Sullivan County, Pennsylvania

Sullivan County
County
Sullivan County Courthouse in Sullivan County, September 2006
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°27′N76°31′W / 41.45°N 76.51°W / 41.45; -76.51
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
Founded	March 15, 1847
Named for	Charles C. Sullivan
Seat	Laporte
Largest borough	Dushore
Area
• Total	452 sq mi (1,170 km2)
• Land	450 sq mi (1,200 km2)
• Water	2.6 sq mi (7 km2)  0.6%
Population
• Estimate  (2020)	5,840
• Density	13/sq mi (5/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	9th
Website	www.sullivancounty-pa.us

Sullivan County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,840, ^[1] making it the second-least populous county in Pennsylvania. Its county seat is Laporte. ^[2] The county was created on March 15, 1847, from part of Lycoming County and named for Major General John Sullivan. The county is part of the Northeast Pennsylvania region of the state. ^[a]

History

The land which became Sullivan County was originally purchased from the Iroquois by the Province of Pennsylvania in 1768, as part of the first Treaty of Fort Stanwix. It was then part of Northumberland County, then became part of Lycoming County when it was formed in 1795. ^[3] Sullivan County itself was formed from the northeastern part of Lycoming County on March 15, 1847. It was the thirteenth and last county formed at least partly from Lycoming County (and the fifth entirely formed from it). ^[3]

Sullivan County was named for Pennsylvania state senator Charles C. Sullivan, who "took an active part in procuring passage of the bill" establishing the county. ^[4] However, according to Frederic A. Godcharles (1933), the county is named for General John Sullivan, who led the Sullivan Expedition against the Iroquois in 1779. ^[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 452 square miles (1,170 km²), of which 450 square miles (1,200 km²) is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²) (0.6%) is water. ^[6]

Elevation ranges from 2593 ft at North Mountain in Davidson Township to 779 ft on Loyalsock Creek at the Lycoming County line. The county is served by Pennsylvania Route 42, Pennsylvania Route 87, Pennsylvania Route 154, Pennsylvania Route 487, and U.S. Route 220. The major rivers in the county are Loyalsock Creek, Little Loyalsock Creek, Muncy Creek, and Fishing Creek. The majority of the land in Sullivan County is forest, but there is some farmland, especially in the northern part of the county. There are numerous river valleys in the southern and western parts of Sullivan County. ^[7]

Sullivan has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb) and average monthly temperatures in Laporte range from 21.8 °F in January to 67.9 °F in July. ^{[8] [ failed verification ]}

Adjacent counties

• Bradford County (north)
• Wyoming County (east)
• Luzerne County (southeast)
• Columbia County (south)
• Lycoming County (west)

Geology

Sullivan County lies predominantly within the Appalachian Plateau physiographic province, which is characterized by gently folded and faulted sedimentary rocks of middle to late Paleozoic age. The southern border of the county is approximately at the Allegheny Front, a geological boundary between the Ridge and Valley province and the plateau. (PA Geologic Survey Map 13). The mountains within the county are part of the Endless Mountains.

Worlds End State Park

The stratigraphic record of sedimentary rocks within the county spans from the Devonian Lock Haven Formation (exposed only in Lick Creek valley) to the coal-bearing Pennsylvanian Allegheny Formation. Generally, the Catskill Formation underlies most of the lowlands, and sandstones of the Huntley Mountain, Burgoon, Mauch Chunk, or Pottsville Formations cap the mountains. No igneous or metamorphic rocks exist within the county, other than possible glacial erratics.

Structurally, the bedrock of Sullivan County is gently folded, with the axes of two major anticlines (including the Wilmot Anticline) and two major synclines (Bernice-Mehoopany Syncline and Noxen Syncline) each trending roughly east–west. There are three mapped faults in the Allegheny Formation between the towns of Murray and Ringdale. ^{[9] [10]}

Nearly all of Sullivan County was glaciated several times in the past, during the Pleistocene epoch, or "Ice Age." (PA Geologic Survey Map 59). Most of the county is covered by glacial till of Late Wisconsinan age. Late Illinoian Stage deposits may underlie the Late Wisconsinan deposits, and these are exposed in the south central part of the county (roughly western Davidson Township).

