Mercer County, Pennsylvania

Last updated

Mercer County
County
Mercer County Courthouse Pennsylvania 2010.jpg
Mercer County Courthouse (1909)
Seal of Mercer County, Pennsylvania.png
Seal
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Mercer County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania in United States.svg
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°19′N80°15′W / 41.31°N 80.25°W / 41.31; -80.25
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Pennsylvania.svg  Pennsylvania
FoundedNovember 7, 1803
Named for Hugh Mercer
Seat Mercer
Largest city Hermitage
Area
 • Total
683 sq mi (1,770 km2)
 • Land673 sq mi (1,740 km2)
 • Water10 sq mi (30 km2)  1.5%
Population
 (2020) [1]
 • Total
110,652
 • Density162/sq mi (63/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 16th
Website www.mcc.co.mercer.pa.us

Mercer County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 110,652. [2] Its county seat is Mercer, [3] and its largest city is Hermitage. The county is part of the Northwest Pennsylvania region of the state. [a]

Contents

Mercer County compromises the Hermitage, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Greater Pittsburgh area.

History

Mercer County was created in 1800 and later organized in 1803. [4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 683 square miles (1,770 km2), of which 673 square miles (1,740 km2) is land and 10 square miles (26 km2) (1.5%) is water. [5] It has a humid continental climate (Dfa/Dfb) and average monthly temperatures in Sharon range from 27.1 °F in January to 72.2 °F in July, while in Mercer borough they range from 25.4 °F in January to 70.1 °F in July. [6] Mercer County is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission, [7] 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 . [8]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1800 3,228—
1810 8,277156.4%
1820 11,68141.1%
1830 19,72968.9%
1840 32,87366.6%
1850 33,1720.9%
1860 36,85611.1%
1870 49,97735.6%
1880 56,16112.4%
1890 55,744−0.7%
1900 57,3872.9%
1910 77,69935.4%
1920 93,78820.7%
1930 99,2465.8%
1940 101,0391.8%
1950 111,95410.8%
1960 127,51913.9%
1970 127,175−0.3%
1980 128,2990.9%
1990 121,003−5.7%
2000 120,307−0.6%
2010 116,638−3.0%
2020 110,652−5.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [9]
1790–1960 [10] 1900–1990 [11]
1990–2000 [12] 2010–2019 [13] 2020 [14]

As of the census [15] of 2000, there were 120,293 people, 46,712 households, and 32,371 families residing in the county. The population density was 179 inhabitants per square mile (69 inhabitants/km2). There were 49,859 housing units at an average density of 74 units per square mile (29/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.13% White, 5.25% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. 0.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 37.7% were of German, 20.0% Irish, 14.9% Italian, 12.0% English, 6.4% American, 6.2% Polish, 3.7% Scotch-Irish, 3.3% Dutch ancestry.

There were 46,712 households, out of which 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.80% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.20% 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 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.40% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 18.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.80 males.

2020 census

Mercer County Racial Composition [16]
RaceNum.Perc.
White (NH)96,99887.6%
Black or African American (NH)6,2895.7%
Native American (NH)1160.1%
Asian (NH)6830.6%
Pacific Islander (NH)140.01%
Other/Mixed (NH)4,9434.5%
Hispanic or Latino 1,6091.5%

Government and politics

United States presidential election results for Mercer County, Pennsylvania [17] [18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 37,76164.45%20,14534.38%6851.17%
2020 36,14362.19%21,06736.25%9071.56%
2016 31,54459.70%18,73335.45%2,5624.85%
2012 25,92550.79%24,23247.48%8821.73%
2008 26,56549.04%26,41148.76%1,1922.20%
2004 26,31151.03%24,83148.16%4220.82%
2000 23,13247.47%23,81748.87%1,7833.66%
1996 17,21337.60%23,00350.25%5,56312.15%
1992 16,08132.27%23,26446.68%10,49121.05%
1988 21,30146.43%24,27852.92%3010.66%
1984 24,21149.11%24,65850.01%4340.88%
1980 22,37248.54%19,71642.78%4,0028.68%
1976 22,46946.58%25,04151.91%7251.50%
1972 27,96159.37%18,08738.40%1,0522.23%
1968 23,13147.11%22,81446.46%3,1606.44%
1964 18,15335.90%32,19963.68%2110.42%
1960 29,10954.43%24,24345.33%1280.24%
1956 28,78559.14%19,76940.62%1200.25%
1952 26,42455.59%20,77043.69%3430.72%
1948 18,91652.71%16,10844.89%8622.40%
1944 19,60653.85%16,58945.57%2120.58%
1940 21,05855.10%16,96844.40%1890.49%
1936 18,49345.88%20,87951.79%9392.33%
1932 14,05753.53%10,96141.74%1,2404.72%
1928 22,59972.71%8,20426.39%2800.90%
1924 14,63965.29%3,68816.45%4,09318.26%
1920 11,57560.29%4,82325.12%2,80114.59%
1916 5,86642.66%6,39046.47%1,49510.87%
1912 1,87314.73%4,03931.76%6,80653.51%
1908 6,49747.27%5,47339.82%1,77412.91%
1904 8,57460.67%3,84527.21%1,71412.13%
1900 6,95055.94%4,91639.57%5594.50%
1896 7,26255.53%5,50042.06%3152.41%
1892 5,87450.80%4,93142.65%7576.55%
1888 6,42853.91%4,80640.31%6895.78%
1884 6,35751.81%4,86139.62%1,0528.57%
1880 6,07951.33%5,02942.46%7356.21%

