Chugach

Formed January 2, 2019

Chugach Census Area (7,097), Juneau (32,255), Valdez (3,976)

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 Modern courthouse in Valdez serves this census area.  The facility is on Meals Avenue at Fidalgo Street.  Cordova also has a courthouse.  Valdez was named for Spanish Naval officer Antonio Valdes y Basan.  Chugach is the name of a Native American tribe.  The census area was combined with the current Copper River Census Area until January 2, 2019 and called “Valdez-Cordova.”  Chugach Census Area was the birthplace of 1 Alaska Governor, William A. Eagan.  All census areas were created in 1980 when the unorganized territory was divided into more manageable divisions. 

This census area takes up most of the southeast coast of the Alaska mainland not including the panhandle and borders the Pacific Ocean.  The overall shape is a bow facing down.  Chugach West Census Area government is conducted at the state level.  Twenty-six Superior Judges and Fifteen District Judges serve the Third Judicial District which includes the Chugach Census Area (judicial.)  A sheriff also serves the Census Area.  Valdez is located in the southern quarter of the census area and touches the Pacific Ocean.  Valdez is the largest city in the census area.  It is 56.0% of the census area population.  The center of the census area is Northeast of Valdez.  The census area is surrounded clockwise by Copper River Census Area and Yakutat Borough and the Pacific Ocean and Kenai Peninsula Borough, Municipality of Anchorage, and Matanuska-Susitna Borough. 

The area of the census area is 9530 square miles.  It is 14 of 30 in size.  It ranks 15 out of 30 in population in the state.  It has a density of 0.72 persons per square mile making it 15 out of 30 in the state.  Chugach Census Area has 96.6% of its population in its incorporated areas.  There are no Interstates or United States Highways in this census area.  The census area is pronounced CHU-GACH.