - northwest
* Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska - north
* Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska - east
* Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska - southeast
* Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska - south
* Dillingham Census Area, Alaska - south

National protected areas

* Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (part of the Bering Sea unit)
* Lake Clark National Park and Preserve (part)
* Togiak National Wildlife Refuge (part)
* Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 16,006 people, 4,226 households, and 3,173 families residing in the census area. The population density was 0 people per square mile (0/km²). There were 5,188 housing units at an average density of 0/sq mi (0/km²). The racial makeup of the census area was 12.53% White, 0.38% Black or African American, 81.93% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 3.85% from two or more races. 0.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,226 households out of which 51.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.20% were married couples living together, 15.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.90% were non-families. 19.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.73 and the average family size was 4.41.

In the census area the population was spread out with 39.80% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 16.40% from 45 to 64, and 5.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 113.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.80 males.

Bethel Census Area is one of only 38 county-level census divisions of the United States where the most spoken language is not English and one of only 3 where it is neither English nor Spanish. 63.14% of the population speak a Yupik language at home, followed by English at 34.71% [http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=2&county_id=50&mode=geographic&zip=&place_id=&cty_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r] .

Cities and towns

*Akiachak
*Akiak
*Aniak
*Atmautluak
*Bethel
*Chefornak
*Chuathbaluk
*Crooked Creek
*Crow Village
*Eek
*Georgetown
*Goodnews Bay
*Kasigluk

*Kipnuk
*Kongiganak
*Kwethluk
*Kwigillingok
*Lime Village
*Lower Kalskag
*Mekoryuk
*Napaimute
*Napakiak
*Napaskiak
*Newtok
*Nightmute
*Nunapitchuk

*Oscarville
*Platinum
*Quinhagak
*Red Devil
*Sleetmute
*Stony River
*Toksook Bay
*Tuluksak
*Tuntutuliak
*Tununak
*Umkumiute
*Upper Kalskag

References