2.3 Human Geography and Demographics

Although Alaska is the largest state in the Union, its population density, or the number of people per square mile, is by far the lowest-just over one person per square mile (0.4 people per square kilometer). In contrast, the average population density of the whole United States is 75 persons per square mile (30 people per square kilometer).

Alaska Population by Boroughs and Census Areas shows relative numbers of Alaskans in each of the state's boroughs and census areas, the areas designated for compiling population data. With more than 250,000 people, Anchorage Borough outstrips all other boroughs and census areas in the state. Two neighboring boroughs, Matanuska-Susitna to the north and Kenai Peninsula to the south, are home to another 97,000 people. Together these three boroughs account for 58% of Alaska's population, and they are growing much more rapidly than other parts of the state. From 1990 to 1996 "Mat-Su" grew 28% and Anchorage grew 13%.

Alaska's second largest population concentration is in the Fairbanks North Star Borough, in Interior Alaska. In 1996 the Fairbanks area contained 82,400 people. A larger regional grouping of boroughs and census areas yields a startling result. A population region extending from Fairbanks to the Kenai Peninsula, including Mat-Su and Anchorage, accounts for 72% of Alaska's population. This region is known in Alaska as "the Railbelt" since it extends from the southern terminus of the Alaska Railroad at Seward to the northern terminus in the Fairbanks North Star Borough. The one census area of low population density between the Fairbanks and Mat-Su boroughs, the Denali Borough, reflects the presence of rugged highlands encompassed by Denali National Park.

Alaska's population is younger on average than the U.S. population. In 1996 the median age in Alaska was 30.8 years compared with a U.S. median of 34.8. The number of older Alaskans, people over 65, has increased by one-third since 1990; yet Alaska still has by far the smallest proportion of older people in the nation.

There are more men than women in Alaska—about 109 men for every 100 women. In fact, Alaska has the lowest overall percentage of women of any state. This figure reflects the impact of the military and the numbers of men who come north for seasonal work in construction and fishing.

2.4 Language

The official language of the state of Alaska is English. Alaska passed the official English language initiative in 1998, but it has been blocked by a state judge pending trial (the case is still pending). 14.3% of Alaska's residents speak a language other than English; and 2.4% are linguistically isolated. The most common of these languages are Yupik, Spanish, Tagalog (Philipino), and Inupik.

Percent of Alaska's population over 5 years old speaking a language

other than English at home. Image © ProEnglish.

See All State Art & Cultural Symbols.

The initiative's purpose: "The people of the State of Alaska find that English is the common unifying language of the State of Alaska and the United States of America, and declare a compelling interest in promoting, preserving and strengthening its use... to be used by all public agencies in all government functions and actions ..."

There are of course many exceptions to this - the government may use a language other than English when necessary for the following purposes:

(1) to communicate health and safety information or when an emergency requires the use of a language other than English,

(2) to teach another language to students proficient in English,

(3) to teach English to students of limited English proficiency,

(4) to promote international relations, trade, commerce, tourism or sporting events,

(5) to protect the constitutional and legal rights of criminal defendants,

(6) to serve the needs of the judicial system in civil and criminal cases in compliance with court rules and orders,

(7) to investigate criminal activity and protect the rights of crime victims,

(8) to the extent necessary to comply with federal law, including the Native American Languages Act,

(9) to attend or observe religious ceremonies,

(10) to use non-English terms of art, names, phrases, or expressions included as part of communications otherwise in English, and

(11) to communicate orally with constituents by elected public officials and their staffs, if the public official or staff member is already proficient in a language other than English.

18% of the United States population over the age of 5 speaks a language other than English at home (including Spanish, German, Native American, French, Scandinavian, Tagalog, Italian, Chinese, Polish, Korean, and Russian). Official language laws have been passed in several states, but the United States does not recognize an official national language.