Centre County | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 40°55′N77°49′W / 40.91°N 77.82°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Pennsylvania |
Founded | February 13, 1800 |
Named for | Centre Furnace, the first industrial facility in the area |
Seat | Bellefonte |
Largest borough | State College |
Area | |
• Total | 1,113 sq mi (2,880 km2) |
• Land | 1,110 sq mi (2,900 km2) |
• Water | 3.0 sq mi (8 km2) 0.3% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 158,172 |
• Density | 147/sq mi (57/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Congressional district | 15th |
Website | www |
Designated | May 10, 1982 [1] |
Centre County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 158,172. [2] Its county seat is Bellefonte. [3] Centre County comprises the State College, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county is part of the Central Pennsylvania region of the state. [a]
The lands of the future Centre County were first recorded by James Potter in 1764. Potter, having reached the top of Nittany Mountain, and "...seeing the prairies and noble forest beneath him, cried out to his attendant, 'By heavens, Thompson, I have discovered an empire!'" [4] Centre County was created on February 13, 1800, by Act 2092 of the Pennsylvania Legislature from parts of Huntingdon, Lycoming, Mifflin, and Northumberland counties. The Act stated that its inhabitants “labour under great hardships, by reason of their great distance from the present seats of justice, and the public offices” of their current counties. [5] Its population was 4,112. Centre was among ten new counties carved from the existing twenty-six in early 1800. The county was named for its central location in the state. [6] (The American spelling of ‘center’ was yet to be popularized by Noah Webster’s dictionaries, the first edition of which appeared in 1806.)
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,113 square miles (2,880 km2), of which 1,110 square miles (2,900 km2) is land and 3.0 square miles (7.8 km2) (0.3%) is water. [7] Centre County is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission, [8] and it is identified as part of the "Midlands" by Colin Woodard in his book American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America . [9] It is the fifth-largest county in Pennsylvania by area and uses area code 814.
Centre County has a humid continental climate (Dfb/Dfa at lower elevations).
State College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1810 | 10,681 | — | |
1820 | 13,796 | 29.2% | |
1830 | 18,879 | 36.8% | |
1840 | 20,492 | 8.5% | |
1850 | 23,355 | 14.0% | |
1860 | 27,000 | 15.6% | |
1870 | 34,418 | 27.5% | |
1880 | 37,922 | 10.2% | |
1890 | 43,269 | 14.1% | |
1900 | 42,894 | −0.9% | |
1910 | 43,424 | 1.2% | |
1920 | 44,304 | 2.0% | |
1930 | 46,294 | 4.5% | |
1940 | 52,608 | 13.6% | |
1950 | 65,922 | 25.3% | |
1960 | 78,580 | 19.2% | |
1970 | 99,267 | 26.3% | |
1980 | 112,760 | 13.6% | |
1990 | 123,786 | 9.8% | |
2000 | 135,760 | 9.7% | |
2010 | 153,990 | 13.4% | |
2020 | 158,172 | 2.7% | |
[11] |
As of the 2010 census, [12] there were 153,990 people, 57,573 households, and 31,256 families residing in the county. The population density was 139 people per square mile (54 people/km2). There were 63,297 housing units at an average density of 57 units per square mile (22/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.4% White, 3.0% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 5.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. 2.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 57,573 households, out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.7% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the county, 15.9% of the population was under the age of 18, 28.9% was from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 107.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.1 males.
