If the old adage with “age comes wisdom” is true, then on average, Haines is the wisest of Alaska’s boroughs.
The state released 2017 data on population this week. Haines retained its superlative status as the oldest borough.
Haines Borough has the highest average age in Alaska.
That’s according to new data released by Alaska’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
“Haines is notably the oldest borough in the state with a median age of 49.3,” says Eddie Hunsinger, the State Demographer.
But that esteemed title is itself old news. Haines became the oldest borough sometime between 1970 and 1980, Hunsinger says — with a median age all of 29.
Today? “The statewide median age is 34.9, somewhat lower than Haines’ median age,” Hunsinger says.
State demographers expect Haines’ age will peak in 2035 at 50.3. Hunsinger says the current population structure has a lot to do with history.
“When bureaus and census areas gain populations, they’re typically younger people — young workers in their 20s to 40s. The timing of when populations expanded can have an effect.”
And as they get older, people move less, Hunsinger says.
But there’s also more fluidity in Alaska’s population than most places. About six percent of Alaska’s population both leaves and arrives each year, Hunsinger says. That turnover is even more dramatic in smaller communities.
“Haines Bureau, it’s even higher, because there’s in-state migration. It’s closer ten percent, arrives every year and leaves each year. So there’s this big turnover happening.”
There were more births than deaths in the Borough last year — 19 babies, compared to 15 people who died. But because of migration, the population still decreased a little, by about three percent.
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Headline is deceptive, we are not the oldest borough in Alaska, we are the borough with the oldest average population. Headline should read ” Haines Borough has the oldest population in Alaska.”
Is there actually a high percentage of retires and independently wealthy folks or is there a missed representation of online workers’ artists, and workers who leave town to work and are not counted as part of a local workforce?
Oldest borough- I think we were better off as a 3rd class borough- are we any better off as a community since that change? Lots of gov’t jobs created is all.
We were way better off as a third class borough. The current Haines Borough Government is a nightmare.
Why is this seemingly presented as a positive thing? It’s not an “esteemed” title. It’s a sign the town is dead and a retirement community, more or less, with people who move here at retirement age after making a fortune elsewhere.