An Electoral and Demographic Profile
Nicknamed the "Last Frontier," Alaska is unique among the US states due to its unusual daylight schedule and freezing. Its area is 663,267 square miles (mi²), making it the largest US state in the area. The second-largest state is Texas, at 268,581 square miles—less than half the size of Alaska.
Despite its size, Alaska is the third-least-populated state, home to only 740,339 residents as of 2023. As a result, Alaska makes up only 0.22% of the US population.
According to the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, Alaska's population includes 8,748 military veterans per 100,000 residents, the highest percentage of veterans of any state in the US. Alaska has the highest rate of gun violence of any US state, as well as the more pleasant distinctions of having the second-cleanest air quality and the lowest income inequality of any state.
Alaska has been divided administratively into 19 organized boroughs and one Unorganized Borough and contains 149 incorporated cities: four unified home-rule municipalities, which are considered both boroughs and cities; ten home-rule cities; nineteen first-class cities; and 116 second-class cities.
The racial composition of Alaska was the following:
White: 64.1% (Non-Hispanic White: 58.8%)
Black 3.7%
Asian 6.7% (4.4% Filipino, 0.3% Chinese, 0.2% Laotian, 0.2% Japanese, 0.1% Indian, 0.1% Vietnamese, 0.1% Thai)
American Indian or Alaskan Native 15.7%
Pacific Islander: 1.7% (0.7% Samoan, 0.1% Hawaiian, 0.1% Tongan)
Two or more races: 8.2%
Other races: 1.7%
The population was 7.7% of Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race).
The largest ancestry groups (which the Census defines as not including racial terms) in the state are:[
18.3% German
11.0% Irish
8.5% English
6.5% Norwegian
4.4% Filipino
3.8% French
3.7% Native American
3.3% Italian
3.0% Mexican
2.9% Scottish
2.7% Polish
2.5% Swedish
1.9% Dutch
1.4% Russian
Religion in Alaska (2014)
Protestant Christian (36%)
Roman Catholic (16%)
Orthodox Christian (5%)
Latter-day Saint (5%)
Non-Christian religions (6%)
Unaffiliated (31%)
Don't know/refused answer (1%)
Jewish – <1%
Buddhist- 1%
Islam – <1%
Hindu – <1%
Other world religions – 1%
Other faiths – 4%
Unaffiliated – 31%
Refused to answer – 1%
Alaska's relatively large Orthodox Christian population is notable. The large Eastern Orthodox population (49 parishes and up to 50,000 followers) stems from early Russian colonization of the Americas (which centered on Alaska) and missionary work among Alaska Natives.
In 2024, there will be fewer than 1,000 Muslims in the state. The Anchorage Muslim Community is diverse, with members including American-born Muslims, immigrants from about 50 countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa, and Native Alaskan converts. Anchorage also has more halal options than it used to, including three halal specialty shops. However, finding many ingredients can still be challenging, so some residents stock up over a month in advance, bring spices from their hometowns, or make dishes ahead of time.
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