Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska

The borough has a total area of 24,752 square miles (64,110 km²), of which 16,075 square miles (41,630 km²) is land and 8,677 square miles (22,470 km²) (3.4%) is water.[5]

Bear Lake, Tutka Bay, and the Trail Lakes, have been the site of salmon enhancement activities. All three sites are managed by the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association[6] Some of the fish hatched at these facilities are released into the famous Homer fishing hole. Cook Inlet Keeper and the Cook Inlet Regional Citizen's Advisory Council are groups that attempt to influence public policy on the use of the areas resources.

At the 2000 census there were 49,700 people, 18,400 households, and 12,700 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1/km² (3/sq mi). There were 24,900 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 86% white, 7% Native American, 2% Hispanic or Latino (any race), and 4% from two or more races. Black or African Americans, Asians, and Pacific Islanders each were less than 1%.[12] Just under 1% were from other races combined. 1.92% reported speaking Russian at home, while 1.74% speak Spanish.[13]

Of the 18,400 households, 38% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55% were married couples living together, 9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31% were non-families. 25% of households were one person, and 5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.6 and the average family size was 3.2.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 30% under the age of 18, 7% from 18 to 24, 30% from 25 to 44, 26% from 45 to 64, and 7% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 109 males; for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 110 males.

There is a borough-wide government based in Soldotna, consisting of a strong mayor and an assembly of representatives from all areas of the borough. They collect sales and property taxes and provide services such as road maintenance, waste collection facilities, emergency services and major funding for public schools, along with mitigation of damage from spruce bark beetles that infested the borough in the late 1990s and early 2000s.[14] Incorporated towns also have their own local governments and city councils. The Alaska Department of Corrections operates the Spring Creek Correctional Center near Seward [15][16] and the Wildwood Correctional Complex near Kenai.

• 2006 Arctic Winter Games
• Kalgin Island
• List of airports in the Kenai Peninsula Borough
• State parks on the Kenai Peninsula

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska.

• Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska at Curlie
• Borough map, 2000 census: Alaska Department of Labor
• Borough map, 2010 census: Alaska Department of Labor