Bethel, Alaska
Bethel, Alaska
Mamterilleq Orutsaraq | |
|---|---|
Aerial view of Bethel on the Kuskokwim River | |
Location of Bethel within the state of Alaska | |
| Coordinates: 60°47′32″N 161°45′21″W / 60.79222°N 161.75583°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Unorganized |
| Census Area | Bethel |
| ANCSA regional corporation | Calista |
| Incorporated | August 1957 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager government |
| • Mayor | Rose Henderson |
| • State senator | Lyman Hoffman (D) |
| • State rep. | Nellie Jimmie (D) |
| Area | |
• Total | 50.11 sq mi (129.78 km2) |
| • Land | 44.51 sq mi (115.27 km2) |
| • Water | 5.60 sq mi (14.51 km2) |
| Elevation | 3 ft (1 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 6,325 |
• Estimate (2021) | 6,270 |
| • Density | 142.11/sq mi (54.87/km2) |
| • Alaska Native | 62% |
| Time zone | UTC-9 (AKST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-8 (AKDT) |
| ZIP code | 99559 |
| Area code | 907 |
| FIPS code | 02-06520 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1398908 |
| Website | cityofbethel.org |
Bethel (Central Yupik: Mamterilleq) is a city in the U.S. state of Alaska, located on the Kuskokwim River approximately 50 miles (80 km) from where the river flows into Kuskokwim Bay. It is the largest community in western Alaska and in the Unorganized Borough and the eighth-largest in the state. Bethel has a population of 6,325 as of the 2020 census, up from 6,080 in 2010.
Annual events in Bethel include the Kuskokwim 300 dogsled race; Camai, a Yup'ik dance festival held each spring; and the Bethel Fair held in August.