Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska


Matanuska-Susitna Borough is a borough located in the U.S. state of Alaska. Its borough seat is Palmer, and the largest incorporated community is Wasilla. As of the 2020 census, the borough's population was 107,081.
The borough is part of the Anchorage Metropolitan Statistical Area, along with the municipality of Anchorage on its south.
The Mat-Su Borough is designated as so because it contains the entire Matanuska and Susitna Rivers. They empty into Cook Inlet, which is the southern border of the Mat-Su Borough. It is one of the few agricultural areas in Alaska.

Geography

As of the 2020 census, the population was 107,081, up from 88,995 in 2010. It is the fastest growing subdivision in Alaska.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of, of which is land and is water.

Adjacent boroughs and census areas

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the borough had a population of 107,081. The median age was 36.3 years. 27.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 107.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 106.8 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the borough was 77.5% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 6.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% Asian, 0.5% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.6% from some other race, and 11.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.9% of the population.
49.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 50.1% lived in rural areas.
There were 38,380 households in the borough, of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 19.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 51,077 housing units, of which 24.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.6% were owner-occupied and 24.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.0%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 59,322 people, 20,556 households, and 15,046 families residing in the borough. The population density was. There were 27,329 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the borough was 87.55% White, 0.69% Black or African American, 5.50% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.86% from other races, and 4.57% from two or more races. 2.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 20,556 households, out of which 42.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.80% were non-families. 20.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 32.20% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 5.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.10 males.
Schools in the borough are administered by the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District.

Politics and government

Republicans have carried the Matanuska-Susitna borough in every election except for 1964. Though the borough has aligned with the statewide presidential election winner in Alaska in every election since statehood, it has come to stand out as one of the most Republican areas in Alaska, alongside the neighboring, less populated Southeast Fairbanks Census Area. In 2020, around 20% of Donald Trump's vote share in the state came from this borough alone. Downballot, Matanuska-Susitna Borough has voted for Republican governors all but a handful of times.
Edna DeVries is the mayor of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. The borough has a strong-manager form of government. Mike Brown is the borough manager. Long-time Manager John Duffy retired in 2010.
Sarah Palin was previously the mayor of Wasilla, the largest city in the borough.

Communities

Cities

  • Houston
  • Palmer
  • Wasilla

    Census-designated places

  • Big Lake
  • Buffalo Soapstone
  • Butte
  • Chase
  • Chickaloon
  • Eureka Roadhouse
  • Farm Loop
  • Fishhook
  • Gateway
  • Glacier View
  • Knik River
  • Knik-Fairview
  • Lake Louise
  • Lazy Mountain
  • Meadow Lakes
  • North Lakes
  • Petersville
  • Point MacKenzie
  • Skwentna
  • South Lakes
  • Susitna
  • Susitna North
  • Sutton-Alpine
  • Talkeetna
  • Tanaina
  • Trapper Creek
  • Willow

    Unincorporated community

  • Alexander Creek

    Cyber attack

In July 2018, the borough's computer systems, including the library and animal shelter, were hit by a ransomware attack, forcing employees to do without computers, using electric typewriters where available. The borough declared a state of emergency and incurred over $2 million in costs. The method is thought to have been a targeted phishing e-mail; data left by the malware indicated Mat-Su was the 210th target attacked.

Education

The school district is Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District.