Sitka is a unified city-borough in Alaska, United States, on the outer coast of Baranof and Chichagof islands in the Alexander Archipelago, part of the Alaska Panhandle. It had a population of 8,458 at the 2020 census and covers 2,870.06 square miles (7,433.42 km2) of land — 4,815.14 square miles (12,471.16 km2) total including water — centred near 57°03′N 135°20′W.
Sitka is the county seat, and its postal code is 99835. The borough has one other incorporated city, Port Alexander, plus scattered unincorporated sites, giving two named communities in all. It sits in the Alaska time zone (UTC-9, UTC-8 during daylight saving) and carries FIPS code 02-220.
Towns & Villages in Sitka Borough
Sitka Borough has two named communities: the city of Sitka itself and the small fishing settlement of Port Alexander, both accessible only by air or sea — no road connects the borough to Alaska’s highway system.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sitka | City · seat | 8,458 | 99835 |
| Port Alexander | City | 78 | 99836 |
Sitka is a consolidated city-borough, so its population figure already covers the whole borough outside Port Alexander; Port Alexander remains a separate second-class city with its own municipal government on the southeastern tip of Baranof Island, about 65 miles south of Sitka by air.
ZIP Codes
- 99835 — Sitka (also serves the rest of the borough outside Port Alexander)
- 99836 — Port Alexander
Geography
The borough spans the western half of Baranof Island and the southern half of Chichagof Island, facing the open Pacific Ocean to the west and Sitka Sound and Peril Strait to the east. Terrain is mountainous temperate rainforest, with Mount Edgecumbe, a dormant volcano on nearby Kruzof Island, dominating the skyline west of town. Because Sitka is the largest city-borough in the United States by land area, its “neighbors” are other vast, sparsely populated boroughs and census areas rather than adjacent towns: Hoonah–Angoon Census Area lies to the north and northeast, and Prince of Wales–Hyder Census Area lies to the southeast, across open water and mountainous terrain in both cases — neither has a page on this site yet.
Demographics
Sitka Borough’s population was 8,458 at the 2020 census, making Sitka the state’s fifth most populous city. Nearly all residents live in or near the city of Sitka; Port Alexander, the only other incorporated place, had 78 residents. Alaska’s 2023 median household income was the state median of $88,121; borough-level income data was not verified for this profile. Given the borough’s enormous 4,815-square-mile total area, overall population density is under two people per square mile, though the inhabited area around Sitka itself is far denser.
Economy & Local Life
Commercial fishing and seafood processing anchor the local economy, employing roughly 18% of residents; Sitka is a major halibut, salmon, and herring port. The Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium is the borough’s largest employer, with about 482 employees, followed by the Sitka School District at roughly 250. The University of Alaska Southeast operates a Sitka campus, and Mount Edgecumbe High School, a state-run residential school, draws students from across rural Alaska. Tourism, centred on cruise-ship visits and sport fishing, is a significant seasonal industry.
History
The name Sitka comes from a Tlingit phrase meaning “people on the outside of Shee,” referring to Baranof Island. Russian traders established a fort near the site in 1799; a Tlingit attack destroyed it in 1802, and the Russians rebuilt a fortified settlement in 1804, naming it New Archangel and making it the capital of Russian America. The United States took formal possession of Alaska at a ceremony in Sitka on October 18, 1867. The city of Sitka incorporated on November 5, 1913, and merged with the surrounding borough as a unified city-borough in 1971.
Getting There
No highway connects Sitka Borough to the rest of Alaska; access is by air or the Alaska Marine Highway ferry system.
- Juneau — 95 miles northeast
- Ketchikan — 185 miles south
- Petersburg — 120 miles southeast
- Anchorage — 535 miles northwest
Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport (SIT), on Japonski Island just west of downtown, offers scheduled jet service; Port Alexander is reachable only by floatplane or boat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Sitka Borough?
It is on the outer Pacific coast of Southeast Alaska, covering the western half of Baranof Island and the southern half of Chichagof Island in the Alexander Archipelago.
What is the population of Sitka Borough?
8,458 at the 2020 census.
How big is Sitka Borough?
2,870.06 square miles (7,433.42 km2) of land and 4,815.14 square miles (12,471.16 km2) total, making it the largest city-borough by area in the United States.
What is the county seat of Sitka Borough?
Sitka is the seat and the borough’s only sizable community.
How many towns are in Sitka Borough?
Two: the city of Sitka and the smaller city of Port Alexander.
What ZIP codes are in Sitka Borough?
99835 for Sitka and 99836 for Port Alexander.
Is Sitka connected to Alaska’s road system?
No. There is no highway link; travel is by air or the state ferry system only.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Alaska.