Divide and Conquer: Alaska's Bizarre Administrative Paradox The notion that U. S. states are divided into counties is not as universal as it seems.
In fact, Alaska's peculiar administrative setup stands out from the rest of America, raising more questions than answers about its motivations. Alaska's unique situation stems from its haphazard early development.
Unlike other states, which were carefully crafted by colonial powers or established through gradual expansion, Alaska was largely born out of land deals and purchase agreements with Russia in the late 19th century.