Race | Count | Percent |
---|---|---|
White (non-hispanic) | 129,668 | 82% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 5,306 | 3.35% |
Native American (non-Hispanic) | 120 | 0.08% |
Asian (non-Hispanic) | 11,373 | 7.2% |
Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic) | 39 | 0.02% |
Other/Mixed (non-Hispanic) | 6,015 | 3.8% |
Hispanic or Latino | 5,651 | 3.6% |
The United States Office of Management and Budget [14] has designated Centre County as the State College, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of the 2010 U.S. Census [15] the metropolitan area ranked 13th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 259th most populous in the United States with a population of 155,403. Centre County is also a part of the larger State College–DuBois, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which combines the populations of Centre County as well as Clearfield County to the west. The Combined Statistical Area ranked ninth in the State of Pennsylvania and 123rd most populous in the United States with a population of 236,577.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2024 | 38,829 | 47.85% | 41,119 | 50.67% | 1,205 | 1.48% |
2020 | 36,372 | 46.70% | 40,055 | 51.42% | 1,464 | 1.88% |
2016 | 35,274 | 45.63% | 37,088 | 47.97% | 4,945 | 6.40% |
2012 | 34,001 | 48.65% | 34,176 | 48.90% | 1,709 | 2.45% |
2008 | 32,992 | 43.35% | 41,950 | 55.12% | 1,169 | 1.54% |
2004 | 33,133 | 51.47% | 30,733 | 47.74% | 508 | 0.79% |
2000 | 26,172 | 52.79% | 21,409 | 43.19% | 1,994 | 4.02% |
1996 | 20,935 | 44.71% | 21,145 | 45.16% | 4,746 | 10.14% |
1992 | 20,478 | 39.98% | 21,177 | 41.34% | 9,570 | 18.68% |
1988 | 23,875 | 56.14% | 18,357 | 43.17% | 295 | 0.69% |
1984 | 27,802 | 62.85% | 16,194 | 36.61% | 240 | 0.54% |
1980 | 20,605 | 48.33% | 15,987 | 37.50% | 6,039 | 14.17% |
1976 | 21,177 | 52.37% | 17,867 | 44.18% | 1,393 | 3.44% |
1972 | 20,683 | 60.48% | 13,194 | 38.58% | 320 | 0.94% |
1968 | 15,865 | 55.61% | 11,163 | 39.13% | 1,499 | 5.25% |
1964 | 9,481 | 36.19% | 16,556 | 63.20% | 158 | 0.60% |
1960 | 18,357 | 67.98% | 8,601 | 31.85% | 46 | 0.17% |
1956 | 15,412 | 67.18% | 7,483 | 32.62% | 45 | 0.20% |
1952 | 14,700 | 66.31% | 7,391 | 33.34% | 77 | 0.35% |
1948 | 10,416 | 61.52% | 6,515 | 38.48% | 0 | 0.00% |
1944 | 10,048 | 55.08% | 8,064 | 44.21% | 130 | 0.71% |
1940 | 10,665 | 51.75% | 9,869 | 47.88% | 76 | 0.37% |
1936 | 9,869 | 45.24% | 11,734 | 53.79% | 211 | 0.97% |
1932 | 8,264 | 52.55% | 7,053 | 44.85% | 409 | 2.60% |
1928 | 12,005 | 77.17% | 3,431 | 22.05% | 121 | 0.78% |
1924 | 7,723 | 59.13% | 4,443 | 34.01% | 896 | 6.86% |
1920 | 7,615 | 57.82% | 4,783 | 36.31% | 773 | 5.87% |
1916 | 4,392 | 50.02% | 4,120 | 46.92% | 269 | 3.06% |
1912 | 1,507 | 19.01% | 3,445 | 43.46% | 2,974 | 37.52% |
1908 | 4,927 | 53.12% | 3,998 | 43.10% | 351 | 3.78% |
1904 | 5,291 | 55.18% | 4,015 | 41.87% | 283 | 2.95% |
1900 | 4,684 | 50.64% | 4,339 | 46.91% | 226 | 2.44% |
1896 | 4,880 | 49.93% | 4,546 | 46.51% | 348 | 3.56% |
1892 | 3,698 | 42.72% | 4,624 | 53.42% | 334 | 3.86% |
1888 | 4,574 | 48.29% | 4,712 | 49.75% | 185 | 1.95% |
1884 | 4,057 | 46.66% | 4,495 | 51.70% | 143 | 1.64% |
1880 | 3,602 | 43.30% | 4,598 | 55.28% | 118 | 1.42% |
Centre County had for many years been a strongly Republican county, like most of rural Pennsylvania. In the early 21st century, however, it has been more competitive. In 2000 George W. Bush defeated Al Gore with 52% of the vote to Gore's 43%. In 2004 Bush won the county by a much smaller margin. Bush won 51% to Kerry's 47%, a margin of only 4%. In 2006, Governor Ed Rendell and Bob Casey Jr. both carried Centre, and Democrat Scott Conklin decisively won the State House seat left open by the retirement of Republican Lynn Herman in the 77th district. In 2008, Democrats captured the countywide registration edge, Barack Obama carried the county with 55% of the vote to McCain's 44%, and Democratic statewide winners (Rob McCord for Treasurer and Jack Wagner for Auditor General also carried Centre).
