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. The borough seat and largest city, comprising nearly half 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."Your Government", North Slope Borough; accessed November 3, 2016.

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

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; Utqiaġvik 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.Assembly Members 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. 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

North Slope Borough has generally hosted competitive elections, it has only backed a Democrat for president three times since 1980.

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

Former mayor George Ahmaogak had billed the Borough for a family vacation in Hawaii. His wife, Maggie, was later convicted of embezzlement by the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission in 2015.Whaling panel's former director gets prison time, Alaska Journal of Commerce, November 30, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2018.

Edward Itta succeeded George Ahmaogak and served two terms, 2005–2011. In 2011, Charlotte Brower defeated Ahmaogak in a runoff election after his Hawaii vacation was revealed. 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.Lisa Demer, "North Slope Borough mayor ousted in recall election", Alaska Dispatch News, May 17, 2016; accessed November 3, 2016.

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

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.Associated Press, "Former mayor's brother-in-law elected North Slope Borough mayor", KTUU NewsHarry Brower retains mayoral seat in North Slope Borough runoff election, Alaska Dispatch News, Lisa Demer, November 8, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2018.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of , of which is land and (6.4%) is water. The borough is larger than 39 states.

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 Major highway

Due to the extreme north and wilderness, the only major road connecting the North Slope with the rest of the state is AK-11, which runs parallel to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. All roads in the North Slope Borough are closed to the public, unless it is maintained by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (Alaska DOT&PF)

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, the borough had 11,031 people and the median age was 33.4 years. 7.9% of residents were under the age of 5, 25.9% were under the age of 18, 65.7% were between the ages of 18 and 64, and 6.1% were aged 65 or older; 4.6% of the population were veterans and 6.3% were born outside of the United States.

62.4% of the population were male and 37.6% were female, yielding 163.2 males for every 100 females and 193.0 males for every 100 females age 18 and over.

There were 2,190 households, of which 51.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.36 people.

There were 2,619 housing units, of which 16.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 46.6% were owner-occupied and 53.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.2%.

The racial makeup was 27.9% White, 1.5% Black or African American, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 5.8% Asian, 2.9% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 1.1% from some other race, and 8.7% from two or more races, with Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprising 5.0% of the population.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

2010 census As of the census of 2010, 9,430 people, 2,109 households, and 1,524 families residing in the borough. The population density was per person. There were 2,538 housing units at an average density of 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. 42.84% reported speaking Iñupiaq or "Eskimo" at home, while 4.21% reported speaking Tagalog.

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 comprised individuals, and 1.9% had someone who was 65 or older living alone. The average household size was 3.45, and the average family size was 4.05.

The borough's population was spread out, with 38.2% under 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 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.

Racial and ethnic composition +North Slope Borough, Alaska – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)1,2283,0592,96416.63%32.44%26.87%Black or African American alone (NH)51911590.69%0.97%1.44%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)4,9825,0465,68067.46%53.51%51.49%Asian alone (NH)4354146365.89%4.39%5.77%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)591033210.80%1.09%2.91%Other race alone (NH)37300.04%0.07%0.27%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)4524616936.12%4.89%6.28%Hispanic or Latino (any race)1752495482.37%2.64%4.97%Total7,3859,43011,031 100.00%100.00%100.00%

+ Top ten most self-reported ancestries in North Slope Borough (American Community Survey 2020 five-year estimates) 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."North Slope Borough. 2016. NSB 2015 Economic Profile and Census. Barrow, AK. quoted in Willow Master Development Project Record of Decision, 2020 page 18

Communities Cities Anaktuvuk Pass Atqasuk Kaktovik Nuiqsut Point Hope Utqiagvik (Borough seat) Wainwright

Census-designated places Point Lay Prudhoe Bay

Unincorporated communities Alpine Deadhorse Sagwon Umiat

Education The borough has a single school district: North Slope Borough School District. – Text list It is also the largest school district in the United States by area, totaling See also

List of airports in Alaska Nalukataq Thetis Mound

References

External links

Borough map, 2000 census: Alaska Department of Labor Borough map, 2010 census: Alaska Department of Labor