The major rivers in Sullivan County are Loyalsock Creek and Muncy Creek. Both flow into the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. Some streams along the eastern border of the county flow into the North Branch of the Susquehanna River. All of Sullivan county is thus within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

Several small coal fields exist within Sullivan County. ^[11] The fields contain either bituminous or semi-anthracite coal, and all occur within Pennsylvanian strata.

The Haystacks in Loyalsock Creek

Notable geologic features within Sullivan County include some of the following:

• The Haystacks (Huntley Mountain Formation), exposed along Loyalsock Creek south of Dushore, are sandstone mounds of unknown origin
• Ganoga Lake is the state's highest lake at 2265 ft above sea level
• Ricketts Glen State Park, with its many waterfalls
• Worlds End State Park, including an exposure of the Huntley Mountain Formation, and a "rock city" where cross-bedding is visible in the sandstone of the Pottsville Formation
• The Leberfinger Quarry (on Millview Mountain Rd northeast of Forksville), in the Lock Haven Formation where brachiopod fossils, trace fossils, and plant fossils can be observed ^[12]
• Grand View, located at the southeast corner of the county on a knob of Red Rock Mountain, provides scenic views of the Allegheny Front

Ticklish Rock, at ground level

• Ticklish Rock, located near Glen Mawr up Rock Run Road, features a rock formation of the Devonian Catskill Formation.

Mountains

Name	Height
North Mountain	2,584 ft (788 meters)
Huckleberry Mountain	2,496 ft (761 meters)
Roundtop	2,484 ft (757 meters)
Prospect Hill	2,140 ft (650 meters)
Tomkins Corners Vista	2,110 ft (640 meters)
High Knob	2,025 ft (617 meters)
Bear Mountain	1,995 ft (608 meters)
Lovers Rock	1,995 ft (608 meters)
Gooseberry Hill	1,940 ft (590 meters)
Middle Hill	1,927 ft (587 meters)
Camp Mountain	1,920 ft (590 meters)
Hogback Hill	1,923 ft (586 meters)
Pole Hill	1,917 ft (584 meters)
Big Hill	1,897 ft (578 meters)
Browns Vista	1,819 ft (554 meters)
Lambert Hill	1,743 (532 meters)
Warburton Hill	1,743 ft (531 meters)
Molyneux Hill	1,740 ft (530 meters)
Wright Hill	1,717 ft (523 meters)
Shrimp Hill	1,661 ft (506 meters)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	3,694		—
1860	5,637		52.6%
1870	6,191		9.8%
1880	8,073		30.4%
1890	11,620		43.9%
1900	12,134		4.4%
1910	11,293		−6.9%
1920	9,520		−15.7%
1930	7,499		−21.2%
1940	7,504		0.1%
1950	6,745		−10.1%
1960	6,251		−7.3%
1970	5,961		−4.6%
1980	6,349		6.5%
1990	6,104		−3.9%
2000	6,556		7.4%
2010	6,428		−2.0%
2020	5,840		−9.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [13] 1790-1960 [14] 1900-1990 [15] 1990-2000 [16] 2010-2017 [17] 2010-2020 [18]

As of the census ^[19] of 2000, there were 6,556 people, 2,660 households, and 1,752 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (5.8 people/km²). There were 6,017 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.58% White, 2.20% Black or African American, 0.76% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.46% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 1.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.8% were of German, 14.7% Irish, 9.5% English, 7.5% American, 5.9% Polish and 5.6% Italian ancestry.

There were 2,660 households, out of which 24.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.70% were married couples living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 29.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.80% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 24.10% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 21.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 102.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.40 males.

2020 census

Sullivan County Racial Composition ^[20]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	5,406	92.6%
Black or African American (NH)	77	1.32%
Native American (NH)	9	0.15%
Asian (NH)	17	0.3%
Pacific Islander (NH)	0	0%
Other/Mixed (NH)	226	3.8%
Hispanic or Latino	105	1.8%

