Crawford County, Pennsylvania

Crawford County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 83,938.^[3] Its county seat is Meadville.^[4] The county was created on March 12, 1800, from part of Allegheny County and named for Colonel William Crawford.^[5] The county is part of the Northwest region of the commonwealth.^[a]

Crawford County
County
The Crawford County Courthouse in Meadville
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°41′N 80°07′W
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
Founded	March 12, 1800
Named after	William Crawford
Seat	Meadville
Largest city	Meadville
Area
• Total	1,038 sq mi (2,690 km2)
• Land	1,012 sq mi (2,620 km2)
• Water	25 sq mi (60 km2)  2.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	83,938
• Estimate  (2024)[1]	82,089
• Density	81/sq mi (31/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	16th
Website	www.crawfordcountypa.net
Pennsylvania Historical Marker
Designated	May 12, 1982[2]

Crawford County comprises the Meadville micropolitan statistical area, which is also included in the Erie-Meadville combined statistical area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,038 square miles (2,690 km²), of which 25 square miles (65 km²) (2.4%) are covered by water.^[6] It has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb) and average monthly temperatures in Meadville range from 24.9 °F in January to 69.5 °F in July, while in Titusville they range from 24.2 °F in January to 68.8 °F in July.^[7]

Adjacent counties

• Erie County (north)
• Warren County (east)
• Venango County (southeast)
• Mercer County (south)
• Trumbull County, Ohio (southwest)
• Ashtabula County, Ohio (west)

National protected area

• Erie National Wildlife Refuge

State protected area

Pymatuning State Park is on Pymatuning Reservoir.

Major highways

• I-79
• US 6
• US 19
• US 322
• PA 8
• 
  PA 8 Truck
• PA 18
• PA 27
• 
  PA 27 Truck
• PA 77
• PA 86
• PA 89
• PA 98
• PA 99
• PA 102
• PA 173
• PA 198
• PA 285
• PA 408
• PA 428

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1800	2,346		—
1810	6,178		163.3%
1820	9,397		52.1%
1830	16,030		70.6%
1840	31,724		97.9%
1850	37,849		19.3%
1860	48,755		28.8%
1870	63,832		30.9%
1880	68,607		7.5%
1890	65,324		−4.8%
1900	63,643		−2.6%
1910	61,565		−3.3%
1920	60,667		−1.5%
1930	62,980		3.8%
1940	71,644		13.8%
1950	78,948		10.2%
1960	77,956		−1.3%
1970	81,342		4.3%
1980	88,869		9.3%
1990	86,169		−3.0%
2000	90,367		4.9%
2010	88,765		−1.8%
2020	83,938		−5.4%
2024 (est.)	82,089		−2.2%
[8][1]

As of the 2000 census, 90,366 people, 34,678 households, and 23,858 families were residing in the county.^[9] The population density was 89 people per square mile (34 people/km²). The 42,416 housing units had an average density of 42 units per square mile (16/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.00% White, 1.59% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. About 0.59% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. About 45.1% were self-described English or Welsh, 10.9% American, 10.3% German, 8.2% Irish, 7.8% Scotch-Irish or Scottish, 3.8% Italian 2.6% Dutch, and 2.3% French by ancestry.

Of the34,678 households, 30.4% had children under 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were not families. About 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the age distribution was 24.7% under18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.

2020 census

Crawford County Racial Composition^[10]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	77,347	92.14%
Black or African American (NH)	1,496	1.8%
Native American]] (NH)	109	0.13%
Asian (NH)	365	0.43%
Pacific Islander (NH)	26	0.03%
Other/Mixed (NH)	3,354	4%
Hispanic or Latino	1,241	1.48%

Micropolitan statistical area

The United States Office of Management and Budget^[11] has designated Crawford County as the 'Meadville, PA micropolitan statistical area. As of the 2010 census^[12] the micropolitan area ranked fifth-most populous in Pennsylvania and the 52nd-most populous in the United States with a population of 88,765. Crawford County is also a part of the Erie-Meadville combined statistical area, which combines the population of both Crawford County and Erie County. The combined statistical area ranked seventh in Pennsylvania and 102nd-most populous in the United States with a population of 369,331.

Map of the Erie-Meadville, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), composed of the following parts:

