Bethel

Formed in 1980

Bethel Census Area (18,670), Juneau (32,255), Bethel (6,327)

Like all Census Areas, it is part of the Unorganized Borough created in 1961 and is governed at the state level therefore the State Capitol is shown.  The wood and metal courthouse serves the census area.  The facility is located on Eddie Hoffman Highway.  Aniak also has a courthouse.  The census area and seat’s names come from the Biblical name meaning “House of God.”  The census area was created in 1980 when the territory not part of a specific borough was broken into manageable divisions.  The census area looks like a pistol pointing east.  The Village of Bethel is located in the extreme western part. 

Bethel Census Area government is conducted at the state level.  Four Superior Judges and Four District Judges serve the Fourth Judicial District which includes the Bethel Census Area.  (judicial.)  A sheriff also serves Bethel Census Area.  Bethel census area is located in western Alaska on the Bering Sea.  The center of the census area is 25 miles East-Northeast of Bethel nearer Akiachak.  The census area is surrounded clockwise by Kusilvak and Yukon-Koyukuk census areas and Matanuska-Susitna, Kenai Peninsula, and Lake and Peninsula boroughs and Dillingham Census Area and the Bering Sea.  

The area of the census area is 40627 square miles.  It is 3 of 30 in size.  It ranks 6 out of 30 in population in the state.  It has a density of 0.45 persons per square mile making it 19 out of 30 in the state.  Bethel Census Area has 71.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Bethel is in the western third of the census area.  Bethel is the largest city in the census area.  It is 35.7% of the census area population.  There are no Interstates or United States Highways in this Census Area.