Bristol Bay Borough is a borough in Alaska, United States, on the northern shore of the bay of the same name, at the base of the Alaska Peninsula. It had a population of 844 at the 2020 census and covers 888 square miles (2,300 km2), including 384 square miles (990 km2) of water, centred near 58°45′N 156°50′W.
Naknek is the county seat (Alaska calls the unit a borough rather than a county), its postal code is 99633. The borough has no incorporated cities — its three communities are all unincorporated places, one time zone (Alaska Time, UTC−9, UTC−8 with daylight saving), and no county-equivalent FIPS subdivisions below the borough level.
Towns & Villages in Bristol Bay Borough
Bristol Bay Borough has three communities, all unincorporated and all clustered at the mouth of the Naknek River. There are no incorporated cities or townships in the borough.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naknek | Unincorp. · seat | 522 | 99633 |
| King Salmon | Unincorp. | 376 | 99613 |
| South Naknek | Unincorp. | 73 | 99670 |
King Salmon sits across the Naknek River from Naknek but is also the borough seat of the neighboring Lake and Peninsula Borough for certain regional purposes, since the King Salmon Airport and associated federal offices serve both boroughs. South Naknek lies across the river mouth from Naknek itself, reachable only by boat or small plane — there is no road connection.
ZIP Codes
- 99633 — Naknek (also serves the borough offices and Katmai National Park visitor facilities)
- 99613 — King Salmon (also serves King Salmon Airport)
- 99670 — South Naknek
All three ZIP codes are PO Box delivery only; there is no home mail delivery in the borough.
Geography
Bristol Bay Borough occupies a narrow strip of land along the lower Naknek River where it empties into Kvichak Bay, an arm of Bristol Bay itself. The terrain is flat tundra and wetlands, with the Naknek River and its salmon runs as the dominant natural feature. Katmai National Park and Preserve covers part of the borough’s eastern reach. Nearly half the borough’s area, 384 square miles, is water — rivers, lakes, and the bay shoreline.
The borough is entirely surrounded by other Alaska boroughs and census areas: the Lake and Peninsula Borough to the east, north, and south, and the Dillingham Census Area to the west. Neither neighboring page is currently live on this site.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 844 residents, down from 997 in 2010. Naknek (522) and King Salmon (376) are the borough’s two largest communities; South Naknek is much smaller at 73. The borough’s population is 43.8% White and 36.1% Alaska Native, reflecting its mixed Yup’ik and Alutiiq heritage alongside a seasonal commercial-fishing workforce. Median household income in Naknek runs well above the Alaska median of $88,121, while King Salmon’s is higher still; incomes here are boosted by short, intense commercial-fishing seasons. Population density is 1.67 people per square mile of land, among the lowest of any organized borough in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Commercial salmon fishing drives the borough’s economy: Bristol Bay is the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery, and Naknek’s processing docks and canneries employ a large seasonal workforce each summer that dwarfs the year-round population. King Salmon’s economy centers on King Salmon Airport, a regional hub for the National Park Service (Katmai) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, plus sport-fishing and bear-viewing lodges. The borough government itself, headquartered in Naknek, is a significant year-round employer.
History
Bristol Bay Borough was organized in 1962, becoming Alaska’s first borough under the state’s new local-government structure adopted after statehood. It took its name from the bay, itself named by British explorer Captain James Cook in 1778 for Admiral Augustus Keppel, Viscount Keppel, whose title referenced Bristol, England. Commercial salmon canning began at Naknek in the 1890s and has anchored the local economy for well over a century.
Getting There
No state highway system reaches Bristol Bay Borough; there is no road connection to the rest of Alaska. Access is by air or sea only.
- King Salmon Airport — scheduled jet service to Anchorage, about 290 miles northeast
- Naknek — 15 miles by road from King Salmon Airport (one of the few paved roads in the borough)
- South Naknek — across the river mouth from Naknek, boat or small-plane access only
- Dillingham — roughly 45 miles west by air, seat of the neighboring Dillingham Census Area
King Salmon Airport is the borough’s own commercial airport; Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is the nearest major hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bristol Bay Borough?
It is on the Alaska Peninsula in southwestern Alaska, where the Naknek River meets Kvichak Bay, an arm of Bristol Bay.
What is the population of Bristol Bay Borough?
844 people at the 2020 census, down from 997 in 2010.
How big is Bristol Bay Borough?
888 square miles (2,300 km2) total, including 384 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Bristol Bay Borough?
Naknek is the county seat.
How many towns are in Bristol Bay Borough?
Three unincorporated communities: Naknek, King Salmon, and South Naknek. None is an incorporated city.
What ZIP codes are in Bristol Bay Borough?
99633 (Naknek), 99613 (King Salmon), and 99670 (South Naknek).
Why is Bristol Bay Borough important economically?
It sits at the heart of the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery, and Naknek’s canneries employ thousands of seasonal workers each summer.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Alaska.