Politics and government

United States presidential election results for Sullivan County, Pennsylvania ^[21]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	2,721	72.95%	976	26.17%	33	0.88%
2020	2,619	72.79%	921	25.60%	58	1.61%
2016	2,291	72.68%	750	23.79%	111	3.52%
2012	1,868	63.34%	1,034	35.06%	47	1.59%
2008	1,841	58.89%	1,233	39.44%	52	1.66%
2004	2,056	62.59%	1,213	36.93%	16	0.49%
2000	1,928	62.09%	1,066	34.33%	111	3.57%
1996	1,352	47.31%	1,071	37.47%	435	15.22%
1992	1,340	43.05%	1,030	33.09%	743	23.87%
1988	1,808	61.88%	1,091	37.34%	23	0.79%
1984	1,926	66.67%	952	32.95%	11	0.38%
1980	1,676	57.75%	1,074	37.01%	152	5.24%
1976	1,584	53.68%	1,347	45.65%	20	0.68%
1972	1,886	67.17%	885	31.52%	37	1.32%
1968	1,629	56.76%	1,035	36.06%	206	7.18%
1964	1,344	44.24%	1,690	55.63%	4	0.13%
1960	1,808	55.05%	1,471	44.79%	5	0.15%
1956	2,007	60.87%	1,286	39.01%	4	0.12%
1952	2,011	61.82%	1,239	38.09%	3	0.09%
1948	1,752	61.22%	1,084	37.88%	26	0.91%
1944	1,858	58.15%	1,329	41.60%	8	0.25%
1940	2,059	55.77%	1,626	44.04%	7	0.19%
1936	2,121	54.08%	1,740	44.37%	61	1.56%
1932	1,457	46.77%	1,602	51.43%	56	1.80%
1928	2,044	64.64%	1,101	34.82%	17	0.54%
1924	1,668	59.76%	913	32.71%	210	7.52%
1920	1,620	57.57%	1,061	37.70%	133	4.73%
1916	888	43.96%	1,037	51.34%	95	4.70%
1912	547	26.46%	912	44.12%	608	29.41%
1908	1,119	47.24%	1,076	45.42%	174	7.34%
1904	1,429	52.04%	1,188	43.26%	129	4.70%
1900	1,266	45.46%	1,376	49.41%	143	5.13%
1896	1,215	46.02%	1,300	49.24%	125	4.73%
1892	873	39.08%	1,266	56.67%	95	4.25%
1888	946	40.95%	1,260	54.55%	104	4.50%

As of August 8, 2022, there are 4,369 registered voters in Sullivan County. ^[22]

• Republican: 2,659 (60.86%)
• Democratic: 1,222 (27.97%)
• Independent: 322 (7.37%)
• Third Party: 166 (3.80%)

Law enforcement

As of 2016 ^[update] all areas in the county use the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) in a law enforcement capacity, either with part-time police departments or with no other police departments. ^[23]

County commissioners

• Brian Hoffman, Chair, Republican
• Darlene Fenton, Vice-chair Republican
• Scott Myers, Democrat

Other county offices

• District Attorney, Julie Gavitt-Shaffer, Republican
• Prothonotary, Register of Wills & Recorder of Deeds, Kellie Carpenter, Democrat
• Sheriff, Jared Houck, Republican
• Treasurer, Katrina Wilkins, Republican
• Coroner, Wendy Hastings, Republican

State Representative ^[24]

• Joseph Hamm, Republican, 84th district

State Senator ^[24]

• Gene Yaw, Republican, 23rd district

United States House of Representatives

• Dan Meuser, Republican, Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district

United States Senator

• Robert Casey Jr., Democrat
• John Fetterman, Democrat

Education

There is one school district in the county: Sullivan County School District. ^[25] Sullivan County School District has one high school, grades 7–12, and one elementary school, grades K-6. Sullivan County High School is located in Laporte. Sullivan County Elementary School is located just behind the high school.

Transportation

Public transportation is provided by BeST Transit.

Sullivan County is one of only two counties in Pennsylvania with no known active railroad lines of any kind, the other being Fulton County. However, several narrow-gauge logging railroads once served Sullivan County. ^[26]

Major roads

• US 220
• PA 42
• PA 87
• PA 154
• PA 487

Recreation

Loyalsock State Forest in Hillsgrove Township

There are two Pennsylvania state parks in Sullivan County.

• Part of Ricketts Glen State Park is in the eastern portion of the county.
• Worlds End State Park is near Forksville on Loyalsock Creek.

Sullivan County is also home to a large, private hunting club, Painter Den, Inc. ^[27] This vast property is situated in Davidson, Laporte and Colley townships. Painter Den Pond is also on the property and is stocked with perch and pike.

