Aleutians West Census Area (Russian: Западные Алеутские острова) is a census area located in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,232, down from 5,561 in 2010.
It is part of the Unorganized Borough and therefore has no borough seat. Its largest city is 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.
Contents
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the census area has a total area of 14,116 square miles (36,560 km2), of which 4,390 square miles (11,400 km2) is land and 9,726 square miles (25,190 km2) (68.9%) is water. It borders the 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
A 2014 analysis by The Atlantic found the Aleutians West Census Area to be the most racially diverse county-equivalent in the United States. According to the Brookings Institution, Asian Americans are the largest population of color in the census area, a majority of which are Filipino Americans.
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the census area had a population of 5,232. The median age was 38.7 years. 12.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 5.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 190.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 210.9 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the census area was 31.9% White, 5.0% Black or African American, 13.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 28.9% Asian, 4.6% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 8.6% from some other race, and 7.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 12.8% of the population.
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 902 households in the census area, of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 1,331 housing units, of which 32.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 40.4% were owner-occupied and 59.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 19.4%.
2000 census
At the 2000 census, there were 5,465 people, 1,270 households, and 736 families residing in the census area. The population density was 1.24 people per square mile (0.48 people/km2). There were 2,234 housing units at an average density of 0.51 per square mile (0.20/km2).
The racial makup of the census area was 40.04% White, 3.02% Black or African American, 20.95% Native American, 24.59% Asian, 0.62% Pacific Islander, 7.32% from other races, and 3.46% from two or more races. 10.48%. were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 13.89% reported speaking Tagalog at home, while 11.22% spoke Spanish, 5.97% Aleut, and 4.51% Vietnamese.
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.
Cities
Adak
Atka
St. George
St. Paul
Unalaska
Census-designated places
Attu Station
Eareckson Station
Nikolski
Politics and government
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.