Kenai Peninsula Borough is a borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,799, up from 55,400 in 2010. The borough seat is Soldotna, the largest city is Kenai, and the most populated community is the census-designated place of Kalifornsky.
The borough includes most of the Kenai Peninsula and a large area of the mainland of Alaska on the opposite side of Cook Inlet.
Geography
The borough has a total area of , of which is land and (3.4%) is water.
Adjacent boroughs and census areas
Bethel Census Area, Alaska - northwest
Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska - north
Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska - north
Chugach Census Area, Alaska - east
Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska - west
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska - south
National protected areas
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (part of Gulf of Alaska unit)
Chiswell Islands
Tuxedni Wilderness
Chugach National Forest (part)
Katmai National Park and Preserve (part)
Katmai Wilderness (part)
Kenai Fjords National Park
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
Kenai Wilderness
Lake Clark National Park and Preserve (part)
Lake Clark Wilderness (part)
Ecology
Bear Lake, Tutka Bay, and the Trail Lakes, have been the site of salmon enhancement activities. All three sites are managed by the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association Some of the fish hatched at these facilities are released into the famous Homer fishing hole. Cook Inlet Keeper and the Cook Inlet Regional Citizen's Advisory Council are groups that attempt to influence public policy on the use of the areas resources.
Demographics
At the 2000 census there were 49,700 people, 18,400 households, and 12,700 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1/km2 (3/sq mi). There were 24,900 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 86% white, 7% Native American, 2% Hispanic or Latino (any race), and 4% from two or more races. Black or African Americans, Asians, and Pacific Islanders each were less than 1%. Just under 1% were from other races combined. 1.92% reported speaking Russian at home, while 1.74% spoke Spanish.
Of the 18,400 households, 38% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55% were married couples living together, 9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31% were non-families. 25% of households were one person, and 5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.6 and the average family size was 3.2.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 30% under the age of 18, 7% from 18 to 24, 30% from 25 to 44, 26% from 45 to 64, and 7% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 109 males; for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 110 males.
Government and infrastructure
There is a borough-wide government based in Soldotna, consisting of a strong mayor and an assembly of representatives from all areas of the borough. They collect sales and property taxes and provide services such as road maintenance, waste collection facilities, emergency services and major funding for public schools, along with mitigation of damage from spruce bark beetles that infested the borough in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Incorporated towns also have their own local governments and city councils.
The Alaska Department of Corrections operates the Spring Creek Correctional Center near Seward and the Wildwood Correctional Complex near Kenai.
Communities
Cities
Homer
Kachemak
Kenai
Seldovia
Seward
Soldotna
Census-designated places
Anchor Point
Bear Creek
Beluga
Clam Gulch
Cohoe
Cooper Landing
Crown Point
Diamond Ridge
Fox River
Fritz Creek
Funny River
Halibut Cove
Happy Valley
Hope
Kalifornsky
Kasilof
Lowell Point
Moose Pass
Nanwalek
Nikiski
Nikolaevsk
Ninilchik
Point Possession
Port Graham
Primrose
Ridgeway
Salamatof
Seldovia Village
Sterling
Sunrise
Tyonek
Unincorporated communities
Jakolof Bay
Kachemak Selo
Lawing
Razdolna
Voznesenka
Ghost town
Portlock
