Nome Census Area is a census area located in the U.S. state of Alaska, mostly overlapping with the Seward Peninsula. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,046, up from 9,492 in 2010. It is part of the unorganized borough and therefore has no borough seat. Its largest community by far is the city of Nome.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the census area has a total area of , of which is land and (18.8%) is water. It also includes the large offshore St. Lawrence Island, which has about 14 percent of the census area's population and two of its larger cities in Gambell and Savoonga. Nome Census Area is the 7th largest county-equivalent in the state of Alaska.

Adjacent boroughs and census areas Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska - north Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska - east Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska - south Chukotsky District, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug - west

National protected areas Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (part of the Bering Sea unit) Besboro Island King Island Sledge Island Bering Land Bridge National Preserve (part) Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge (part) Andreafsky Wilderness (part)

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 10,046 and a median age of 29.8 years. 32.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 8.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older.

For every 100 females there were 111.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 115.1 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 14.2% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 75.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 8.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.9% of the population.

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

There were 3,030 households in the county, of which 46.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

+Nome Census Area, Alaska – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)1,2661,9871,7521,5111,39319.37%23.97%19.05%15.92%13.87%Black or African American alone (NH)2193527520.32%0.11%0.38%0.28%0.52%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)5,1746,1326,8817,1757,50879.15%73.99%74.83%75.59%74.74%Asian alone (NH)325162881090.49%0.62%0.67%0.93%1.09%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census295xx0.02%0.09%0.05%Other race alone (NH)17328250.26%0.04%0.02%0.08%0.25%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census370559768xx4.02%5.89%7.64%Hispanic or Latino (any race)27106921151860.41%1.28%1.00%1.21%1.85%Total6,5378,2889,1969,49210,046 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 9,196 people, 2,693 households, and 1,898 families living in the census area. The population density was . There were 3,649 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the census area was 19.32% White, 0.38% Black or African American, 75.20% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 4.21% from two or more races. 1.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.32% reported speaking a Yupik language at home, while 8.75% speak Inupiaq; a further 2.02% reported speaking "Eskimo", a term that covers both Yupik and Inupiaq.MLA Language Map Data Center

Of the 2,693 households, 45.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.40% were married couples living together, 15.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 23.20% of households were one person, and 3.30% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.33 and the average family size was 4.01.

In the census area 37.10% of the population was under the age of 18, 9.30% was from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 18.60% from 45 to 64, and 5.90% was 65 or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 117.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 122.70 males.

Communities Cities

Brevig Mission Diomede Elim Gambell Golovin Koyuk Nome Savoonga Shaktoolik Shishmaref St. Michael Stebbins Teller Unalakleet Wales White Mountain

Census-designated place Port Clarence

Unincorporated communities Haycock Solomon

Politics

Nome Census Area is somewhat of a national bellwether, having backed the national winner all but six times since statehood. In recent years, it has become significantly Democratic, like other places with a large Native majority. Downballot, Nome has been more consistently left-wing and voted for Democrats until Mike Dunleavy's 2022 landslide.

See also List of airports in the Nome Census Area Army Peak

References

External links Census Area map: Alaska Department of Labor