Mat-Su among fastest-growing boroughs

MAT-SU — Skagway edged the Mat-Su Borough in a tight race to claim the title of Alaska’s fastest growing region between July 1, 2013, and July 1, 2014.

The U.S. Census Bureau says Skagway Municipality’s population rose 2.4 percent during that period, while the Matanuska-Susitna Borough population grew by 2.1 percent.

Rounding out the top five regions are the Aleutians West Census Area with 1.0 percent growth, Wade Hampton Census Area, 0.7 percent and Kenai Peninsula Borough, 0.7 percent.

Yes, measured as a percent of the whole, Skagway wins. But in terms of numerical growth, the Mat-Su is still king — adding 1,990 people over the one-year period — more than any other borough in the state, according to the Census Bureau.

That’s more than four times the number of 410 people who moved into the Kenai Peninsula Borough in the same amount of time. Ketchikan Gateway Borough saw an increase of 92 residents, Bethel Census Area, 62, and Aleutians West Census Area tied with Wade Hampton Census Area, with each adding 58 people.

Anchorage Municipality is the most populous borough in Alaska, with 301,010 residents, followed by Fairbanks North Star Borough and Matanuska-Susitna Borough.