Prince Of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the census area has a total area of 7,683 square miles (19,900 km), of which 3,923 square miles (10,160 km) is land and 3,760 square miles (9,700 km) (48.9%) is water. The present-day Prince of Wales–Hyder Census Area includes Prince of Wales Island, the Hyder area as an exclave, and Annette Island, which is mostly surrounded by territory of Ketchikan Gateway Borough. Before the transfer of territory, Ketchikan Gateway Borough was enclaved within (surrounded by) the census area.
Adjacent boroughs and census areas
- Petersburg Borough – north
- City and Borough of Wrangell, Alaska – northeast
- Ketchikan Gateway Borough – between Prince of Wales and Hyder
- Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, British Columbia, Canada – east
- North Coast Regional District, British Columbia, Canada – south (water boundary only, across Dixon Entrance to Hecate Strait)
- Hoonah–Angoon Census Area, Alaska
- City and borough of Sitka, Alaska
National protected areas
- Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (part of Gulf of Alaska unit)
- Tongass National Forest (part)
Politics
Prince of Wales Hyder is something of a bellwether in Alaska, having voted for the national winner in all but two elections since 1980.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 1,930 | 43.99% | 2,321 | 52.91% | 136 | 3.10% |
| 2016 | 1,311 | 45.79% | 1,088 | 38.00% | 464 | 16.21% |
| 2012 | 1,045 | 42.10% | 1,298 | 52.30% | 139 | 5.60% |
| 2008 | 1,422 | 51.90% | 1,170 | 42.70% | 148 | 5.40% |
| 2004 | 1,182 | 60.49% | 678 | 34.70% | 94 | 4.81% |
| 2000 | 1,785 | 61.49% | 778 | 26.80% | 340 | 11.71% |
| 1996 | 1,331 | 47.98% | 890 | 32.08% | 553 | 19.94% |
| 1992 | 839 | 31.59% | 909 | 34.22% | 908 | 34.19% |
| 1988 | 1,097 | 50.88% | 942 | 43.69% | 117 | 5.43% |
| 1984 | 1,254 | 54.90% | 955 | 41.81% | 75 | 3.28% |
| 1980 | 741 | 46.90% | 599 | 37.91% | 240 | 15.19% |
| 1976 | 683 | 47.53% | 660 | 45.93% | 94 | 6.54% |
| 1972 | 632 | 50.28% | 562 | 44.71% | 63 | 5.01% |
| 1968 | 524 | 43.49% | 604 | 50.12% | 77 | 6.39% |
| 1964 | 221 | 19.32% | 923 | 80.68% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 473 | 45.52% | 566 | 54.48% | 0 | 0.00% |
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1,772 | — | |
| 1970 | 2,106 | 18.8% | |
| 1980 | 3,822 | 81.5% | |
| 1990 | 6,278 | 64.3% | |
| 2000 | 6,146 | −2.1% | |
| 2010 | 5,559 | −9.6% | |
| 2020 | 5,753 | 3.5% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 5,696 | −1.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 | |||
At the 2000 census there were 6,146 people, 2,262 households, and 1,535 families residing in the then-census area. The population density was 1.57 inhabitants per square mile (0.60/km). There were 3,055 housing units at an average density of 0.78 per square mile (0.30/km). The racial makeup of the census area was 53.12% White, 0.15% African American, 38.68% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 7.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.74% of any race. Of the 2,262 households, 37.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.80% were married couples living together, 10.00% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 32.10% were non-families. 26.00% of households were one person, and 5.00% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the census area the population was spread out, with 31.00% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 30.10% from 25 to 44, 25.80% from 45 to 64, and 5.70% 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 119.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 125.60 males.