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Big Lake, Alaska
CDP
Aerial photograph of Big Lake in 1996
Location in Matanuska-Susitna Borough and the state of Alaska
Coordinates: 61°32′15″N 149°53′28″W / 61.53750°N 149.89111°W / 61.53750; -149.89111
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Borough	Matanuska-Susitna
Government
• Borough mayor	Edna DeVries
• State senators	Shelley Hughes (R) Mike Shower (R)
• State reps.	Kevin McCabe (R) Cathy Tilton (R)
Area
• Total	127.74 sq mi (330.84 km)
• Land	115.44 sq mi (298.98 km)
• Water	12.30 sq mi (31.86 km)
Elevation	144 ft (44 m)
Population
• Total	3,833
• Density	33.20/sq mi (12.82/km)
Time zone	UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-8 (AKDT)
ZIP code	99652
Area code	907
FIPS code	02-07070
GNIS feature ID	1866933

Big Lake (Dena'ina: K'enaka Bena)is a census-designated place (CDP) in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, United States. It is part of the Anchorage, Alaska Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,833 at the 2020 census, up from 3,350 in 2010.

Geography

Big Lake is located at 61°32′15″N 149°53′28″W / 61.53750°N 149.89111°W / 61.53750; -149.89111 (61.537449, -149.891104).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 144.8 square miles (375 km), of which, 131.9 square miles (342 km) of it is land and 12.9 square miles (33 km) of it (8.89%) is water.

It contains Big Lake Airport, a general use airport with a gravel runway.

Climate

Big Lake, Alaska experiences an average of 51.4 inches of snowfall per year, 109 precipitation days, 131 sunny days, and an average annual wind speed of 8.18 MPH.

Parks

The area is home to three Alaska State Parks facilities. Big Lake North State Recreation Site is a 19 acres (7.7 ha) park with a large campground, picnic areas, boat launch, and jetski rentals. Big Lake South State Recreation Site has a smaller campground, picnic sites, and boat launch. Winter activities in both parks include cross country skiing, ice fishing, and dog mushing.

The Rocky Lake State Recreation Site is a 49 acres (20 ha) park with a campground, picnic areas, and lake access.

Demographics

As of the 2010 census, Big Lake had a population of 3,350. As of the 2017 American Community Survey, it was estimated to have 3,136 residents, of whom 53.2% were male, 46.8% were female, 82.8% were white, 5.2% were Native American or Alaska Native, 0.7% were Asian, and 11.3% were two or more races. 5.4% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Big Lake

Big Lake first appeared on the 1960 U.S. Census as an unincorporated village. It was made a census-designated place (CDP) in 1980.

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,635 people, 971 households, and 647 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 20.0 inhabitants per square mile (7.7/km). There were 2,122 housing units at an average density of 16.1 per square mile (6.2/km). The racial makeup of the CDP was 87.13% White, 0.34% Black or African American, 7.32% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.87% from other races, and 4.02% from two or more races. 1.97% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 971 households, out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 27.5% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 118.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 125.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $43,382, and the median income for a family was $47,542. Males had a median income of $40,000 versus $30,139 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $19,285. About 9.8% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 1.0% of those age 65 or over.

Former City of Long Island (1965–1975)

Within Big Lake is the former short-lived incorporated city of Long Island, which existed from 1965–1975 and had just 7 residents on the 1970 census. It was located on the northeast side of Big Lake at 61°32′35″N 149°52′45″W / 61.54306°N 149.87917°W / 61.54306; -149.87917 (Long Island, Alaska). This is not to be confused with the former logging camp of Long Island.

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
2. Kari, James. "Dena'ina Qenaga -- Placenames". Dena'ina Qenaga Du'idnaghelnik. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
3. "2020 Census Data - Cities and Census Designated Places" (Web). State of Alaska, Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
5. "Climate in Big Lake, Alaska". Best Places. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
6. "Big Lake, AK Weather - USA.com™". www.usa.com. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
7. "weather.com". Retrieved October 17, 2012.
8. "Big Lake North State Recreation Site". dnr.alaska.gov. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
9. "Big Lake South State Recreation Site". dnr.alaska.gov. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
10. "Rocky Lake State Recreation Site". dnr.alaska.gov. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
11. Bureau, U. S. Census. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2020. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
12. Bureau, U. S. Census. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 4, 2020. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
13. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
14. "Number of Inhabitants" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
15. Balridge, Malcolm; Wright, Joseph A.; Dederick, Robert G. "Characteristics of the Population Number of Inhabitants Alaska" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
17. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
18. Brown, George Hay; Hagan, Robert; Taueber, Conrad; Levine, Daniel B.; Kaplan, David L. "1970 Census of Population" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
19. "City Governments in Alaska That Have Been Dissolved or Otherwise Ceased to Exist" (PDF). Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. April 29, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
20. "Domestic Names | U.S. Geological Survey". USGS. Retrieved August 10, 2022.

v t e Municipalities and communities of Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, United States
Borough seat: Palmer
Cities	Houston Palmer Wasilla
CDPs	Big Lake Buffalo Soapstone Butte Chase Chickaloon Eureka Roadhouse Farm Loop Fishhook Gateway Glacier View Knik-Fairview Knik River Lake Louise Lazy Mountain Meadow Lakes North Lakes Petersville Point MacKenzie Skwentna South Lakes Susitna Susitna North Sutton-Alpine Talkeetna Tanaina Trapper Creek Willow
Former CDPs	Lakes
Unincorporated communities	Alexander Creek Curry (ghost town)
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• Census-designated places in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska
• Census-designated places in Alaska
• Anchorage metropolitan area