Clearfield County | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 41°00′N78°28′W / 41°N 78.47°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Pennsylvania |
Founded | January 29, 1822 |
Seat | Clearfield |
Largest city | DuBois |
Area | |
• Total | 1,154 sq mi (2,990 km2) |
• Land | 1,145 sq mi (2,970 km2) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 80,562 |
• Density | 70/sq mi (27/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Congressional district | 15th |
Website | www |
Designated | September 17, 1982 [1] |
Clearfield County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 80,562. [2] The county seat is Clearfield, [3] and the largest city is DuBois. The county was created in 1804 and later organized in 1822. [4]
Clearfield County comprises the DuBois, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the State College–DuBois, PA Combined Statistical Area. The county is part of the North Central Pennsylvania region of the state. [lower-alpha 1]
Clearfield County was formed by the Act of Assembly by the second Governor of Pennsylvania at the time, Thomas McKean on March 26, 1804. The county was created from parts of the already created counties of Huntingdon and Lycoming. The name for the county was most likely derived from the many cleared fields of the valleys surrounding Clearfield Creek and West Branch of the Susquehanna River, formed by the bison herds and also by old corn fields of prior Native Americans tribes.
The first board of county commissioners to the county were Roland Curtin, James Fleming and James Smith, all appointed by Governor McKean in 1805. The first act the commissioners did was to create a local government or seat of the newly created county. They came upon land owned at the time by Abraham Witmer at a village known as Chincleclamousche, named after the Native American chief of the Cornplanter's tribe of Senecas. Clearfield became the new name of the old village.
The two major industries of the county in the mid-1800s until the early 1900s was lumber and coal. Lumber was still being floated down the West Branch of the Susquehanna up until 1917. Coal remains the main industry of the county to this day. Founded in 1955, the Hepburnia Coal Company mines and ships coal in addition to several other lines of business. [5]
No case tried in the county has caused as much comment as the union conspiracy trials. In all there were fifty-six persons, primarily miners in the Houtzdale region, who were charged with conspiracy as organized strikers.
The first case, against John Maloney and fifty-three others, was tried in 1875, before a jury with Judge Orvis presiding. All were found guilty, although they seem to have been solely peacefully picketing. [6] Four were sentenced to one year's imprisonment and eight, to six months; the others' sentences were suspended. As every organized labor society in the United States was interested in the result, the events of the trial and verdict were telegraphed throughout the country [7]
This proceeding was followed by the trial of the remaining two offenders, who were union representatives, John Siney and Xingo Parks. Siney was then the President of the Miners' National Association (MNA); he had come to Houtzdale and delivered an address of support for the union strike, for which he was arrested. Parks was an able organizer for the MNA. Federal Senator Matthew H. Carpenter of Wisconsin defended both men. At trial, Siney was acquitted; Parks was found guilty of inciting unlawful assembly and sentenced to one year's imprisonment, but pardoned within a month from the time sentence was pronounced. [8]
These cases led in the next year to a liberalization of the Pennsylvania conspiracy law, through amendment providing that only "force, threat, or menace of harm to person or property" would be illegal. [9]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,154 square miles (2,990 km2), of which 1,145 square miles (2,970 km2) is land and 9.2 square miles (24 km2) (0.8%) is water. [10] It is the third-largest county in Pennsylvania by land area and fourth-largest by total area. The West Branch Susquehanna River flows through the county, bisecting the county seat along the way.
The mountainous terrain of the county made traffic difficult for early settlers. Various Native American paths and trails crossing the area were used intermittently by settlers, invading armies, and escaped slaves travelling north along the Underground Railroad. A major feature located in Bloom Township, within the county, is known as Bilger's rocks and exhibits fine examples of exposed sandstone bedrock that was created during the formation of the Appalachian Mountains.
The shape of Clearfield County bears an amazing resemblance to that of the state of Arkansas.
