CentralAK
A town of 108, settled in 1925.
Is Central a good place to live?
Central’s January low is -23°F, below both Alaska’s towns (7°F) and U.S. towns (22°F). Of the 42 Alaska towns we compare, none has a higher age of the median resident than Central. 89% of the land in Central is conserved, above both Alaska’s towns (15%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). The biggest park or preserve is Birch Creek Wild and Scenic River, at 4,613 acres. Central has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
108 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Central: who provides what
Central is unincorporated, so Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area and regional agencies provide most services.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Central.
Conserved land covers nearly a third of Central
Central’s density of trails is 0.1 miles per square mile. 28 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Birch Creek Wild and Scenic River | — | 4,613 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Fewer young adults than Alaska overall
Central: 22% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more.
Ages · share of residents
Education · adults 25 and older
Women and men · all residents
Somewhere between 1% and 91% women
The Census survey reached too few of Central’s residents to say more: its margin here is ±45 points. Across Alaska, 47.5% of residents are women.
| Central | AK | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10.2% | 13.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 11.1% | 10.9% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 0% | 9.2% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 0% | 15.4% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 9.3% | 14.2% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 5.6% | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 36.1% | 11.9% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 16.7% | 9.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 11.1% | 4.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 5.9% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 64.7% | 28.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 0% | 24% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 7.1% | 9.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 22.4% | 19.8% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 0% | 11.8% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 100, single groups can be off by several points
Four seasons and pleasant summers: that is Central’s year
Only 4 of the 42 Alaska towns we compare have a higher July high than Central.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Central stands out in Alaska and nationally, with more of its adults who report frequent physical distress
No town among the 42 in Alaska we compare has a lower share of adults who feel lonely than Central. A third of adults say their health is fair or poor here. Among 42 Alaska towns, just 3 have a lower share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Central. Two figures for adults locally: 26% smoke cigarettes, 21% have diabetes.
| Central | Alaska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 18% | 19% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 16% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 8.8% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 13% | 14% |
| What stands out | Central | AK |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 10.7% | 17.6% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.8% | 68% |
| More adults with heart disease | 16.2% | 5.7% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Top of a moderate hazard risk in Central: cold waves
The natural-hazard score from FEMA for Central comes to 51 of 100. FEMA puts 78% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to cold waves, and 11% to avalanches.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Everything we know about Central
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Central; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Central residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across Alaska.
About Central
CDP in Alaska, United States
Central is a census-designated place (CDP) in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2020 census the population was 66, down from 96 in 2010. Every February, Central hosts a checkpoint for the long-distance Yukon Quest sled dog race.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 249 sq mi
- Elevation
- 942 ft
- ZIP code
- 99730
Questions about Central
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Central, AK a good place to live?
Central has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.