Chugach Census Area Death Index

The Chugach Census Area death index covers vital records for Cordova, Whittier, and the broader Prince William Sound region of southcentral Alaska. Because Chugach has no organized borough government, all death records for this area are held by the Alaska Health Analytics and Vital Records Section (HAVRS) in Juneau. If you need to search for a death record or request a certified copy of a death certificate from this part of Alaska, HAVRS is the single office you work with. Historical death records, including coroner's inquests from the early 20th century, are accessible through the Alaska State Archives and FamilySearch collections that cover the Cordova area going back to territorial times.

Chugach Census Area Death Records Access

The Chugach Census Area was created in 2019 when the City of Valdez withdrew from the former Valdez-Cordova Census Area. That split produced two new census areas: Chugach and Copper River. Chugach has no borough government, which means there is no local vital records office. All death certificates for deaths that occurred within Chugach, whether in Cordova, Whittier, or any smaller community along the coast, are registered and maintained by the state through HAVRS.

The Alaska Health Analytics and Vital Records Section (HAVRS) operates two walk-in offices. The Juneau office at 5441 Commercial Boulevard, Juneau, AK 99801 handles most requests and can be reached at (907) 465-3391. The Anchorage office at 3901 Old Seward Highway, Suite 101 serves residents in southcentral Alaska and can be reached at (907) 269-0991. Both offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Walk-in requests are often handled the same day, which is far faster than mail.

The Census Bureau's page for Chugach confirms the area's current geographic boundaries and the communities it includes. Knowing which census area a death occurred in matters when you fill out a request form, since the state uses location of death for record-keeping.

The U.S. Census Bureau's data for the Chugach Census Area documents the area's geographic boundaries, the communities it includes, and population estimates. This helps confirm which jurisdiction applies when researching a death that occurred in the Prince William Sound region.

If you prefer not to visit in person, mail or online options are available. VitalChek is the only vendor the state authorizes for online orders. Mail requests go to P.O. Box 110675, Juneau, AK 99811-0675. Include a legible copy of your photo ID and make checks payable to "Alaska Vital Records Office." Mail and fax requests take about 2 to 3 months. Online VitalChek orders typically arrive in 2 to 3 weeks.

City of Cordova Local Records

Cordova is the largest community in the Chugach Census Area and the regional hub for Prince William Sound. The city has its own municipal government, and the City of Cordova City Clerk's office maintains local administrative records, including meeting minutes, ordinances, and city permits. However, the City Clerk does not issue vital records. Death certificates for Cordova residents are registered with and maintained by the state HAVRS office, not the city.

The City of Cordova's official website provides municipal contact information, local government services, and links to city departments. It's a useful starting point for finding local administrative records that may supplement HAVRS death record research.

The Cordova area has a long history tied to the early 20th century copper mining industry. Goods and equipment passed through Cordova as part of the Copper River and Northwestern Railway route connecting the Kennecott copper mines to tidewater. That mining era, which ran from roughly 1908 to 1938, left behind a substantial community presence and some of the earliest local death records for the region. Many of those historical records are not part of the official HAVRS system but can be found through the Alaska State Archives.

The Cordova Times newspaper has served the city for decades and its archives contain obituaries and death notices that can fill in gaps when official records are missing. The paper covers Cordova and nearby communities in the Prince William Sound area. Obituary records in local papers are especially useful for deaths that occurred before statewide vital records registration was reliable.

Alaska State Archives: Cordova and Chugach Historical Records

The Alaska State Archives in Juneau holds territorial-era records that directly cover what is now the Chugach Census Area. One of the most significant collections for death research in this region is the Cordova Coroner's Inquests, which run from 1908 to 1959. These records document deaths that were investigated by the local coroner during the territorial period, covering the copper mining era, the fishing industry, and the early decades of Cordova's growth as a port community. Coroner's inquest files often contain far more detail than a basic death certificate. They include witness statements, physical descriptions, and a coroner's determination of cause and manner of death.

The Archives holds broader Vital Statistics records from 1816 to 1998 as a searchable collection. The Probate Index from 1883 to 1960 is another key resource for tracing the deaths of property owners in the region. Together with the coroner's inquest files, these collections make the State Archives the best starting point for deaths in the pre-1930 period, when formal registration was uneven across Alaska's coastal communities.

The Alaska State Archives genealogy page describes all available vital statistics collections, including coroner's inquests, probate records, and the 1816 to 1998 vital statistics index, which covers deaths in Cordova and surrounding areas of what is now the Chugach Census Area.

The Archives' partnership with FamilySearch digitized more than 1.1 million historical documents from Alaska. That effort produced a searchable online index with links to original certificate images. The FamilySearch Alaska death records collection runs from 1816 to 1959 and is free to search. When looking for deaths in Cordova or the broader Prince William Sound area before statehood, FamilySearch is a fast way to check whether a record was captured in the collection. Always look at the original image rather than the index entry, since transcriptions can miss details or contain errors.

Valdez and the 1964 Earthquake Historical Record

Valdez was formerly part of the same census area as Cordova before the 2019 split. The city of Valdez carries a significant historical death record connected to the 1964 Good Friday earthquake, one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded in North America. The earthquake and the tsunami it triggered killed dozens in Valdez. Many of those deaths were recorded through the state vital records system and the territorial coroner's office. For research into earthquake-related deaths in March 1964, the HAVRS system holds the official certificates, while the Archives holds supplementary inquest and investigative records.

Valdez relocated to a new site after the earthquake destroyed much of the original townsite. The old Valdez townsite records, including property records and some early administrative files, are held partly by the State Archives and partly through the Alaska ALRIS land records system. Property records can help confirm a person's presence and death in Valdez when no death certificate was filed, particularly for older deaths tied to the original townsite. ALRIS lets you search by parcel, owner name, or document type across the state recording district system.

Valdez now has its own city page in this system. Records for deaths in Valdez after the 2019 census area split go through the same HAVRS statewide system. The split was an administrative boundary change and had no effect on how vital records are issued or maintained.

Requesting Death Records for Prince William Sound Communities

Several small communities in the Chugach Census Area sit along the Prince William Sound coast, including Whittier, Tatitlek, and Chenega Bay. Deaths in any of these communities are registered with HAVRS just like deaths in Cordova. The process is the same regardless of community size. You need the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and the place of death. Your request must also include a government-issued photo ID copy that is enlarged and lightened enough to be clearly legible.

Under Alaska Statutes Title 18, Chapter 50 (AS 18.50), death records are public after 50 years from the date of death. Records less than 50 years old are restricted to the surviving spouse, parents, children, and siblings of the deceased, as well as attorneys and government agencies with legitimate need. If you are requesting a restricted record and you are not a direct family member, you must provide documentation explaining the relationship and the need.

The HAVRS vital records orders page has downloadable request forms, the current fee schedule, and step-by-step instructions for ordering Chugach Census Area death certificates by mail, in person, or through the VitalChek online portal.

The first certified copy costs $30. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $25 each. Veterans' families may be eligible for up to four free certified copies under the provisions added to AS 18.50.320. For records going back to the early 1900s in remote Prince William Sound communities, some requests may require extra lead time if the original record needs to be located in archival storage rather than the active filing system. HAVRS staff can advise on this when you call.

Nearby Boroughs and Census Areas

The Chugach Census Area borders several other Alaska jurisdictions. Each has its own local resources, though all vital records run through the state HAVRS system.

Cities in the Chugach Census Area

Valdez is the primary qualifying city in this region with a dedicated death index page. Cordova and Whittier are served through this census area page and through the statewide HAVRS system.