Bradford County, Pennsylvania

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Bradford County
County
Towanda Main Street.jpg
Towanda is the county seat
Seal of Bradford County Pennsylvania.svg
Seal
Logo of Bradford County, Pennsylvania.svg
Logo
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Bradford County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania in United States.svg
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°47′N76°31′W / 41.79°N 76.52°W / 41.79; -76.52
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Pennsylvania.svg  Pennsylvania
FoundedFebruary 21, 1810
Named for William Bradford
Seat Towanda
Largest borough Sayre
Area
 • Total1,161 sq mi (3,010 km2)
 • Land1,147 sq mi (2,970 km2)
 • Water14 sq mi (40 km2)  1.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total59,967
 • Density52/sq mi (20/km2)
Congressional district 9th
Website www.bradfordcountypa.org
DesignatedJuly 10, 1982 [1]

Bradford County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, its population was 59,967. [2] Its county seat is Towanda. [3] The county was created on February 21, 1810, from parts of Lycoming and Luzerne Counties. Originally called Ontario County, it was reorganized and separated from Lycoming County on October 13, 1812, and renamed Bradford County for William Bradford, who had been a chief justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and United States Attorney General. [4] [5] The county is part of the Northeast Pennsylvania region of the state. [lower-alpha 1]

Contents

Bradford County comprises the Sayre, Pennsylvania micropolitan statistical area.

The county is not to be confused with the city of Bradford, which is in McKean County, 141 miles to the west via U.S. Route 6.

History

As noted above, Bradford County was originally named Ontario County. The county was reorganized and renamed in 1812, but a section of north Philadelphia in which major east–west streets are named after Pennsylvania counties retains an Ontario Street, between Westmoreland and Tioga Streets. Two short Bradford Streets are in northeast Philadelphia, about 4 miles from Ontario Street.

Bradford County is the ancestral home of the Tehotitachsae indigenous people of North America. Their principal village, Gohontoto, was on the site of the present Borough of Wyalusing.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,161 square miles (3,010 km2), of which 1,147 square miles (2,970 km2) are land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (1.2%) are covered by water. [6] It is the second-largest county in Pennsylvania by land area and third-largest by total area.

Climate

Bradford has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb) and average monthly temperatures in Towanda range from 24.5 °F in January to 70.6 °F in July. [7]

Adjacent counties

Bradford County is one of the few counties in the US to border two counties of the same name in different states (Tioga County in New York and Pennsylvania).

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1820 11,554—
1830 19,74670.9%
1840 32,76966.0%
1850 42,83130.7%
1860 48,73413.8%
1870 53,2049.2%
1880 58,54110.0%
1890 59,2331.2%
1900 59,4030.3%
1910 54,526−8.2%
1920 53,166−2.5%
1930 49,039−7.8%
1940 50,6153.2%
1950 51,7222.2%
1960 54,9256.2%
1970 57,9625.5%
1980 62,9198.6%
1990 60,967−3.1%
2000 62,7612.9%
2010 62,622−0.2%
2020 59,967−4.2%
[8]

As of the census [9] of 2000, there were 62,761 people, 24,453 households, and 17,312 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile (21 people/km2). There were 28,664 housing units at an average density of 25 units per square mile (9.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.94% White, 0.40% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 0.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.4% were of English, 19% German, 12.6% Irish and 6.4% Italian ancestry.

There were 24,453 households, out of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.40% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.50% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.

2020 census

Bradford County Racial Composition [10]
RaceNum.Perc.
White (NH)55,71793%
Black or African American (NH)3940.66%
Native American (NH)1170.2%
Asian (NH)4600.77%
Pacific Islander (NH)130.02%
Other/Mixed (NH)2,3934%
Hispanic or Latino 8731.45%

Micropolitan Statistical Area

The United States Office of Management and Budget [11] has designated Bradford County as the Sayre, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA). [12] As of the 2010 U.S. Census [13] the micropolitan area ranked 8th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 131st most populous in the United States with a population of 62,622.

Law and government

Bradford County is a Republican Party stronghold in presidential elections. The only two instances Republican presidential candidates have failed to win the county from 1880 to the present were when Theodore Roosevelt won it in 1912 by splitting the Republican vote & in 1964 when Lyndon B. Johnson won statewide & nationally in a landslide. Johnson is also the only Democrat to ever manage over forty percent of the county's vote. Even so, he won Bradford County only narrowly, by just over one percent.

