Alaska local & borough government

The nearest corollary in Alaska to the county form of government found in most other U.S. states are boroughs, of which Alaska has 16 (including unified municipalities). Alaska has 149 incorporated cities, including 12 home rule cities, 21 first-class cities and 116 second-class cities. In addition, there are 246 federally recognized tribal governments and one federal Indian reservation. (See Alaska Native tribal governments.)

See also:

Alaska Natives > Alaska Native tribal governments
Legal research > Alaska local government codes & regulations

Government > State & local government

Government > Government-related associations

Borough governments
Alaska has 16 boroughs (including unified municipalities, created when when a borough and all cities located within it unite in a single unit of government, as has happened in Anchorage, Juneau, and Sitka), which act much like counties in other states. There are two classes of boroughs, both of which have mandatory powers of education, land use planning, and tax assessment and collection. Both classes have separately elected borough assemblies and school boards. The major difference between the first and second-class boroughs is in how they may acquire other powers. Additionally, there are 11 census areas in the state which have no borough government due to sparse population.

• Aleutians East Borough
• Municipality of Anchorage. The Municipality of Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality created in 1975 through the unification of the governments of the City of Anchorage and the Greater Anchorage Area Borough, making Anchorage one of the largest municipalities in the nation, encompassing nearly 1,955 square miles from Eklutna in the north to Girdwood and Portage in the south. As a unified government, the Municipality of Anchorage is responsible for services provided in other areas by both a city and a borough (or, in other states, by a city and a county). This site provides a complete guide to Anchorage's local government, including the Anchorage Assembly, Office of the Mayor, and Municipal Services.
• Bristol Bay Borough
• Denali Borough
• City and Borough of Juneau. A unified home rule municipality.
• Fairbanks North Star Borough
• Haines Borough
• Kenai Peninsula Borough
• Ketchikan Gateway Borough
• Kodiak Island Borough
• Lake and Peninsula Borough
• Matanuska-Susitna Borough
• North Slope Borough
• Northwest Arctic Borough
• City and Borough of Sitka. A unified home rule municipality.
• City and Borough of Yakutat
• "Boroughs of Alaska". Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development, 2001. General information about boroughs, with contact information for each borough.
• U.S. Counties: Alaska. This resource from the National Association of Counties provides census and other information about Alaska's 16 boroughs (including unified city/borough governments) and 11 census areas (with no borough governments).

Municipal & city governments
Alaska has 149 incorporated cities, including 12 home rule cities, 21 first-class cities and 116 second-class cities. First-class cities, generally in urban areas, have six-member councils and a separately elected mayor. Taxing authority is somewhat broader than for second-class cities and responsibilities are broader. A home rule city is a first-class city that has adopted a home rule charter, which allows the city to revise its ordinances to the extent not prohibited by law or charter. Second-class cities are communities fewer than 400 people governed by a seven-member council, one of whom serves as mayor. Taxing authority is limited. A unified municipality may be formed when a borough and all cities located within it unite in a single unit of government (as has happened in Anchorage, Juneau, and Sitka). In addition, there are 246 federally recognized tribal governments and one federal Indian reservation. (See Alaska Native tribal governments.)

• City of Bethel
• City of Dillingham
• City of Fairbanks
• City of Homer
• City of Kaktovik
• City of Kenai
• City of North Pole
• City of Petersburg
• City of Soldotna
• City of Unalaska
• City of Valdez
• City of Wrangell

Municipal & borough ordinances

• See Legal research > Alaska local government codes & regulations

Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development
Provides training, technical assistance, and financial support to Alaska communities in the form of local government assistance, community development, and energy development.

• Alaska Community Database: Community profiles for each community in Alaska provide a one-page summary of information about location, geography, climate, history, and facts about residents and community facilities and utilities; detailed community information provides census, economic, government, and other information for each community.
• Alaska Division of Community and Business Development
• Related Links to local government and economic development

Organizations

• Alaska Municipal League: Seeks to represent the unified voice of Alaska's municipalities to successfully influence favorable and state legislation, programs and policies; and to provide training and joint services to strengthen Alaska local governments. The Alaska Municipal League is a member organization of the National League of Cities.
• See also Government-related associations.

Other resources

• Alaska's Cities and Boroughs: How Can I Contact Them?: Phone number and address for local government entitites from the Alaska Division of Elections.