Prince of Wales–Hyder Census Area, Alaska

Prince of Wales–Hyder Census Area is a census area located in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,753, up from 5,559 in 2010. It is part of the unorganized borough and therefore has no borough seat. Its largest communities are Metlakatla and Craig. It was formerly part of the Census Bureau's Prince of Wales–Outer Ketchikan Census Area, but the name was changed in 2008 after most of the Outer Ketchikan (except the parts near the community of Hyder, and Annette Island) was lost to annexation by the Ketchikan Gateway Borough.

Geography


According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the census area has a total area of 7683 sqmi, of which 3923 sqmi is land and 3760 sqmi (48.9%) is water. The present-day Prince of Wales–Hyder Census Area includes Prince of Wales Island, the Hyder area as an exclave, and Annette Island, which is mostly surrounded by territory of Ketchikan Gateway Borough. Before the transfer of territory, Ketchikan Gateway Borough was enclaved within (surrounded by) the census area.

Adjacent boroughs and census areas

 * Petersburg Borough – north
 * City and Borough of Wrangell, Alaska – northeast
 * Ketchikan Gateway Borough – between Prince of Wales and Hyder
 * Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, British Columbia, Canada – east
 * North Coast Regional District, British Columbia, Canada – south (water boundary only, across Dixon Entrance to Hecate Strait)
 * Hoonah–Angoon Census Area, Alaska
 * City and borough of Sitka, Alaska

National protected areas

 * Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (part of Gulf of Alaska unit)
 * Forrester Island Wilderness
 * Tongass National Forest (part)
 * Karta River Wilderness
 * Maurille Islands Wilderness
 * South Prince of Wales Wilderness
 * Warren Island Wilderness

Politics
Prince of Wales Hyder is something of a bellwether in Alaska, having voted for the national winner in all but two elections since 1980.

Demographics
At the 2000 census there were 6,146 people, 2,262 households, and 1,535 families residing in the then-census area. The population density was undefined PD/sqmi. There were 3,055 housing units at an average density of undefined /mi2. The racial makeup of the census area was 53.12% White, 0.15% African American, 38.68% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 7.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.74% of any race. Of the 2,262 households, 37.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.80% were married couples living together, 10.00% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 32.10% were non-families. 26.00% of households were one person, and 5.00% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the census area the population was spread out, with 31.00% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 30.10% from 25 to 44, 25.80% from 45 to 64, and 5.70% 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 119.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 125.60 males.

Cities

 * Coffman Cove
 * Craig
 * Edna Bay
 * Hydaburg
 * Kake
 * Kasaan
 * Klawock
 * Port Alexander
 * Thorne Bay
 * Whale Pass

Census-designated places

 * Hollis
 * Hyder
 * Metlakatla
 * Naukati Bay
 * Point Baker
 * Port Protection

Unincorporated Community

 * Waterfall

Indian reservation

 * Annette Island Reserve