Voter registration

As of June 12, 2023, there are 70,553 registered voters in the county. Republicans hold a plurality of voters by a margin of 10,354 voters (14.67% of the total registered). There are 35,735 registered Republicans, 25,381 registered Democrats, 7,319 registered non-affiliated voters, and 2,118 voters registered to third parties. [19]

Chart of Voter Registration

   Republican (50.65%)
   Democratic (35.97%)
   Independent (10.37%)
   Third Party (3.01%)
Voter registration and party enrollment
PartyNumber of votersPercentage
Republican 35,73550.65
Democratic 25,38135.97
Independent 7,31910.37
Third Party 2,1183.01
Total70,553100%

Political bellwether

Mercer County was previously considered a political bellwether for the state of Pennsylvania since its demographics, urban-rural ratio, and party affiliation once closely mirrored the state as a whole. In 2000, Al Gore carried it against George W. Bush. This trend failed to hold true in 2004 and 2008, in which Mercer County voted more conservatively than the rest of the state. In 2004, Bush won Mercer County with 51% of the vote. That year, John Kerry won the state as a whole with 51% of the popular vote. In 2008, John McCain won Mercer County by fewer than 200 votes, as he and Barack Obama each received roughly 49% of the popular vote. Obama won Pennsylvania as a whole with 55% of the popular vote. Each of the three statewide office winners also carried Mercer in 2008. In 2016, Donald Trump won Mercer County by 12,403 votes, and he also won all of Pennsylvania. Each of the three Republican candidates for statewide office carried Mercer County in 2016. In 2020, Trump again carried the county, despite Pennsylvania narrowly voting for Joe Biden. Trump won 62% of the vote, the largest majority for any major party candidate since 1964, and the largest majority for a Republican since 1928.[ citation needed ]

County officials

CommissionerPartyTitle
Ann ColemanRepublicanChairman
William A Finley, Jr.RepublicanVice Chairman
Timothy McGonigleDemocratSecretary
OfficeOfficialParty
President Judge of Court of Common PleasDaniel P. WallaceRepublican
Judge of Court of Common PleasD. Neil McEwenRepublican
Judge of Court of Common PleasTedd C. NesbitRepublican
Judge of Court of Common PleasRonald D. Amrhein Jr.Republican
Clerk of Courts/Register of WillsMary Jo Basilone DePretaRepublican
District AttorneyPete AckerRepublican
CoronerJohn A. LibonatiRepublican
SheriffBruce RosaRepublican
TreasurerAmber WhiteRepublican
ProthonotaryRuth BiceRepublican
Recorder of DeedsDee Dee ZickarRepublican
ControllerSteve ShermanRepublican

State House of Representatives

DistrictRepresentativeParty
7 Parke Wentling Republican
17 Timothy R. Bonner Republican

State Senate

DistrictSenatorParty
50 Michele Brooks Republican

United States House of Representatives

DistrictRepresentativeParty
16 Mike Kelly Republican

United States Senate

SenatorParty
John Fetterman Democrat
Bob Casey Democrat

Education

Higher education

Career-based education

Public school districts

Map of Mercer County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts Map of Mercer County Pennsylvania School Districts.png
Map of Mercer County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

Charter schools

Private schools

Recreation

There is one Pennsylvania state park in Mercer County. Maurice K. Goddard State Park, named for Maurice K. Goddard, former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, is just off exit 130 of Interstate 79 on Pennsylvania Route 358 near Stoneboro.

