Centre County | |
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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 northwestern part of Centre County is in the sparsely populated Pennsylvania Wilds region.
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] After the American Revolutionary War, Centre County was created on February 13, 1800, from parts of Huntingdon, Lycoming, Mifflin, and Northumberland counties; it was named for its central location in the state.
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. [5] 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).
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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% | |
[7] |
As of the 2010 census, [8] 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 [10] has designated Centre County as the State College, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of the 2010 U.S. Census [11] 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 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
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. [15] In 2016, Democrat Hillary Clinton beat Republican nominee Donald Trump 47.76% to 45.86%. [16] In that same election, incumbent Republican Senator Pat Toomey beat Democratic opponent Katie McGinty 47.91% to 46.2% in the county. [16]
As of February 7, 2024, there were 100,829 registered voters in Centre County. [17]
As reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Education 2010.
University Park 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 . [18]
Numerous magazines are also published including Town & Gown, [19] State College Magazine, [20] Good Life in Happy Valley, [21] Blue White Illustrated, Pennsylvania Business Central, and Voices of Central Pennsylvania. [22]
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 be listed here as well.
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Centre County. [11]
†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 |
Clinton County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,450. Its county seat is Lock Haven. The county was created on June 21, 1839, from parts of Centre and Lycoming Counties. Its name is in honor of the sixth Governor of New York, DeWitt Clinton. Some alternate sources suggest the namesake is Henry Clinton. Clinton County comprises the Lock Haven, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Williamsport-Lock Haven, PA Combined Statistical Area. The county is in the sparsely populated Pennsylvania Wilds region.
Interstate 99 (I-99) is an interstate highway in the United States with two segments: one located in central Pennsylvania and the other in southern New York. The southern terminus of the route is near exit 146 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-70/I-76) north of Bedford, where the road continues south as U.S. Route 220 (US 220). The northern terminus of the Pennsylvania segment is at an at-grade intersection with Musser Lane just before reaching I-80 near Bellefonte. The New York segment follows US 15 from the Pennsylvania–New York border to an interchange with I-86 in Corning. Within Pennsylvania, I-99 passes through Altoona and State College—the latter home to the Pennsylvania State University—and is entirely concurrent with US 220. Long-term plans call for the two segments of I-99 to be connected using portions of I-80, US 220, and US 15 through Pennsylvania.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bellefonte is a borough in, and the county seat of, Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is approximately twelve 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.
State College is a 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 Penn 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.
Pennsylvania Route 26 is a 125.5-mile (202.0 km) highway in the south-central area of Pennsylvania. Its northern terminus is at PA 150 northwest of Howard; its southern terminus is at the Maryland state line near Barnes Gap in Union Township. Two major destinations along this route are Raystown Lake near Huntingdon and the Pennsylvania State University at State College.
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 Nittany and Bald Eagle Railroad is a short line railroad that operates 73 miles (117 km) of track in Blair, Centre, and Clinton counties in Pennsylvania in the United States. It is part of the North Shore Railroad System.
Pennsylvania Route 150 is a 41.1-mile-long (66.1 km) highway in Central Pennsylvania. Its southern terminus is at PA 26 in Dale Summit, Pennsylvania near State College, at the location of the Nittany Mall. Its northern terminus is at U.S. Route 220 in Avis.
Pennsylvania Route 192 is a state highway located in central Pennsylvania. The western terminus of the route is at PA 144 in Centre Hall. The eastern terminus is at U.S. Route 15 in Lewisburg.
Nittany Valley is an eroded anticlinal valley located in Centre County, Pennsylvania. It is separated from the Bald Eagle Valley by Bald Eagle Mountain and from Penns Valley by Mount Nittany. The valley is closed to the north by a high plateau that joins these two mountain ridges, but is open to the south at the southern terminus of Mount Nittany. The valley drains to Bald Eagle Creek through water gaps in Bald Eagle Mountain formed by Spring Creek and Fishing Creek, along with smaller streams running through Curtain Gap and Howard Gap. The northwest side of the valley between the Bald Eagle Mountain ridge and the lower Sand Ridge is also known as the Little Nittany Valley.
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.
Bald Eagle Creek is a 55.2-mile-long (88.8 km) tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River mostly in Centre County, Pennsylvania, in the United States.
Edmund Blanchard was a lawyer and prominent businessman in Centre County, Pennsylvania. He was an early promoter of rail transportation in the area.