About Wasilla, Alaska

population

GROWTH IN THE MAT-SU BOROUGH

In the 1960’s the Mat-Su Borough had a population of just over 5,000 people. It was primarily a farming and mining community. As late as 1980, the population was only 17,816. Between 1980 and 1990, the Borough population more than doubled from 17,816 to 39,683. During the past  decade, the population grew 49 percent versus 13 percent statewide and 14 percent in Anchorage.

This works out to a growth rate of 4.2 percent annually, versus Anchorage’s 1.4 percent annual rate of growth.

No area of the state comes close to the growth rate in the Mat-Su Borough. Stronger growth has meant the Mat-Su Borough is now home to nine percent of the state’s population up from seven percent in 1990. The percentage of Alaska residents in the combined Anchorage/Mat-Su area population has been steadily growing, and is now equal to 51.7% of the total state population.

Net migration rates are also dramatically different for the Mat-Su Borough than for other areas of Alaska. During four of the past five years, the state has experienced negative net migration; in other words, more people are leaving the state than moving into it.  However, during the same period, the Mat-Su migration figures remained positive. It is no wonder that people and businesses seeking areas of growth are increasingly focusing on the Mat-Su area.

Surprisingly, growth exists in nearly every part of the Mat-Su Borough. At present, about half of the borough population is located in the "core area." This area encompasses approximately 100 square miles between and around the cities of Palmer and Wasilla.  

Other Borough residents tend to live along or near one of the two major highways which provide  access to Fairbanks and Anchorage, the Glenn Highway and the Parks Highway.

FEDERAL CENSUS DESIGNATED PLACES - POPULATION FIGURES

CDP = Census Designated Place
***CDP Boundaries changed between the 1990 and the 2000 Census***

Alaska Native Village Statistical Area Information on 1990 taken from the Department of Labor web site, Population estimates.