Search Chugach Census Area Birth Records

Chugach Census Area birth records are filed and stored at the state level by the Alaska Department of Health in Juneau. This census area was formed in 2019 from the old Valdez-Cordova Census Area. It covers the coastal communities of Valdez, Cordova, and Whittier. As an unincorporated area, there is no local government office that keeps birth records. To search for or order a Chugach Census Area birth record, you must go through the state. This page covers the steps, fees, and rules for getting a copy.

About Chugach Census Area Birth Records

The Chugach Census Area came into being in 2019. The U.S. Census Bureau split the old Valdez-Cordova Census Area into two parts. The coastal side became Chugach. The inland side became the Copper River Census Area. Chugach is not a borough. It has no local government. That means there is no clerk, no borough office, and no local vital records desk. Every Chugach Census Area birth record is handled by the state through the Health Analytics and Vital Records Section, or HAVRS. This office sits in Juneau. A second walk-in branch is in Anchorage.

The communities in the Chugach Census Area are Valdez, Cordova, and Whittier. Valdez is the biggest, with around 4,000 people. Cordova has about 2,300. Whittier is much smaller. None of these towns have a vital records office. Clinics and hospitals in the area file birth forms with the state within five days, as required by AS 18.50.160. The state then holds the record for life. To get a copy of a Chugach Census Area birth record, you order from HAVRS. The Alaska Department of Health vital records page explains how the system works.

Note: The Chugach Census Area has no local government office that issues birth certificates.

Ordering Chugach Census Area Birth Records

There are four ways to order a Chugach Census Area birth record. You can go online, send mail, send a fax, or walk in to a state office. Online is the fastest. Mail is the cheapest. Walk-in service gets you a same-day copy, but you have to travel to Anchorage or Juneau.

Online orders go through VitalChek. The state has approved VitalChek as its only online vendor for vital records. You fill out the order form, upload a copy of your photo ID, and pay by card. There is a service fee on top of the $30 state fee. Orders ship in two to three weeks. For residents of Valdez, Cordova, and Whittier, this is often the best choice because it saves a long trip.

Below is the VitalChek ordering portal that Chugach Census Area residents can use to request a birth certificate online.

The site walks you through each step and lets you track your order after you submit it.

Mail orders go to Health Analytics and Vital Records, P.O. Box 110675, Juneau, AK 99811-0675. Print the form, fill it out, sign it, and send it with a copy of your ID and a check or money order. Mail orders take two to three months. Fax orders go to (907) 465-3618 and take about the same time. The full set of forms is on the Alaska vital records orders page.

Walk-In Options for Chugach Residents

There is no vital records office in the Chugach Census Area. The two state walk-in offices are in Juneau and Anchorage. Anchorage is the closer one for most Chugach residents. The Anchorage office is at 3901 Old Seward Highway, Suite 101. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The phone is (907) 269-0991.

The Juneau office is at 5441 Commercial Boulevard. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The phone is (907) 465-3391. Both offices can issue a Chugach Census Area birth record the same day. Bring a valid photo ID and the fee. The state takes cash, checks, money orders, and cards at the walk-in offices. You do not need to visit the office where the birth was originally filed. All Alaska birth records are in one system.

The CDC where to write page for Alaska also points to the Juneau office as the main contact for all Alaska vital records. It lists the same mailing address and phone number.

Who Can Order Chugach Birth Records

Alaska is a closed-record state. That means recent Chugach Census Area birth records are not open to the public. Only people with a direct tie to the record can order a certified copy. The state checks your ID with each request to make sure you qualify.

You may order a Chugach Census Area birth record if you fit one of these groups:

• The person named on the record, age 14 or older with a photo or school ID
• A parent listed on the certificate
• A legal guardian with certified court papers
• A third party with a notarized consent letter
• An attorney or government agency on letterhead

Valid photo IDs include a driver's license, state ID, passport, military ID, Tribal or BIA card with photo, or a school ID for minors. Expired IDs are OK if less than one year past the date. Make the copy large and clear. Sign your name under it. Under Alaska Statute 18.50.310, birth records become public after 100 years. A Chugach Census Area birth record from 1926 or before is now open to anyone.

Chugach Census Area Birth Record Fees

A certified copy of a Chugach Census Area birth record costs $30. Each extra copy at the same time is $25. Heirloom birth certificates cost $55 for the first and $50 for each extra. Two designs by Alaska artists are sold through the state.

Other fees may apply. A name change or fix to a birth record is $60, which includes one new copy. An apostille for foreign use is $42. Special research costs $75 per hour. Make checks out to the Alaska Vital Records Office. The state warns you to use only one method per request to avoid double charges. Applications expire after 180 days if the state asks for more info and you do not send it.

Historical Chugach Area Birth Records

The Chugach Census Area is new, but the land it covers has a long history. Cordova and Valdez have been settled since the early 1900s. The state began to file births in 1913. Before that, church records and mission logs are the main source. Cordova birth, marriage, and death records from 1912 to 1960 are part of the FamilySearch Alaska vital records set. These were scanned in a project between FamilySearch and the Alaska State Archives.

The FamilySearch Alaska vital records wiki is a good place to start research on old Chugach Census Area birth records. It explains how to use church records, delayed birth filings, and state indexes. The Alaska State Archives has vital statistics from 1816 to 1998. More than 1.1 million pages have been scanned and put online for free.

Under Alaska Statute Title 18, Chapter 50, birth records become public 100 years after the date of birth. That means a birth record from the Cordova or Valdez area made in 1926 or before is now public. The Alaska State Archives in Juneau is the main place to dig into these older records. You can also check the FamilySearch Alaska vital records catalog for free digital scans.

Delayed birth records were made for people born before formal filing began. The state used church logs, school records, and family Bibles to build these delayed certificates. They carry the same legal weight as any other Chugach Census Area birth record.

Chugach Census Area Local Info

Valdez is the biggest town in the Chugach Census Area. Cordova is second. Whittier is small but serves as a gateway for cruise ships and rail travel. None of these towns have a vital records desk. Local health clinics in Valdez and Cordova help with the first paperwork when a baby is born, then send the form to the state. For a copy of a Chugach Census Area birth record, you must go through the state office.

The CountyOffice.org Alaska birth records page lists contact info for the state office and each census area. For Chugach Census Area birth records, call the state at (907) 465-3391 or the Anchorage office at (907) 269-0991. The Alaska record dates page shows the full timeline of when the state began to keep each type of vital record.

Nearby Boroughs and Census Areas

The Chugach Census Area borders other parts of south-central Alaska. Each one uses the same state system for birth records. You may find these pages helpful.

Copper River Census Area, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Anchorage Municipality.