The county has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb). Average monthly temperatures in DuBois range from 24.6 °F in January to 68.6 °F in July, while in Clearfield borough they range from 23.8 °F in January to 69.3 °F in July and in Osceola Mills they range from 24.4 °F in January to 69.1 °F in July. [11]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1810 | 875 | — | |
1820 | 2,342 | 167.7% | |
1830 | 4,803 | 105.1% | |
1840 | 7,834 | 63.1% | |
1850 | 12,586 | 60.7% | |
1860 | 18,759 | 49.0% | |
1870 | 25,741 | 37.2% | |
1880 | 43,408 | 68.6% | |
1890 | 69,565 | 60.3% | |
1900 | 80,614 | 15.9% | |
1910 | 93,768 | 16.3% | |
1920 | 103,236 | 10.1% | |
1930 | 86,727 | −16.0% | |
1940 | 92,094 | 6.2% | |
1950 | 85,957 | −6.7% | |
1960 | 81,534 | −5.1% | |
1970 | 74,619 | −8.5% | |
1980 | 83,578 | 12.0% | |
1990 | 78,097 | −6.6% | |
2000 | 83,380 | 6.8% | |
2010 | 81,642 | −2.1% | |
2020 | 80,562 | −1.3% | |
[12] |
As of the census [13] of 2000, there were 83,382 people, 32,785 households, and 22,916 families residing in the county. The population density was 73 people per square mile (28 people/km2). There were 37,855 housing units at an average density of 33 units per square mile (13/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.40% White, 1.49% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. 0.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.9% were of German, 13.6% American, 10.2% English, 9.9% Irish, 9.1% Italian and 6.0% Polish ancestry.
There were 32,785 households, out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 16.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.50 males.
Race | Num. | Perc. |
---|---|---|
White (NH) | 73,338 | 91% |
Black or African American (NH) | 1,760 | 2.2% |
Native American (NH) | 78 | 0.1% |
Asian (NH) | 450 | 0.56% |
Pacific Islander (NH) | 0 | 0% |
Other/Mixed (NH) | 2,299 | 2.9% |
Hispanic or Latino | 2,637 | 3.27% |
The United States Office of Management and Budget [15] has designated Clearfield County as the DuBois, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA). As of the 2010 census [16] the micropolitan area ranked sixth most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 65th most populous in the United States, with a population of 81,642. Clearfield County is also a part of the State College–DuBois, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which combines the populations of both Clearfield and Centre County areas, along with the State College area. The combined statistical area ranked the ninth most populous in Pennsylvania and 125th most populous in the U.S. with a population of 235,632.
As of February 6, 2024, there were 47,456 registered voters in Clearfield County. [17]
The county trends Republican in statewide and federal elections. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, while Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton winning pluralities in the county, with the former by 88 votes. In 2006, Democrat Bob Casey Jr. received 55% of its vote when he unseated incumbent Republican US Senator Rick Santorum and Ed Rendell received 50.2% of the vote against Lynn Swann. Each of the three row-office statewide winners carried Clearfield in 2008.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 29,203 | 73.94% | 9,673 | 24.49% | 620 | 1.57% |
2016 | 24,932 | 72.16% | 8,200 | 23.73% | 1,418 | 4.10% |
2012 | 20,347 | 63.34% | 11,121 | 34.62% | 654 | 2.04% |
2008 | 18,662 | 54.85% | 14,555 | 42.78% | 805 | 2.37% |
2004 | 20,533 | 59.98% | 13,518 | 39.49% | 182 | 0.53% |
2000 | 18,019 | 58.82% | 11,718 | 38.25% | 896 | 2.92% |
1996 | 12,987 | 44.85% | 11,991 | 41.41% | 3,977 | 13.74% |
1992 | 11,553 | 37.45% | 12,247 | 39.70% | 7,047 | 22.85% |
1988 | 14,296 | 53.52% | 12,235 | 45.80% | 182 | 0.68% |
1984 | 18,653 | 60.62% | 11,963 | 38.88% | 153 | 0.50% |
1980 | 15,299 | 54.27% | 11,647 | 41.31% | 1,246 | 4.42% |
1976 | 13,626 | 49.22% | 13,714 | 49.54% | 345 | 1.25% |
1972 | 16,780 | 63.54% | 9,246 | 35.01% | 383 | 1.45% |
