Alaska

Bethel

18,666
2020 population
2000
first census record
3
census records

About Bethel

Bethel, Alaska, first appears in the United States federal census in 2000, when it recorded a population of 16,006. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 18,666.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Yupik-Athapaskan Border Raids, and 7 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202018,666
201017,013
200016,006
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Bethel

Military engagements that took place in Bethel, Alaska.

Yupik-Athapaskan Border Raids
1000

Historic places in Bethel

National Register of Historic Places listings in Bethel, Alaska.

First Mission House
Bethel
Sts. Constantine and Helen Chapel
Lime Village
St. Jacob's Church
Napaskiak
Kolmakov Redoubt Site
Sleetmute
St. Sergius Chapel
Chuathbaluk
St. Seraphim Chapel
Lower Kalskag
St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church
Kwethluk

Other counties in Alaska

Explore census history and historic records for more Alaska counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Bethel County, Alaska

This page charts the census history of Bethel County, Alaska. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Explore Alaska records

Alaskahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Military engagements ›Notable people from Alaska›

Frequently asked about Bethel

When does Bethel first appear in the US census?
Bethel, Alaska first appears in the federal census in 2000, with a recorded population of 16,006.
What is the population of Bethel?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Bethel had a recorded population of 18,666.
Were any battles fought in Bethel?
1 documented military engagement took place in Bethel, including Yupik-Athapaskan Border Raids.
How many historic places are in Bethel?
7 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Bethel, Alaska.
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