In 2012, Barack Obama won the county in his reelection campaign by a very narrow margin, 48.9% to 48.65%, a difference of just 175 votes. [19] In 2016, Democrat Hillary Clinton beat Republican nominee Donald Trump 47.76% to 45.86%. [20] In that same election, incumbent Republican Senator Pat Toomey beat Democratic opponent Katie McGinty 47.91% to 46.2% in the county. [20]
As of February 7, 2024, there were 100,829 registered voters in Centre County. [21]
School districts include: [22]
As reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Education 2010.
State College Regional Airport operates daily commercial and general aviation flights.
There are six Pennsylvania state parks in Centre County.
Centre County's main daily newspaper is the Centre Daily Times (part of the McClatchy Company chain). Alternative newspapers include the Centre County Gazette and State College City Guide. Newspapers of Pennsylvania State University's main campus include the student-run Daily Collegian . [23]
Numerous magazines are also published including Town & Gown, [24] State College Magazine, [25] Good Life in Happy Valley, [26] Blue White Illustrated, Pennsylvania Business Central, and Voices of Central Pennsylvania. [27]
The radio market of Centre County is ranked #257 in the nation. Some of the more popular stations include WPSU, WKPS, WZWW, WLEJ, WFGE, WNLI, WRSC-FM, WBHV, WOWY, and WBUS.
Centre County is part of the Johnstown/Altoona/State College television market, which is currently ranked #99 in the nation. Television stations broadcasting out of State College include WPSU (PBS) and WHVL-LD (MyNetworkTV) as well as C-NET, Centre County's Government and Education Access Television Network, which broadcasts on two channels: CGTV (Government Access TV) and CETV (Educational Access TV). Johnstown-based WJAC-TV (NBC) and Altoona-based WTAJ-TV (CBS) also maintain satellite studios and offices here.
Under Pennsylvania law, there are five types of incorporated municipalities: cities, home rule municipalities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following municipalities, boroughs and townships are in Centre County:
Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may also be listed here.
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Centre County. [15]
†county seat
Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2010 Census) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | State College | Borough | 42,034 |
2 | Park Forest Village | CDP | 9,660 |
3 | † Bellefonte | Borough | 6,187 |
4 | Boalsburg | CDP | 3,722 |
5 | Pleasant Gap | CDP | 2,879 |
6 | Philipsburg | Borough | 2,770 |
7 | Stormstown | CDP | 2,366 |
8 | Lemont | CDP | 2,270 |
9 | Toftrees | CDP | 2,053 |
10 | Zion | CDP | 2,030 |
11 | Houserville | CDP | 1,814 |
12 | Pine Grove Mills | CDP | 1,502 |
13 | Centre Hall | Borough | 1,265 |
14 | Milesburg | Borough | 1,123 |
15 | Millheim | Borough | 904 |
16 | Ramblewood | CDP | 849 |
17 | Snow Shoe | Borough | 765 |
18 | Blanchard | CDP | 740 |
19 | Howard | Borough | 720 |
20 | North Philipsburg | CDP | 660 |
21 | Nittany | CDP | 658 |
22 | Clarence | CDP | 626 |
23 | Aaronsburg | CDP | 613 |
24 | Port Matilda | Borough | 606 |
25 | Mingoville | CDP | 503 |
26 | Rebersburg | CDP | 494 |
27 | Snydertown | CDP | 483 |
28 | South Philipsburg | CDP | 410 |
29 | Sandy Ridge | CDP | 407 |
30 | Eagleville | CDP | 324 |
31 | Unionville | Borough | 291 |
32 | Moshannon | CDP | 281 |
33 | Spring Mills | CDP | 268 |
34 | Coburn | CDP | 236 |
35 | Baileyville | CDP | 201 |
36 | Pine Glen | CDP | 190 |
37 | Madisonburg | CDP | 168 |
38 | Julian | CDP | 152 |
39 | Monument | CDP | 150 |
40 | Woodward | CDP | 110 |
41 | Hublersburg | CDP | 104 |
42 | Mount Eagle | CDP | 103 |
T-43 | Jacksonville | CDP | 95 |
T-43 | Orviston | CDP | 95 |
Potter County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, its population was 16,396, making it the fifth-least populous county in Pennsylvania. Its county seat is Coudersport. The county was created in 1804 and later organized in 1836. It is named after James Potter, who was a general from Pennsylvania in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. Due to its remoteness and natural environment, it has been nicknamed “God's Country”.