1968 | 14,471 | 49.62% | 12,369 | 42.41% | 2,323 | 7.97% |
1964 | 11,338 | 36.99% | 19,211 | 62.67% | 103 | 0.34% |
1960 | 18,911 | 56.97% | 14,212 | 42.81% | 72 | 0.22% |
1956 | 17,519 | 57.51% | 12,852 | 42.19% | 89 | 0.29% |
1952 | 16,045 | 54.25% | 13,376 | 45.22% | 156 | 0.53% |
1948 | 11,810 | 49.95% | 11,347 | 47.99% | 487 | 2.06% |
1944 | 13,986 | 50.24% | 13,617 | 48.92% | 233 | 0.84% |
1940 | 15,407 | 46.30% | 17,705 | 53.21% | 163 | 0.49% |
1936 | 14,531 | 40.31% | 20,799 | 57.69% | 720 | 2.00% |
1932 | 10,500 | 46.47% | 11,209 | 49.60% | 888 | 3.93% |
1928 | 16,719 | 67.26% | 7,870 | 31.66% | 270 | 1.09% |
1924 | 13,745 | 60.32% | 5,027 | 22.06% | 4,015 | 17.62% |
1920 | 9,615 | 52.28% | 5,987 | 32.55% | 2,791 | 15.17% |
1916 | 5,676 | 42.68% | 6,180 | 46.47% | 1,443 | 10.85% |
1912 | 1,523 | 11.81% | 4,670 | 36.20% | 6,707 | 51.99% |
1908 | 7,726 | 51.68% | 5,954 | 39.82% | 1,271 | 8.50% |
1904 | 9,541 | 64.12% | 4,291 | 28.84% | 1,047 | 7.04% |
1900 | 7,955 | 53.55% | 6,066 | 40.84% | 833 | 5.61% |
1896 | 7,395 | 50.97% | 6,460 | 44.53% | 653 | 4.50% |
1892 | 4,765 | 40.72% | 6,108 | 52.20% | 829 | 7.08% |
1888 | 5,297 | 44.51% | 6,266 | 52.66% | 337 | 2.83% |
Commissioners | Party | First Elected |
---|---|---|
David Glass | Democratic | 2019 |
Mary Tatum | Republican | 2022 Appointed |
John Sobel | Republican | 2007 |
Office | Official | Party | First Elected |
---|---|---|---|
Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary | Brian K. Spencer | Republican | 2013 |
Controller | Robert Edwards | Republican | 2021 |
Coroner | Kim Shaffer Snyder | Republican | 2017 (appointed) |
District Attorney | Ryan P. Sayers | Republican | 2019 |
Recorder of Deeds and Register of Wills | Maurene Inlow | Republican | 2007 |
Sheriff | Michael Churner | Republican | 2017 |
Treasurer | Carol Fox | Democratic | 1998 (appointed) |
District | Representative | Party |
---|---|---|
73 | Dallas Kephart | Republican |
75 | Mike Armanini | Republican |
District | Representative | Party |
---|---|---|
15 | Glenn "G.T." Thompson | Republican |
Senator | Party |
---|---|
John Fetterman | Democrat |
Bob Casey | Democrat |
There are two Pennsylvania state parks in Clearfield County.
Clearfield County is also home to the largest wild area in Pennsylvania, the Quehanna Wild Area. A culturally and historically significant natural formation of massive sandstone megaliths can be found at Bilger's rocks.
Lodging/Camping [19]
Campground # | Name | Location | Campsites | Swimming | Fishing | Hunting |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2515 | Woodland Campground | Woodland | 70 | yes | yes | yes |
Hunting [20]
SGL# | Location | Hunting Area | Acreage | Species |
---|---|---|---|---|
34 | Medix Run | Benezette, Covington, Girard, Goshen Townships | 8,000 | bear, deer, turkey |
77 | Clear Run | Sandy Township | 3,038 | bear, deer, rabbit, squirrel |
78 | Bigler | Bradford & Graham Townships | 721 | bear, deer, turkey |
87 | Irishtown | Bell & Penn Townships | 10,422 | deer, grouse, turkey |
90 | Goshen | Goshen & Lawrence Townships | 3,958 | bear, deer, turkey |
93 | Sabula | Union & Huston Townships | 4,876 | bear, deer, turkey |
94 | Lecontes Mills | Goshen & Lawrence Townships | 2,108 | bear, deer, turkey |
98 | Blue Ball (West Decatur) | Boggs & Decatur Townships | 1,172 | deer, rabbit, turkey |
Fishing
Golf
Course # | Name | Location | Holes | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|
3133 | Chetremon Golf Course | 2 miles north of Cherry Tree in Burnside Township Clearfield County | 10 | https://web.archive.org/web/20111117163225/http://www.chetremon.com/ |
3274 | Grandview Golf Club | 1 mile south of Lumber City | 18 | http://www.golfnow.com/course-directory/pennsylvania-golf-courses/curwensville-golf-courses/grandview-golf-club |
Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Clearfield 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.
Unincorporated areas are region of land that are not parts of any incorporated boroughs, cities, or towns.
