Centre County, Pennsylvania

Not to be confused with Centre Region Council of Governments.

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 county is part of the Central Pennsylvania region of the state.^{[lower-alpha 1]}

Centre County
County
The Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte
Flag Seal Logo
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°55′N 77°49′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.centrecountypa.gov
Pennsylvania Historical Marker
Designated	May 10, 1982[1]

History

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.

Geography

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] Centre County is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission,^[6] 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.^[7] 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).

State College
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.7     34 20     2.5     38 22     3.4     46 28     3.2     60 39     3.5     70 49     4.1     78 59     3.5     82 63     3.8     80 61     3.7     72 53     3.1     61 42     3.4     50 34     2.9     38 25 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches Source: Pennsylvania State Climatologist[8]
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     70     1 −7     64     3 −6     87     8 −2     81     15 4     88     21 10     104     26 15     89     28 17     98     27 16     93     22 12     78     16 6     85     10 1     73     3 −4 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm

Features

• Bald Eagle Valley
• Bald Eagle Mountain
• Nittany Valley
• Mount Nittany
• Penns Valley
• Tussey Mountain

Adjacent counties

• Clinton County (north)
• Union County (east)
• Mifflin County (southeast)
• Huntingdon County (south)
• Blair County (south)
• Clearfield County (west)

Demographics

Historical population

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%
[9]

As of the 2010 census,^[10] 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.

2020 census

Centre County Racial Composition^[11]

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%

Metropolitan statistical area

See also: Metropolitan statistical area and List of combined statistical areas

Map of the State College-DuBois, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), composed of the following parts:

  State College, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area

  DuBois, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area

The United States Office of Management and Budget^[12] has designated Centre County as the State College, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of the 2010 U.S. Census^[13] 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.

Law and government

County commissioners

• Mark Higgins, Chairman (Democrat)
• Amber Concepcion, Vice-chair (Democrat)
• Steven G. Dershem, Commissioner (Republican) ^[14]

Other county offices

• Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary, Jeremy Breon, Democrat
• Controller, Jason Moser, Democrat
• Coroner, Scott Sayers, Democrat
• District Attorney, Bernie Cantorna, Democrat
• Recorder of Deeds, Joe Davidson, Republican
• Register of Wills, Christine Millinder, Republican
• Sheriff, Bryan Sampsel, Republican
• Treasurer, Colleen Kennedy, Democrat

State senate

• Greg Rothman, Republican, Pennsylvania's 34th Senatorial District

State House of Representatives

• Scott Conklin, Democrat, Pennsylvania's 77th Representative District
• Paul Takac, Democrat, Pennsylvania's 82nd Representative District
• Kerry Benninghoff, Republican, Pennsylvania's 171st Representative District^[15]

United States House of Representatives

• Glenn "G.T." Thompson, Republican, Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district

United States Senate

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

Politics

Chart of Voter Registration

  Democratic (41.93%)

  Republican (40.58%)

  Independent (13.73%)

  Other Parties (3.76%)

United States presidential election results for Centre County, Pennsylvania^[16]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	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, consistent with the nationwide trends in other counties that are home to large universities. 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).

2020 presidential election, shaded by city and township
Biden:     50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Trump:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

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.^[17] In 2016, Democrat Hillary Clinton beat Republican nominee Donald Trump 47.76% to 45.86%.^[18] In that same election, incumbent Republican Senator Pat Toomey beat Democratic opponent Katie McGinty 47.91% to 46.2% in the county.^[18]

Voter registration

As of February 7, 2024, there were 100,829 registered voters in Centre County.^[19]

• Democratic: 42,280 (41.93%)
• Republican: 40,918 (40.58%)
• Non-affiliated: 13,839 (13.73%)
• Third Parties: 3,792 (3.76%)

Education

Old Main, the main administrative building of Penn State, at University Park.

Colleges and universities

• Pennsylvania State University

Community, junior, and technical colleges

• South Hills School of Business & Technology
• Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology, public Vo Tech in Pleasant Gap

Public school districts

Map of Centre County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

School districts include:^[20]

• Bald Eagle Area School District
• Bellefonte Area School District
• Keystone Central School District (also in Clinton County)
• Penns Valley Area School District
• Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District (also in Clearfield County)
• State College Area School District
• Tyrone Area School District (also in Blair County and Huntingdon County)

Public charter schools

• Young Scholars of Central PA Charter School
• Centre Learning Community Charter School
• Nittany Valley Charter School
• There are 13 public cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania that are available for free statewide, to children K-12. See: Education in Pennsylvania.

Private schools

As reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Education 2010.

• Bower Hollow Parochial School – Woodward
• Centre County Christian Academy – Bellefonte
• Elk Creek School – Rebersburg
• Faith Christian Academy – Philipsburg
• Grace Prep – State College
• Hill Side School – Rebersburg
• Hubler Ridge School – Bellefonte
• Kramer Gap School – Spring Mills
• Little Nittany Amish Parochial School – Howard
• Mountain View School – Rebersburg
• Nittany Christian School – State College
• Our Lady of Victory School – State College
• Peach Lane Amish School – Madisonburg
• Penns Valley Amish Paroch School – Woodward
• Rockville School – Rebersburg
• Spring Bank School – Rebersburg
• St John Evangelist School – Bellefonte
• St. Joseph's Academy – Boalsburg
• State College Friends School – State College
• Sunny Meadow Parochial School – Howard
• Sunset View School – Howard
• Sunset View School – Rebersburg
• Windy Poplars School – Centre Hall
• Woodside Amish School – Spring Mills

Libraries

• Centre County Libraries
  • Centre County Library & Historical Museum – Bellefonte
  • Centre Hall Area Branch Library – Centre Hall
  • Holt Memorial Library – Philipsburg
  • Centre County Bookmobile
• American Philatelic Research Library
• Schlow Centre Region Library

Pennsylvania State University libraries

• Pattee Library
• Paterno Library
• Architecture and Landscape Architecture Library
• Earth and Mineral Sciences Library
• Engineering Library
• Physical and Mathematical Sciences Library

Transportation

State College Regional Airport operates daily commercial and general aviation flights.