Annual events

There are several festivities held in the county each year:

• Dushore Dairy Parade, held in mid-June, features cow milking.
• Dushore Founder's Day, held in August, features activities such as Outhouse Races, Roll-a-Keg Races, Arts and Crafts, and vendors.
• Laporte Fireman's Carnival, held in August, features carnival rides and games.
• Sullivan County Fair, held in late August and early September, features carnival rides and games, exhibitions, competitions, a demolition derby, and vendors.

Communities

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

See also: List of municipalities in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following boroughs and townships are located in Sullivan County:

Boroughs

• Dushore
• Eagles Mere
• Forksville
• Laporte (county seat)

Townships

• Cherry
• Colley
• Davidson
• Elkland
• Forks
• Fox
• Hillsgrove
• Laporte
• Shrewsbury

Unincorporated communities

• Bedford Corners
• Beech Glen
• Bernice
• Bethel
• Campbellville
• Cherry Mills
• Colley
• Coveytown
• Eagles Mere Park
• Eldredsville
• Elk Grove (partly in Columbia County)
• Elkland Meeting House
• Emmons
• Estella
• Foley Corner
• Hemlock Grove
• Hillsgrove
• Hugos Corner
• Kinsley Corners
• Lincoln Falls
• Long Brook
• Lopez
• Maple Summit
• McCaroll Corner
• Mildred
• Millview
• Muncy Valley
• Murray
• Nordmont
• Ogdonia
• Ricketts
• Ringdale
• Satterfield
• Shinerville
• Shunk
• Sonestown
• Summit
• Tompkins Corners
• Wheelerville
• Wissingers

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Sullivan County. ^[28]

†county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2010 Census)
1	Dushore	Borough	608
2	Laporte †	Borough	316
3	Forksville	Borough	145
4	Eagles Mere	Borough	120

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania

References

1. Includes Luzerne, Lackawanna, Monroe, Schuylkill, Carbon, Pike, Bradford, Wayne, Susquehanna, Wyoming and Sullivan Counties

1. "Census - Geography Profile: Sullivan County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved December 18, 2022.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Meginness, John Franklin (1892). History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania: including its aboriginal history; the colonial and revolutionary periods; early settlement and subsequent growth; organization and civil administration; the legal and medical professions; internal improvement; past and present history of Williamsport; manufacturing and lumber interests; religious, educational, and social development; geology and agriculture; military record; sketches of boroughs, townships, and villages; portraits and biographies of pioneers and representative citizens, etc. etc (1st ed.). Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk & Co. ISBN   0-7884-0428-8 . Retrieved August 5, 2007. (Note: ISBN refers to Heritage Books July 1996 reprint. URL is to a scan of the 1892 version with some OCR typos).
4. "Pennsylvania Local Government" (PDF). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Retrieved February 7, 2008.
5. Godcharles, Frederic A. (1933). Pennsylvania: Political, Governmental, Military and Civil: Political and Civil History Volume (First ed.). New York, New York: The American Historical Society.
6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
7. "Google Maps".
8. "PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University".
9. PA Geologic Survey Map 61, Overton Quadrangle
10. Berg, T.M., Edmunds, W.E., Geyer, A.R. and others, compilers, (1980). Geologic Map of Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Geologic Survey, Map 1, scale 1:250,000.
11. Article title PA Geologic Survey Map 11
12. The Haystacks, "Ricketts Folly," and The End of the World: Geology of the Glaciated Allegheny High Plateau, Sullivan, Luzerne, and Columbia Counties, Pennsylvania, 71st Annual Field Conference of Pennsylvania Geologists (field trip guide book), J. D. Inners, G. M. Fleeger, eds., 2006
13. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
14. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
15. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
16. "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 10, 2015.
17. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
18. "Census 2020".
19. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
20. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Sullivan County, Pennsylvania".
21. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
22. https://www.dos.pa.gov/VotingElections/OtherServicesEvents/VotingElectionStatistics/Documents/currentvotestats.xls PA Department of State
23. Klibanoff, Eleanor (May 4, 2016). "Half of Pa. municipalities rely fully on state police". WHYY-TV . Retrieved July 23, 2024.
24. Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Find Your Legislator". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
25. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Sullivan County, PA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved July 23, 2024. - Text list
26. "Penndot Pennsylvania Railroad Map January 2015" (PDF). penndot.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
27. "Sullivan Archives". February 28, 2020.
28. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades".

External links

• Sullivan County Official Website

41°27′N76°31′W / 41.45°N 76.51°W / 41.45; -76.51