The Wendell August Forge, the last remaining working forge in the state, was open to the public for tours, but it burned down on March 6, 2010. [22] It has since reopened in new facilities.

Mercer County Court House built in 1909.

Communities

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

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in one case, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Mercer County:

Cities

Boroughs

Townships

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Former community

Mixed Nomenclature

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census and 2020 census of Mercer County. [25]

†county seat

RankCity/Town/etc.Municipal typePopulation
(2010 Census)		Population
(2020 Census)
1 Hermitage City16,41316,231
2 Sharon City14,02113,150
3 Grove City Borough8,3347,884
4 Greenville Borough5,9535,540
5 Farrell City4,9534,259
6 Sharpsville Borough4,4174,252
7† Mercer Borough2,0421,985
8 Reynolds Heights CDP2,0611,974
9 Lake Latonka CDP1,012951
10 Stoneboro Borough1,051947
11 West Middlesex Borough863816
12 Sandy Lake Borough657650
13 Wheatland Borough632583
14 Jamestown Borough617582
15 Clark Borough640575
16 Fredonia Borough494435
17 Jackson Center Borough224191
18 New Lebanon Borough189185
19 Sheakleyville Borough142150

See also

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Greenville is a borough with home rule status in northwestern Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located along the Shenango River, it lies roughly 80 miles from both Pittsburgh and Cleveland. It is 1.89 square miles in area, and had a population of 5,541 as of the 2020 census.

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Hermitage is a city in western Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 16,230 at the 2020 census, making it the largest city in Mercer County. It is located about 15 miles (24 km) northeast of Youngstown and about 60 miles (97 km) northwest of Pittsburgh. It is the principal city of the Hermitage micropolitan area, which includes all of Mercer County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharon, Pennsylvania</span> City in Pennsylvania, United States

Sharon is a city in western Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city, located along the banks of the Shenango River on the state border with Ohio, is about 15 miles (24 km) northeast of Youngstown, about 65 miles (105 km) southeast of Cleveland and about 60 miles (97 km) northwest of Pittsburgh. The population was 13,147 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Hermitage micropolitan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharpsville, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Sharpsville is a borough that is located in western Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States, along the Shenango River. The population was 4,253 as of the 2020 census. It is part of the Hermitage micropolitan area.

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West Middlesex is a borough along the Shenango River in southwestern Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 815 at the 2020 Census. It is part of the Hermitage micropolitan area.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pennsylvania Route 760</span> State highway in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, US

Pennsylvania Route 760 is a state highway located in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. The route runs from an interchange with Interstate 80 (I-80) and I-376 in Shenango Township to an intersection with U.S. Route 62 Business and PA 718 in Sharon. The road was designated as the northernmost part of PA 60 until 2009, when I-376 was extended from the Pittsburgh area to I-80 along PA 60.

References

  1. ↑ Includes Erie, Mercer, Crawford and Venango Counties
  1. ↑ "QuickFacts Mercer County, Pennsylvania". Census.
  2. ↑ "QuickFacts Mercer County, Pennsylvania". Census.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Pennsylvania: Individual County Chronologies". Pennsylvania Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on March 25, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  6. ↑ "PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University".
  7. ↑ "About the Appalachian Region". Appalachian Regional Commission. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  8. ↑ Woodard, Colin. "The Maps That Show That City vs. Country Is Not Our Political Fault Line". New York Times. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  11. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  13. ↑ "QuickFacts Mercer County, Pennsylvania". Census.
  14. ↑ "QuickFacts Mercer County, Pennsylvania". Census.
  15. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  16. ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mercer County, Pennsylvania".
  17. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Our Campaigns – U.S. President" . Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  19. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State (June 12, 2023). "Voter registration statistics by county" . Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  20. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Charter Schools".
  21. ↑ [ dead link ]
  22. ↑ "Landmark metal forge burns in Mercer County." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Online. March 06, 2010.
  23. ↑ "RootsWeb.com Home Page". www.rootsweb.ancestry.com.
  24. ↑ Dye, David L. "That's a wrap: Wheatland Borough Council meets for final time". The Herald . Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  25. ↑ Promotions, Center for New Media and. "US Census Bureau 2010 Census". www.census.gov. Retrieved March 23, 2018.

41°19′N80°15′W / 41.31°N 80.25°W / 41.31; -80.25

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