North Slope Borough, Alaska

North Slope Borough
North Slope Borough
Borough
	Point Barrow Refuge Station
	Seal
	Location within the U.S. state of Alaska
	Alaska's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 69°18′N 153°27′W / 69.3°N 153.45°W
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Incorporated	July 2, 1972
Named for	Alaska North Slope
Seat	Utqiaġvik
Largest city	Utqiaġvik
Government
• Mayor	Josiah Patkotak
Area
• Total	94,796 sq mi (245,520 km2)
• Land	88,695 sq mi (229,720 km2)
• Water	6,101 sq mi (15,800 km2) 6.4%
Population (2020)
• Total	11,031
• Estimate (2022)	10,805
• Density	0.12/sq mi (0.045/km2)
Time zone	UTC−9 (Alaska)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−8 (ADT)
Congressional district	At-large
Website	www.north-slope.org

The North Slope Borough is the northernmost borough in the US state of Alaska and thus, the northernmost county or equivalent of the United States as a whole. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,031.^[3] The borough seat and largest city, comprising nearly 1/2 of the borough’s population, is Utqiaġvik (known as Barrow from 1901 to 2016), the northernmost settlement in the United States.

History

The borough was established in 1972 by an election of the majority Indigenous people in the region, following Congressional passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Most are Inupiat. The borough was named for the Alaska North Slope basin. In 1974 it adopted a Home Rule Charter, enabling it to exercise any legitimate governmental power. The borough has first-class status and exercises the powers of planning, zoning, taxation, and schools.^[4]

In 2020 airline Ravn Alaska went into bankruptcy and ended operations. The government of North Slope Borough attempted to take control of the airline's assets in an attempt to keep flights and shipments coming to the community, but the Alaska Attorney General stated that the borough did not have that authority.^[5]

Government

The borough is governed by an eleven-member assembly, elected to staggered three-year terms, which meets monthly. Representation on the assembly is apportioned among the various communities; Barrow is allotted six seats, Nuiqsut, Point Hope and Wainwright one seat apiece, while the remaining two seats combine two communities; Anaktuvuk Pass with Kaktovik, and Atqasuk with Point Lay.^[6] The borough's executive and administrative powers are vested in a mayor, who is limited to two consecutive three-year terms.

Mayors

1972–1980: Eben Hopson (died in office)
1980–1981: Jacob Anaġi Adams, Sr.
1981–1984: Eugene Brower
1984–1990: George Ahmaogak, Sr.^[7]
1990–1993: Jeslie Kaleak
1993–1996: George Ahmaogak, Sr.
1996–1999: Benjamin Nageak
1999–2005: George Ahmaogak, Sr.
2005–2011: Edward Itta
2011–2016: Charlotte Brower
2016–2023: Harry Brower, Jr.
2023–present: Josiah Patkotak

Politics

United States presidential election results for North Slope Borough^[8]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	1,197	47.92%	1,134	45.40%	167	6.69%
2016	802	34.58%	1,090	47.00%	427	18.41%
2012	735	32.92%	1,407	63.01%	91	4.08%
2008	1,252	52.69%	1,041	43.81%	83	3.49%
2004	1,171	57.68%	767	37.78%	92	4.53%
2000	1,485	57.99%	843	32.92%	233	9.10%
1996	949	43.10%	927	42.10%	326	14.80%
1992	666	35.02%	763	40.12%	473	24.87%
1988	916	53.32%	713	41.50%	89	5.18%
1984	929	60.09%	575	37.19%	42	2.72%
1980	507	43.59%	460	39.55%	196	16.85%
1976	339	32.85%	655	63.47%	38	3.68%
1972	325	35.10%	560	60.48%	41	4.43%
1968	473	34.91%	690	50.92%	192	14.17%
1964	243	23.55%	789	76.45%	0	0.00%
1960	348	39.55%	532	60.45%	0	0.00%

Former mayor Eugene Brower, Charlotte Brower's husband, was convicted of tax evasion involving contractor kickbacks in the 1980s.^[9]

Former mayor George Ahmaogak had billed the Borough for a family vacation in Hawaii.^[9] His wife Maggie, was later convicted of embezzlement from the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission in 2015.^[9]^[10]

Edward Itta succeeded George Ahmaogak and served two terms, 2005–2011.^[11] In 2011 Charlotte Brower defeated Ahmaogak in a runoff election after his Hawaii vacation was revealed.^[9] She was recalled in April 2016, after it was reported the year before that her office had made numerous donations to individuals (including family members), sports clubs and other groups that amounted to more than $800,000 since 2011.^[12]

In July 2016 Harry K. Brower Jr., Charlotte Brower's brother-in-law,^[11] was first elected in a run-off election to serve the rest of Charlotte Brower's second term.^[12]

Harry K. Brower Jr. ran for a full term as mayor in October 2017, but was forced into a November runoff against his nephew, Frederick Brower, where he easily won a full 3-year term.^[13]^[14]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 94,796 square miles (245,520 km²), of which 88,695 square miles (229,720 km²) is land and 6,101 square miles (15,800 km²) (6.4%) is water.^[15] The borough is larger than 39 states.^[16]

Its western coastline is along the Chukchi Sea, while its eastern shores (beyond Point Barrow) are on the Beaufort Sea.

