Regional Partners

The NWCPHP serves six diverse states in the Northwest Region: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. Our Northwestern corner of the U.S. covers 31% of the U.S. land mass but only up to 10% of the total population. Each state in the region is unique, posing varying challenges to public health delivery. NWCPHP Coverage Area

For example:

In Alaska, the total population is 686,000. Forty percent of Alaska's citizens live in Anchorage, a city of 278,000 people. Over 50 percent of Alaska does not have roads connecting local villages and towns. According to the 2008 US Census estimates, 15.3% of Alaska's population is Alaska Native/American Indian, comprising roughly 230 federally recognized tribes. Alaska averages 1 person per square mile.

In Idaho, the total state population is 1.5 million. Boise is Idaho’s largest city and the state capital with over 198,000 people in the metropolitan area. In comparison, Idaho’s 9 other largest cities range in size from about 30,000 to 76,000. The 2008 US Census estimates reports that American Indian/Alaska Natives comprise 0.9% of the state’s population. Idaho averages 15.6 persons per square mile.

In Montana, the total population is about 967,000 people. According to the 2008 census estimate, 6.4% of Montana’s population identifies as American Indian or Alaska Native. Montana averages 6.2 persons per square mile.

In Oregon, the total population is about 3.9 million people. Portland is the largest city with nearly 500,000 people. About 19,000 American Indians/Alaska Natives are registered in the state’s 11 tribal nations. The state is divided by the Cascade mountain range into two distinct geographic and cultural entities, creating unique challenges in planning for and implementing public health programs.

In Washington, the total population is roughly 6.5 million people. Of these, 1.8 million people live in Seattle/King County, the state’s largest metropolitan area. Washington’s 29 tribal nations report about 46,000 registered members. As in Oregon, the state is divided by the Cascade mountain range into two distinct geographic and cultural entities, creating unique challenges in planning for and implementing public health programs.

In Wyoming, the total population is about 533,000 people. The largest city in Wyoming is Cheyenne with a population of roughly 55,000. The state has two small urbanized city/county areas but is largely comprised of small towns and rural/frontier areas. US Frontier Counties There is one Indian reservation in Wyoming, the Wind River Reservation, with headquarters at Fort Washakie. The reservation is the home of some 2,357 Shoshone and 3,501 Arapaho Indians. The US Census 2008 estimates reports that American Indians comprise 2.5% of the state’s population.

These small descriptions provide a glimpse into the region we serve. It is also helpful to look at how many counties in our region are considered frontier. Frontier areas are sparsely populated rural areas that are isolated from population centers and services (image at left from 2004). Definitions of frontier areas vary, with the most simplistic definition being areas having a population density of 7or fewer people per square mile.

Visit our partner pages to learn more about what public health looks like throughout our region, and examples of some of the work the NWCPHP has been involved with throughout our region.

RNSC Alaska Idaho Montana Oregon Washington Wyoming

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Navigation RNSC Alaska Idaho Montana NPAIHB Oregon Washington Wyoming	Info Regional Partners The NWCPHP serves six diverse states in the Northwest Region: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. Our Northwestern corner of the U.S. covers 31% of the U.S. land mass but only up to 10% of the total population. Each state in the region is unique, posing varying challenges to public health delivery. For example: In Alaska, the total population is 686,000. Forty percent of Alaska's citizens live in Anchorage, a city of 278,000 people. Over 50 percent of Alaska does not have roads connecting local villages and towns. According to the 2008 US Census estimates, 15.3% of Alaska's population is Alaska Native/American Indian, comprising roughly 230 federally recognized tribes. Alaska averages 1 person per square mile. In Idaho, the total state population is 1.5 million. Boise is Idaho’s largest city and the state capital with over 198,000 people in the metropolitan area. In comparison, Idaho’s 9 other largest cities range in size from about 30,000 to 76,000. The 2008 US Census estimates reports that American Indian/Alaska Natives comprise 0.9% of the state’s population. Idaho averages 15.6 persons per square mile. In Montana, the total population is about 967,000 people. According to the 2008 census estimate, 6.4% of Montana’s population identifies as American Indian or Alaska Native. Montana averages 6.2 persons per square mile. In Oregon, the total population is about 3.9 million people. Portland is the largest city with nearly 500,000 people. About 19,000 American Indians/Alaska Natives are registered in the state’s 11 tribal nations. The state is divided by the Cascade mountain range into two distinct geographic and cultural entities, creating unique challenges in planning for and implementing public health programs. In Washington, the total population is roughly 6.5 million people. Of these, 1.8 million people live in Seattle/King County, the state’s largest metropolitan area. Washington’s 29 tribal nations report about 46,000 registered members. As in Oregon, the state is divided by the Cascade mountain range into two distinct geographic and cultural entities, creating unique challenges in planning for and implementing public health programs. In Wyoming, the total population is about 533,000 people. The largest city in Wyoming is Cheyenne with a population of roughly 55,000. The state has two small urbanized city/county areas but is largely comprised of small towns and rural/frontier areas. There is one Indian reservation in Wyoming, the Wind River Reservation, with headquarters at Fort Washakie. The reservation is the home of some 2,357 Shoshone and 3,501 Arapaho Indians. The US Census 2008 estimates reports that American Indians comprise 2.5% of the state’s population. These small descriptions provide a glimpse into the region we serve. It is also helpful to look at how many counties in our region are considered frontier. Frontier areas are sparsely populated rural areas that are isolated from population centers and services (image at left from 2004). Definitions of frontier areas vary, with the most simplistic definition being areas having a population density of 7or fewer people per square mile. Visit our partner pages to learn more about what public health looks like throughout our region, and examples of some of the work the NWCPHP has been involved with throughout our region. RNSC Alaska Idaho Montana Oregon Washington Wyoming

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