Alaska Cities by Population 2026

Alaska’s local government system stands apart from most other U.S. states due to its vast, sparsely populated geography and reliance on boroughs instead of the typical county-based structure. This system allows for flexibility in governance, ensuring that both urban and remote regions have access to essential services.

There are 19 organized boroughs and 148 incorporated cities in Alaska, which play crucial roles in providing essential services. Larger cities, such as Anchorage and Juneau, offer comprehensive services, including public safety, education, and infrastructure management. Smaller towns focus on more limited functions tailored to their specific needs and populations, allowing for flexibility in governance.

Each of Alaska‘s organized boroughs functions similarly to counties in other states. These boroughs manage essential regional services such as law enforcement, infrastructure, education, and social programs. They operate under elected assemblies that make decisions on budgets, taxes, and public policies. For instance, borough police departments handle local law enforcement, while public infrastructure like roads and bridges is overseen by borough authorities.

Many boroughs also manage local school systems and provide social services, including housing and healthcare support. In contrast, nearly half of Alaska‘s total land area—approximately 49%—falls within the Unorganized Borough, which does not have a formal borough government. In these sparsely populated regions, the State of Alaska provides governance and services, such as public education and law enforcement, since local governance would be impractical.

A unique case is the Nome Census Area, which operates within the Unorganized Borough but has local governance through city-level municipalities like Nome. This city manages local services, including education, public safety, and infrastructure. Despite being geographically part of the Unorganized Borough, Nome enjoys a degree of self-governance at the municipal level.

Additionally, some boroughs, such as Anchorage, operate under a unified home-rule system. This means the borough and city governments are merged into a single entity. In a unified home-rule borough, the government oversees all municipal services—police, fire, roads, and schools—within its boundaries. This streamlining of governance reduces duplication of services and enhances overall efficiency.