Major highways

• I-80
• I-99
• US 322
• 
  US 322 Bus.
• US 220
• 
  US 220 Alt.
• PA 26
• PA 45
• PA 64
• PA 144
• PA 150
• PA 192

Recreation

An apple tree and meadow at Bald Eagle State Park

Black Moshannon State Park

There are six Pennsylvania state parks in Centre County.

• Bald Eagle State Park is the largest state park in Centre County with 5,900-acre (2,400-hectare). It is on Pennsylvania Route 150 between Milesburg and Lock Haven.
• Black Moshannon State Park west of State College has a bog with three species of carnivorous plants and 17 orchid varieties.
• McCalls Dam State Park is a small park on a dirt road in the extreme eastern tip of the county.
• Penn-Roosevelt State Park is the site of a former segregated CCC camp for African American men.
• Poe Paddy State Park is at the confluence of Big Poe Creek and Penns Creek.
• Poe Valley State Park is in an isolated valley surrounding 25 acre Poe Lake.

Media

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.^[21]

Numerous magazines are also published including Town & Gown,^[22] State College Magazine,^[23] Good Life in Happy Valley,^[24] Blue White Illustrated, Pennsylvania Business Central, and Voices of Central Pennsylvania.^[25]

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.

Communities

Map of Centre County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).

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:

Home rule municipalities

• Ferguson Township (Happy Valley)
• State College (Happy Valley)

Boroughs

• Bellefonte (county seat)
• Centre Hall
• Howard
• Milesburg
• Millheim
• Philipsburg
• Port Matilda
• Snow Shoe
• Unionville

Townships

• Benner
• Boggs
• Burnside
• College (Happy Valley)
• Curtin
• Ferguson (Happy Valley)
• Gregg
• Haines
• Halfmoon
• Harris (Happy Valley)
• Howard
• Huston
• Liberty
• Marion
• Miles
• Patton (Happy Valley)
• Penn
• Potter
• Rush
• Snow Shoe
• Spring
• Taylor
• Union
• Walker
• Worth

Census-designated places

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 also be listed here.

• Aaronsburg
• Baileyville
• Blanchard
• Boalsburg
• Casanova
• Clarence
• Coburn
• Continental Courts
• Eagle Creek
• Eagleville
• Holters Crossing
• Houserville
• Hublersburg
• Jacksonville
• Julian
• Lemont
• Madisonburg
• Mingoville
• Monument
• Moose Run
• Moshannon
• Mount Eagle
• Nittany
• North Philipsburg
• Orviston
• Park Forest Village
• Peru
• Pine Glen
• Pine Grove Mills
• Pleasant Gap
• Potters Mills
• Ramblewood
• Rebersburg
• Runville
• Sandy Ridge
• Snydertown
• South Philipsburg
• Spring Mills
• Stormstown
• Toftrees
• Woodward
• Yarnell
• Zion

Other communities

• Axemann
• Colyer
• Graysdale
• Gum Stump
• Ingleby (ghost town)
• Martha Furnace
• Struble
• Tusseyville
• University Park
• Waddle
• Wingate

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Centre County.^[13]

† 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

See also

• Pennsylvania portal

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

References

1. Includes Centre, Lycoming, Northumberland, Columbia, Mifflin, Union, Snyder, Clinton, Juniata and Montour Counties

1. "PHMC Historical Markers Search". Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on March 21, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
2. "Census - Geography Profile: Centre County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. "Centre County Pennsylvania: 15 Historical Sketches of Our 200 Years". Retrieved June 18, 2012.
5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
6. "About the Appalachian Region". Appalachian Regional Commission. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
7. Woodard, Colin. "The Maps That Show That City vs. Country Is Not Our Political Fault Line". New York Times. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
8. "Pennsylvania State Climatologist – State College Extremes". Pennsylvania State Climatologist. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
9. "Census 2020".
10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
11. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Centre County, Pennsylvania".
12. "Office of Management and Budget". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
13. "2010 U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
14. "Centre County Government - Welcome Page". Centre County Government. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
15. Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Find Your Legislator". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
17. "2012 Presidential General Election Results - Pennsylvania".
18. "Centre County, PA - Official Website - Election Results". centrecountypa.gov. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
19. Pennsylvania Department of State (February 5, 2024). "Voter registration statistics by county". dos.pa.gov. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
20. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Centre County, PA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 18, 2024. - Text list
21. "Pennsylvania Newspapers". NewsLink. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
22. Town & Gown Magazine Town & Gown Magazine
23. State College Magazine, Pennsylvania Archived January 2, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. State College Magazine (March 1, 2011). Retrieved on 2011-03-30.
24. Good Life in Happy Valley | Centre Daily Times – State College, PA | Penn State, Nittany Lions, weather, news, jobs, homes, apartments, real estate Archived May 31, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Centredaily.com (June 19, 2009). Retrieved on 2011-03-30.
25. "Voices of Central Pa - Central Pennsylvania's Independent Community Newspaper". www.voicesweb.org. Archived from the original on April 1, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2018.

External links

• Official website
• Centre Daily Times Local Newspaper
• Interactive Web Mapping Application for Centre County
• Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) Historical Marker Search
• Open Access edition of The History of Centre and Clinton counties, Pennsylvania (1883) by John Blair Linn at the Penn State University Library website

40.91°N 77.82°W / 40.91; -77.82