Formed September 24, 1963 (4th borough)
Sitka City and Borough (8,448), Sitka (8,448)
The masonry courthouse is at Harbor and Lincoln. The borough was created on September 24, 1963 as the 4th borough. Sitka is named by Native Americans meaning “People outside of Shee” which is the Native American name for Baranof Island. Sitka Borough is a group of islands and part of Baranof Island. The City of Sitka is combined with the borough. The overall shape of the borough is a Native American arrowhead.
Sitka City and Borough government consists of a police chief, financial director, a mayor, district attorney, and a clerk (executive). It has 7 assembly members (legislative.) Five Superior Judges and Three District Judges serve the First Judicial District which includes Sitka City and Borough (judicial.) The borough is located in southeast Alaska in the islands off the mainland touching the Pacific Ocean. The center of the borough is 3 miles west of Sitka in Sitka Sound. The borough is surrounded clockwise by Hoonah-Angoon Census Area and Petersburg Borough and the Pacific Ocean.
The area of the borough is 2870 square miles. It is 24 of 30 in size. It ranks 11 out of 30 in population in the state. It has a density of 2.92 persons per square mile making it 6 out of 30 in the state. Sitka Borough has 100% of its population in its incorporated areas. Sitka and Sitka Borough are the same. There are no Interstates or United States Highways in the Borough. The borough and seat are pronounced SIT-KUH.