The North Slope Borough is the largest county-level political subdivision in the United States by area, with a larger land area than the state of Utah, the 13th-largest state in the nation. Although the adjacent Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area is larger in area, it has no borough-level government. The borough is the fourth-least densely populated county-level entity in the United States. The Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area is the least densely populated county-level entity.

Adjacent boroughs and census areas

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska – southeast
Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska – southwest

It shares its eastern border with Yukon, Canada, which has no subdivisions.

National protected areas

Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (part of the Chukchi Sea unit)
- Cape Lisburne
- Cape Thompson
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- Mollie Beattie Wilderness (part)
Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve (part)
- Gates of the Arctic Wilderness (part)
Noatak National Preserve (part)
- Noatak Wilderness (part)

Other federal areas

National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1960	2,133		—
1970	2,663		24.8%
1980	4,199		57.7%
1990	5,979		42.4%
2000	7,385		23.5%
2010	9,430		27.7%
2020	11,031		17.0%
2023 (est.)	10,603	^[17]	−3.9%
U.S. Decennial Census^[18] 1790-1960^[19] 1900-1990^[20] 1990-2000^[21] 2010-2020^[3]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 11,031 people and 1,979 households in the borough. The population density was 0.12 inhabitants per square mile (0.046/km²). There were 2,631 housing units at an average density of 0.03 inhabitants per square mile (0.012/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 53.2% Native American or Alaska Native, 32.7% White, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 1.8% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 1.6% African American, and 5.3% were from two or more races. 4.6% of the population were veterans and 6.3% of the population was born outside of the United States. The average household size was 3.36 people. 7.9% of the population were under the age of 5, 26.8% were under the age of 18, 65.7% were between the ages of 18 and 64, and 7.5% were age 65 or older. 62.4% of the population were male and 37.6% were female. 86.2% of households contained a computer with 69.8% of households having a broadband Internet connection. 89.7% of the population had a high school diploma or higher with 16.5% having a Bachelor's degree or higher. 79.0% of the population were in the civilian labor force. (72.8% of women) The median household income was $79,306 with the average per capita income from May 2019 to April 2020 was $48,730. 11.4% of the population were in poverty.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 9,430 people, 2,109 households, and 1,524 families residing in the borough. The population density was 12.03 square miles (31.2 km²) per person. There were 2,538 housing units at an average density of 35 square miles (91 km²) per unit. The racial makeup of the borough was 33.37% White, 1% Black or African American, 54.08% Native American (mostly Iñupiat), 4.51% Asian, 1.1% Pacific Islander, 0.71% from other races, and 5.23% from two or more races. 2.64% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.^[22] 42.84% reported speaking Iñupiaq or "Eskimo" at home, while 4.21% reported speaking Tagalog.^[23]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,385 people. The racial makeup was 17.09% White, 0.72% Black or African American, 68.38% Native American (mostly Iñupiat), 5.92% Asian, 0.84% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 6.55% from two or more races. 2.37% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,109 households, out of which 48.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% were married couples living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 1.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.45 and the average family size was 4.05.

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 38.2% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 18.10% from 45 to 64, and 4.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.90 males.

2020 Census

Races (alone or in combination with other) in North Slope Borough (2020 United States Census) ^[24]
Race	Percentage of population
White	34.97%
Black or African American	2.28%
American Indian or Alaska Native	57.76%
Asian	7.03%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	4.12%
Some other race	3.40%

Top ten most self-reported ancestries in North Slope Borough (American Community Survey 2020 five year estimates) ^[25] ^[26] ^[27] ^[28] ^[29] ^[30]
Ancestry	Percentage of population
Iñupiat	50.72%
Alaska Native tribes, not specified	5.82%
Filipino	5.21%
Black or African American	3.78%
Samoan	2.85%
Irish	2.45%
German	1.95%
Mexican	1.40%
Alaskan Athabaskan	0.94%
Native Hawaiian	0.78%
European	0.75%

Economics

"Among all North Slope Borough communities, a higher percentage of Nuiqsut households use subsistence resources for more than half of their diet."^[31]

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

Education

The borough has a single school district: North Slope Borough School District.^[32] It is also the largest school district in the United States by area, totaling 229,731 km² (88,700 sq mi) ^[33]