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Clearfield County. [16]
†county seat
Rank | City/Town/etc. | Population (2010 Census) | Municipal type |
---|---|---|---|
1 | DuBois | 7,794 | City |
2 | † Clearfield | 6,215 | Borough |
3 | Treasure Lake | 3,861 | CDP |
4 | Curwensville | 2,542 | Borough |
5 | Sandy | 1,429 | CDP |
6 | Hyde | 1,399 | CDP |
7 | Osceola Mills | 1,141 | Borough |
8 | Falls Creek (mostly in Jefferson County) | 1,037 | Borough |
9 | Plymptonville | 981 | CDP |
10 | Chester Hill | 883 | Borough |
11 | Houtzdale | 797 | Borough |
12 | Oklahoma | 782 | CDP |
13 | Morrisdale | 754 | CDP |
14 | Irvona | 647 | Borough |
15 | Hawk Run | 534 | CDP |
16 | West Decatur | 533 | CDP |
17 | Coalport | 523 | Borough |
18 | Grassflat | 511 | CDP |
19 | Ramey | 451 | Borough |
20 | Brisbin | 411 | Borough |
21 | Bigler | 398 | CDP |
22 | Westover | 390 | Borough |
23 | Mahaffey | 368 | Borough |
24 | Grampian | 356 | Borough |
25 | Kylertown | 340 | CDP |
26 | Wallaceton | 313 | Borough |
27 | Allport | 264 | CDP |
28 | Troutville | 243 | Borough |
29 | Burnside | 234 | Borough |
30 | Glen Hope | 142 | Borough |
31 | Newburg | 92 | Borough |
32 | New Washington | 59 | Borough |
Warren County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,587. Its county seat is Warren. The county was established in 1800 from parts of Allegheny and Lycoming counties; attached to Crawford County until 1805 and then to Venango County until Warren was formally established in 1819.
Northumberland County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 91,647. Its county seat is Sunbury. The county is part of the Central Pennsylvania region of the state.
Jefferson County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 44,492. Its county seat is Brookville. The county was established on March 26, 1804, from part of Lycoming County and later organized in 1830. It is named for President Thomas Jefferson. It is home to Punxsutawney Phil, the most famous groundhog that predicts when spring will come every February 2 on Groundhog Day. The county is part of the North Central Pennsylvania region of the state.
Indiana County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is located in the west central part of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 83,246. Its county seat is Indiana. Indiana County comprises the Indiana, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-WV-OH Combined Statistical Area. The county is part of the Southwest Pennsylvania region of the state.
Centre County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 158,172. Its county seat is Bellefonte. Centre County comprises the State College, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county is part of the Central Pennsylvania region of the state.
Boggs Township is a township in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,666 at the 2020 census.
Brady Township is a township in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,941 at the 2020 census.
Clearfield is a borough and the county seat of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census the population was 5,962 people, making it the second most populous community in Clearfield County, behind DuBois. The borough is part of the DuBois, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area, as well as the larger State College-DuBois, PA Combined Statistical Area. The settled area surrounding the borough consists of the nearby census-designated places of Hyde and Plymptonville, which combined with Clearfield have a population of approximately 8,237 people.
Curwensville is a borough in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States, 45 miles (72 km) north of Altoona on the West Branch Susquehanna River. Coal mining, tanning, and the manufacture of fire bricks were the industries at the turn of the 20th century. In 1900, 1,937 people lived in the borough, and in 1910, 2,549 lived there. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the borough had a population of 2,567. The population of the borough at its highest was 3,422 in 1940.
Decatur Township is a township in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,549 at the 2020 census, an increase over the figure tabulated in the 2010 census in which the population was 2,548. The township is named after war hero Stephen Decatur, Jr.
DuBois is a city and the most populous community in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States. DuBois is located approximately 100 miles (160 km) northeast of Pittsburgh. The population was 7,510 as of the 2020 census. It is the principal city in the DuBois, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area. DuBois is also one of two principal cities, the other being State College, that make up the larger State College-DuBois, PA Combined Statistical Area.
Grampian is a borough in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 361 as of the 2020 census.
Houtzdale is a borough in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 764 at the 2020 census.
Osceola Mills is a borough in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,045 at the 2020 census.
Anderson Creek is a 23.6-mile-long (38.0 km) tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, in the United States.
Pennsylvania Route 53 is an 83-mile-long (134 km) state highway located in central Pennsylvania. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 219 (US 219) near the borough of Summerhill. The northern terminus is at PA 144 in the Snow Shoe Township community of Moshannon.
The 73rd Pennsylvania House of Representatives District is located in central Pennsylvania and has been represented by Dallas Kephart since 2023.
The 75th Pennsylvania House of Representatives District is located in central Pennsylvania and has been represented by Michael Armanini since 2021.
The Moshannon Valley School District is a diminutive, rural public school district in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. It serves the boroughs of Houtzdale, Brisbin, Ramey, and Glen Hope plus the townships of Gulich, Jordan, Bigler, and Woodward. Moshannon Valley School District encompasses approximately 148 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 8,764. In 2009, the district residents’ per capita income was $13,356, while the median family income was $34,882. In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501 and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010.
The State College–DuBois, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA) is made up of two counties in central Pennsylvania. The United States Office of Management and Budget recognized the State College and DuBois areas along with the counties of Centre and Clearfield as a combined statistical area (CSA) in Central Pennsylvania.