Mifflin County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 46,143. Its county seat is Lewistown. The county was created on September 19, 1789, from parts of Cumberland County and Northumberland County. It was named for Thomas Mifflin, the first Governor of Pennsylvania. Mifflin County comprises the Lewistown, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area. The county is part of the Central Pennsylvania region of the state.
Huntingdon County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 44,092. Its county seat is Huntingdon. The county was created on September 20, 1787, mainly from the northern part of Bedford County, plus an addition of territory on the east from Cumberland County. The county is part of the Southwest Pennsylvania region of the state.
Franklin County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 155,932. Its county seat is Chambersburg.
Dauphin County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 286,401. The county seat is Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's state capital and ninth-most populous city. The county was created on March 4, 1785, from part of Lancaster County and was named after Louis Joseph, Dauphin of France, the first son of King Louis XVI. The county is part of the South Central Pennsylvania region of the state.
Clearfield County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 80,562. The county seat is Clearfield, and the largest city is DuBois. The county was created in 1804 and later organized in 1822.
Clarion County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,241. Its county seat is Clarion. The county was formed on March 11, 1839, from parts of Venango and Armstrong counties. Clarion County is entirely defined as part of the Pittsburgh media market. The county is part of the North Central Pennsylvania region of the state.
Bradford County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, its population was 59,967. Its county seat is Towanda. 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. The county is part of the Northeast Pennsylvania region of the state.
Blair County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 122,822. Its county seat is Hollidaysburg, and its largest city is Altoona. The county was created on February 26, 1846, from parts of Huntingdon and Bedford counties. The county is part of the Southwest Pennsylvania region of the state.
Bellefonte is a borough in and the county seat of Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is approximately 12 miles northeast of State College and is part of the State College, Pennsylvania metropolitan statistical area. The borough population was 6,187 at the 2010 census. It houses the Centre County Courthouse, located downtown on the diamond. Bellefonte has also been home to five of Pennsylvania's governors, as well as two other governors. All seven are commemorated in a monument located at Talleyrand Park.
College Township is a township in Centre County, Pennsylvania. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania metropolitan statistical area. The population was 10,762 at the 2020 census, which was a 13% increase from the 2010 census. College Township was formed on November 25, 1875, from Harris Township. The most notable feature of the township is Mount Nittany, the southwestern portion of which is located within the township's northeastern section near the village of Lemont.
Lemont is a census-designated place (CDP) in College Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is the location of the only remaining granary in Pennsylvania. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,270 at the 2010 census. It is part of Happy Valley and the larger Nittany Valley.
Rebersburg is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. Rebersburg is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 494 at the 2010 census and includes many Amish in the area.
State College is a borough and home rule municipality in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a college town, dominated economically, culturally, and demographically by the presence of the University Park campus of The Pennsylvania State University.
Happy Valley, Pennsylvania is a region of Centre County that contains the borough of State College, and the townships of College, Harris, Patton, and Ferguson. Collectively, these municipalities comprise the Centre Region Council of Governments. The region is bounded by Nittany Valley to the northeast, Penns Valley to the east, and Bald Eagle Valley to the north and west. Centre County is the State College, Pennsylvania, metropolitan statistical area, which is part of the State College–DuBois, PA Combined Statistical Area.
Cumberland County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 259,469. Its county seat is Carlisle. The county is part of the South Central Pennsylvania region of the state.
Penns Valley is an eroded anticlinal valley of the Pennsylvania ridge and valley geologic region of the Appalachian Mountain range. The valley is located in southern Centre County, Pennsylvania. Along with the Nittany Valley to the north and east, it is part of the larger Nittany Anticlinorium. It is bordered by Mount Nittany to the north, the Seven Mountains range to the south, and connects to the larger Nittany Valley to the west. There are two smaller subordinate valleys typically associated with the greater valley: Georges Valley in the south, separated by Egg Hill, and Brush Valley in the north, separated by Brush Mountain.
Jacksonville is an unincorporated American community and census-designated place that is located in Marion Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania.
Mingoville is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Walker Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 503 residents.
Continental Courts is a mobile home park and census-designated place (CDP) in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was first listed as a CDP prior to the 2020 census.