The population of the Kenai Peninsula Borough grew by about 6.1% over the last 10 years, or from about 55,400 to about 58,800 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Municipality of Anchorage remains the state’s most populated area, with about 291,247 people — about 39.7% of the state’s total population of about 733,391 people. It’s almost triple the population of the next highest region — the Matanuska-Susitna Borough with about 107,081. The Mat-Su, however, saw the most population growth over the past 10 years — about 20.3%.
Alaska as a whole saw population growth of about 3.3% over the last 10 years — or by about 23,160 people.
The 2020 census kicked off last January in Toksook Bay, Alaska. Census data is used, among other things, to determine state legislative districts and how much funding communities receive for local services, according to Alaska Counts, a nonpartisan census education initiative.
Census data can be accessed online at data.census.gov, with more data expected to be released in September.
Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.