Voter registration

Chart of Voter Registration

   Republican (64.56%)
   Democratic (22.22%)
   Independent (8.78%)
   Other Parties (4.44%)

As of February 7, 2024, there are 37,159 registered voters in the county. There are 23,988 registered Republicans, 8,258 registered Democrats, 3,264 voters registered non-affiliated voters, and 1,649 voters registered to other parties. [14]

United States presidential election results for Bradford County, Pennsylvania [15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 21,60071.45%8,04626.61%5861.94%
2016 18,14169.81%6,36924.51%1,4765.68%
2012 14,41061.21%8,62436.64%5062.15%
2008 15,05758.16%10,30639.81%5262.03%
2004 16,94266.05%8,59033.49%1200.47%
2000 14,66062.78%7,91133.88%7813.34%
1996 10,39349.47%7,73636.82%2,87913.70%
1992 10,22145.17%6,90330.51%5,50424.32%
1988 13,56866.72%6,63532.63%1340.66%
1984 14,80872.71%5,47426.88%850.42%
1980 13,13962.97%6,43930.86%1,2876.17%
1976 12,85161.10%7,91337.62%2701.28%
1972 15,05073.57%5,20425.44%2041.00%
1968 13,30863.20%6,37330.26%1,3776.54%
1964 10,43449.31%10,71450.63%140.07%
1960 16,25270.04%6,92029.82%330.14%
1956 15,39973.57%5,50226.29%300.14%
1952 15,89476.02%4,95923.72%550.26%
1948 11,78371.99%4,42127.01%1631.00%
1944 13,47270.40%5,52328.86%1420.74%
1940 14,82669.01%6,60530.74%530.25%
1936 16,64366.74%8,07832.39%2150.86%
1932 11,52163.34%5,97032.82%6973.83%
1928 17,25179.83%4,28119.81%770.36%
1924 11,62073.62%2,30714.62%1,85711.77%
1920 11,94775.14%2,82517.77%1,1287.09%
1916 6,17857.51%3,65534.03%9098.46%
1912 2,03418.56%2,96027.01%5,96354.42%
1908 7,99763.43%3,75829.81%8536.77%
1904 8,30369.23%2,86223.86%8286.90%
1900 8,62564.05%4,21131.27%6314.69%
1896 9,42266.04%4,38830.76%4573.20%
1892 8,13263.10%4,08031.66%6765.25%
1888 8,76263.00%4,55232.73%5944.27%
1884 8,40562.51%4,21631.36%8256.14%
1880 8,15259.65%4,95036.22%5644.13%

County commissioners

Other county officials

State senate

State House of Representatives

United States House of Representatives

United States Senate

Economy

Major employers are the natural gas industry, farming, logging, DuPont, Global-Tungsten and Powders (formerly Sylvania), Jeld-Wen, and Cargill Regional Beef, Wyalusing.

Education

Bradford County school districts Map of Bradford County Pennsylvania School Districts.png
Bradford County school districts

Public school districts

Other public school entities

Private schools

Data from EdNA database maintained by Pennsylvania Department of Education 2012

Libraries

Transportation

Public transportation is provided by BeST Transit.

Major highways

Recreation

There is one Pennsylvania state park in Bradford County.

Communities

Map of Bradford County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Boroughs (red) and Townships (white). Map of Bradford County Pennsylvania with Municipal and Township Labels.png
Map of Bradford County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Boroughs (red) and Townships (white).

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in only one case (Bloomsburg, Columbia County), towns. The following boroughs and townships are located in Bradford County:

Boroughs

Townships

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Bradford County. [13]

†county seat

RankCity/Town/etc.Population (2010 Census)Municipal typeIncorporated
1 Sayre 5,587Borough1891
2 Athens 3,367Borough1831
3† Towanda 2,919Borough1828
4 Canton 1,976Borough1864
5 Troy 1,354Borough
6 South Waverly 1,027Borough1878
7 Greens Landing 894CDP
8 Wyalusing 596Borough
9 Monroe 554Borough1855
10 Rome 441Borough1860
11 New Albany 356Borough1879
12 Le Raysville 290Borough1863
13 Sylvania 219Borough1853
14 Alba 157Borough1864
15 Burlington 156Borough1854

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Includes Luzerne, Lackawanna, Monroe, Schuylkill, Carbon, Pike, Bradford, Wayne, Susquehanna, Wyoming and Sullivan Counties
  1. ↑ "PHMC Historical Markers Search". Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on March 21, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Bradford County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ An outline history of Tioga and Bradford counties in Pennsylvania, Chemung, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins and Schuyler in New York: by townships, villages, boro's and cities, John L. Sexton. The Gazette Company, 1885, p67. 1885. p.  67 . Retrieved September 17, 2010. bradford county, pa. sexton.
  5. ↑ Bradford County History Archived July 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine , Bradford County, Pennsylvania. Accessed August 21, 2007
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  7. ↑ "PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University".
  8. ↑ "Census 2020".
  9. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  10. ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bradford County, Pennsylvania".
  11. ↑ "Office of Management and Budget - The White House" . Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Businesses that Received Forms in 2012: Pennsylvania - U.S. Census Bureau". Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  13. 1 2 "2010 U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  14. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State (February 5, 2024). "Voter registration statistics by county". dos.pa.gov. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  15. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Commissioners" . Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Towanda - Lackawanna College". www.lackawanna.edu. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2018.

41°47′N76°31′W / 41.79°N 76.52°W / 41.79; -76.52

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