Clearfield County, Pennsylvania
| Clearfield County, Pennsylvania | |
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 Location in the state of Pennsylvania |
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 Pennsylvania's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | March 26, 1804 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Clearfield |
| Largest city | DuBois |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
1,154 sq mi (2,989 km²) 1,147 sq mi (2,971 km²) , 0.56% |
| Population - (2010) - Density |
81,642 71/sq mi (27.4/km²) |
| Website | www.clearfieldco.org |
Clearfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 81,642. The county seat is Clearfield. The largest city in the county is DuBois. The entire county makes up the Dubois Micropolitan Statistical Area.
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History [edit]
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.
Location of County Government [edit]
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.
Early Industry [edit]
The two major industries of the county in the mid-1800s until the early 1900s was lumber and coal. Lumber was till being floated down the West Branch of the Susquehanna up until 1917. Coal remains the main industry of the county to this day.
Clearfield County Fair [edit]
The Clearfield County Fair is one of the top county fairs in the State of Pennsylvania. On July 29, 2013 the fair will celebrate its 152nd year, since its inaugural opening in 1861.
Law and Government [edit]
As of November 2008, there are 51,471 registered voters in Clearfield County.[1]
- Democratic: 23,462 (45.58%)
- Republican: 23,055 (44.79%)
- Other parties: 4,954 (9.62%)
While the county registration tends to be evenly matched between Democrats and Republicans, the county trends Republican in statewide elections. 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.
County commissioners [edit]
- John Sobel, Republican
- Joan McMillen, Republican
- Mark McCracken, Democrat
Other county offices [edit]
- Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary, William A. Shaw, Democrat
- Controller, Antonio Scotto, Republican
- District Attorney, William A. Shaw Jr., Democrat
- Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds, Maurene Inlow, Republican
- Sheriff, Chester Hawkins, Republican
- Treasurer, Carol Fox, Democrat
Pennsylvania State Senate [edit]
| District | Senator | Party |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Joseph B. Scarnati | Republican |
| 35 | John N. Wozniak | Democrat |
| 41 | Donald C. White | Republican |
Pennsylvania House of Representatives [edit]
| District | Representative | Party |
|---|---|---|
| 74 | Thomas R. Sankey,III | Republican |
| 75 | Matt Gabler | Republican |
United States House of Representatives [edit]
| District | Representative | Party |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Glenn "G.T." Thompson | Republican |
United States Senate [edit]
| Senator | Party |
|---|---|
| Pat Toomey | Republican |
| Bob Casey | Democrat |
Geography [edit]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,988 square kilometers (1,154 sq mi). 2,972 km2 (1,147 sq mi) of it is land and 17 km2 (7 sq mi) of it (0.56%) is water. 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, Pennsylvania 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.
Adjacent counties [edit]
- Elk County (north)
- Cameron County (north)
- Clinton County (northeast)
- Centre County (east)
- Blair County (southeast)
- Cambria County (south)
- Indiana County (southwest)
- Jefferson County (west)
Demographics [edit]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 875 |
|
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| 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% | |
| [2][3] | |||
As of the census[4] 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/km2). There were 37,855 housing units at an average density of 33 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 according to Census 2000.
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.
Correctional Facilities [edit]
- Clearfield County Jail
- Quehanna Bootcamp
- SCI Houtzdale
Municipalities [edit]
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:
Cities [edit]
Boroughs [edit]
Townships [edit]
Census-designated places [edit]
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 Communities [edit]
Unincorporated areas is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.
County Population Ranking [edit]
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census.[5] of Clearfield County.
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Population (2010 Census) | Municipal type | Incorporated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DuBois | 7,794 | City | 1881 (borough) 1914 (city) |
| 2 | Clearfield † | 6,215 | Borough | 1840 |
| 3 | Treasure Lake | 3,861 | CDP | |
| 4 | Curwensville | 2,542 | Borough | 1851 |
| 5 | Sandy | 1,429 | CDP | |
| 6 | Hyde | 1,399 | CDP | |
| 7 | Osceola Mills | 1,141 | Borough | 1864 |
| 8 | Falls Creek (partially) | 1,037 | Borough | |
| 9 | Plymptonville | 981 | CDP | |
| 10 | Chester Hill | 883 | Borough | 1883 |
| 11 | Houtzdale | 797 | Borough | 1872 |
| 12 | Oklahoma | 782 | CDP | |
| 13 | Morrisdale | 754 | CDP | |
| 14 | Irvona | 647 | Borough | 1890 |
| 15 | Hawk Run | 534 | CDP | |
| 16 | West Decatur | 533 | CDP | |
| 17 | Coalport | 523 | Borough | 1883 |
| 18 | Grassflat | 511 | CDP | |
| 19 | Ramey | 451 | Borough | 1878 |
| 20 | Brisbin | 411 | Borough | 1883 |
| 21 | Bigler | 398 | CDP | |
| 22 | Westover | 390 | Borough | 1895 |
| 23 | Mahaffey | 368 | Borough | 1889 |
| 24 | Grampian | 356 | Borough | 1885 |
| 25 | Kylertown | 340 | CDP | |
| 26 | Wallaceton | 313 | Borough | 1873 |
| 27 | Allport | 264 | CDP | |
| 28 | Troutville | 243 | Borough | 1890 |
| 29 | Burnside | 234 | Borough | 1874 |
| 30 | Glen Hope | 142 | Borough | 1878 |
| 31 | Newburg | 92 | Borough | 1885 |
| 32 | Lumber City | 76 | Borough | 1857 |
| 33 | New Washington | 59 | Borough | 1859 |
Recreation [edit]
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.
Camping [edit]
Lodging/Camping[6]
| Campground # | Name | Location | Campsites | Swimming | Fishing | Hunting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2515 | Woodland Campground | Woodland | 70 | yes | yes | yes |
Hunting/Fishing [edit]
Hunting[7]
| SGL# | Location | Hunting Area | Acreage | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | Medix Run | Benezette, Covington, Girard, Goshen Townships | 8,000 | bear, dear, turkey |
| 77 | Clear Run | Sandy Township | 3,038 | bear, dear, rabbit, squirrel |
| 78 | Bigler | Bradford & Graham Townships | 721 | bear, deer, turkey |
| 87 | Irishtown | Bell & Penn Townships | 10,422 | dear, 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 | dear, rabbit, turkey |
Fishing
Sporting [edit]
Golf
| Course # | Name | Location | Holes | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3133 | Chetremon Golf Course | 2 miles north of Cherry Tree in Burnside Township Clearfield County | 10 | 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 |
Points of Interest [edit]
- Bilger's Rocks
- Clearfield Armory
- Dimeling Hotel
- McGees Mills Covered Bridge
- St. Severin's Old Log Church
Education [edit]
Colleges and universities [edit]
- Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania at Clearfield, Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania State University at DuBois
Community, Junior and Technical Colleges [edit]
Public School Districts [edit]
- Clearfield Area School District
- Curwensville Area School District
- DuBois Area School District (also in Jefferson County)
- Glendale School District (also in Cambria County)
- Harmony Area School District (also in Indiana County)
- Moshannon Valley School District
- Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District (also in Centre County)
- Purchase Line School District (also in Indiana County)
- West Branch Area School District (also in Clinton County)
Intermediate unit [edit]
- Central IU 10 - West Decatur
Correctional institution schools [edit]
- Quehanna Boot Camp - Karthaus
- SCI-Houtzdale - Houtzdale
Private Schools [edit]
- Butchers Run Amish School
- Clearfield Alliance Christian School
- DuBois Area Catholic Elementary School
- DuBois Area Catholic High School
- DuBois Christian Schools
- Golden Yoke School
- Milestones Achievement Center
- Mount Calvary Christian Academy
- New Story (DuBois)
- Otterbein Christian Academy
- Paint & Play School (DuBois)
- Scenic View School
- St Francis Grade School
- Weber Road School
Based on the Pennsylvania Department of Education EdNA listing 2012
Libraries [edit]
- Clearfield County Public Library - Curwensville
- Curwensville Public Library
- DuBois Public Library -
- Glendale Public Library - Coalport
- Joseph and Elizabeth Shaw Public Library - Clearfield
Major Roadways [edit]
Interstates [edit]
U.S. Routes [edit]
Pennsylvania Routes [edit]
See also [edit]
- List of municipal authorities in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania
- Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania#Highest Point on 80
- Indian old field
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania
References [edit]
- ^ http://www.dos.state.pa.us/elections/lib/elections/055_voter_registration_statistics/currentstats/currentvotestats.xls
- ^ http://factfinder2.census.gov
- ^ http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ http://www.census.gov/2010census/
- ^ http://www.visitclearfieldcounty.org/lodging/camp-sites/
- ^ http://www.visitclearfieldcounty.org/outdoors/hunting-fishing/
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Clearfield County, Pennsylvania |
- History of Townships in Clearfield County, PA
- [1] History of Clearfield County
- [2] Clearfield County Fair
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