  Erie, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area

  Meadville, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area

Government

United States presidential election results for Crawford County, Pennsylvania^[13]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	29,685	69.04%	12,858	29.90%	456	1.06%
2020	28,561	67.82%	12,924	30.69%	629	1.49%
2016	24,987	66.08%	10,971	29.01%	1,855	4.91%
2012	20,901	58.75%	13,883	39.02%	791	2.22%
2008	20,750	54.17%	16,780	43.80%	777	2.03%
2004	21,965	57.32%	16,013	41.79%	344	0.90%
2000	18,858	56.58%	13,250	39.76%	1,220	3.66%
1996	14,659	46.62%	12,943	41.16%	3,844	12.22%
1992	14,112	40.75%	12,813	37.00%	7,703	22.25%
1988	17,249	56.32%	13,021	42.51%	358	1.17%
1984	20,181	60.80%	12,792	38.54%	222	0.67%
1980	16,552	53.55%	11,778	38.11%	2,579	8.34%
1976	15,301	49.99%	14,712	48.06%	597	1.95%
1972	18,393	64.38%	9,371	32.80%	805	2.82%
1968	14,991	53.11%	11,345	40.19%	1,890	6.70%
1964	10,664	36.78%	18,212	62.82%	115	0.40%
1960	18,754	60.68%	12,050	38.99%	102	0.33%
1956	18,887	66.65%	9,346	32.98%	104	0.37%
1952	19,079	65.49%	9,874	33.89%	181	0.62%
1948	14,161	60.69%	9,174	39.31%	0	0.00%
1944	15,205	61.83%	9,216	37.48%	170	0.69%
1940	15,891	60.62%	10,197	38.90%	125	0.48%
1936	14,463	51.31%	12,788	45.37%	938	3.33%
1932	10,918	51.72%	9,382	44.44%	811	3.84%
1928	17,072	71.17%	6,718	28.00%	199	0.83%
1924	10,918	63.09%	2,969	17.16%	3,418	19.75%
1920	10,032	62.31%	4,175	25.93%	1,892	11.75%
1916	5,487	44.18%	5,814	46.81%	1,119	9.01%
1912	2,497	20.56%	3,908	32.17%	5,742	47.27%
1908	7,679	52.58%	5,668	38.81%	1,258	8.61%
1904	7,450	59.03%	3,645	28.88%	1,525	12.08%
1900	7,705	49.97%	7,000	45.40%	713	4.62%
1896	7,851	47.26%	8,383	50.47%	377	2.27%
1892	7,152	47.30%	6,166	40.78%	1,804	11.93%
1888	8,040	53.59%	5,964	39.75%	999	6.66%

United States Senate election results for Crawford County, Pennsylvania1^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	28,234	66.10%	13,370	31.30%	1,110	2.60%

Voter registration

Chart of Voter Registration

1. Republican (59.2%)
2. Democratic (29.0%)
3. Independent (8.11%)
4. Other Parties (3.69%)

As of February 6, 2024, there were 49,786 registered voters in Crawford County.^[15]

• Republican: 29,457 (59.17%)
• Democratic: 14,454 (29.03%)
• Independent: 4,039 (8.11%)
• Third Party: 1,836 (3.69%)

County Commissioners

Office	Holder	Party
Commissioner	Eric Henry	Republican
Commissioner	Scott T. Schell	Republican
Commissioner	Christopher R. Seeley	Democratic

Other County Row Officers

Office	Holder	Party
Clerk of Courts	Patti Wetherbee	Republican
County Auditor	Kelsey Zimmerman	Republican
County Auditor	Renee Kiser	Republican
County Auditor	Darien Pfaff	Democratic
County Coroner	Eric Coston	Republican
District Attorney	Paula DiGiacomo	Republican
Prothonotary	Emmy Arnett	Republican
Register & Recorder	Beth M. Forbes	Republican
Sheriff	Dave Powers	Republican
Treasurer	Chris Krzysiak	Republican

Pennsylvania Senate

District	Senator	Party
50	Michele Brooks	Republican

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

District	Representative	Party
6	Brad Roae	Republican
17	Parke Wentling	Republican
65	Kathy Rapp	Republican

United States House of Representatives

District	Representative	Party
16	Mike Kelly	Republican

United States Senate

Senator	Party
John Fetterman	Democrat
Dave McCormick	Republican

Education

Colleges and universities

• Allegheny College, located in Meadville
• University of Pittsburgh at Titusville, a branch campus of the University of Pittsburgh, located in Titusville

Map of Crawford County, Pennsylvania School Districts

Community, junior, and technical colleges

• Precision Manufacturing Institute (PMI)^[16]

Laurel Technical Institute (LTI)

Public school districts

School districts are:^[17]

• Conneaut School District
• Corry Area School District
• Crawford Central School District
• Jamestown Area School District
• Penncrest School District
• Titusville Area School District
• Union City Area School District

Communities

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

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

Cities

• Meadville (county seat)
• Titusville

Boroughs

• Blooming Valley
• Cambridge Springs
• Centerville
• Cochranton
• Conneaut Lake
• Conneautville
• Hydetown
• Linesville
• Saegertown
• Spartansburg
• Springboro
• Townville
• Venango
• Woodcock

Townships

• Athens
• Beaver
• Bloomfield
• Cambridge
• Conneaut
• Cussewago
• East Fairfield
• East Fallowfield
• East Mead
• Fairfield
• Greenwood
• Hayfield
• North Shenango
• Oil Creek
• Pine
• Randolph
• Richmond
• Rockdale
• Rome
• Sadsbury
• South Shenango
• Sparta
• Spring
• Steuben
• Summerhill
• Summit
• Troy
• Union
• Venango
• Vernon
• Wayne
• West Fallowfield
• West Mead
• West Shenango
• Woodcock

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.

• Adamsville
• Atlantic
• Canadohta Lake
• Conneaut Lakeshore
• Fredericksburg
• Geneva
• Guys Mills
• Harmonsburg
• Hartstown
• Kerrtown
• Lincolnville
• Pymatuning Central
• Pymatuning North
• Pymatuning South
• Riceville

Unincorporated communities

• Buells Corners
• Custards
• Frenchtown
• Rundell

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Crawford County.^[12]

† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2010 Census)
1	† Meadville	City	13,388
2	Titusville	City	5,601
3	Cambridge Springs	Borough	2,595
4	Conneaut Lakeshore	CDP	2,395
5	Pymatuning Central	CDP	2,269
6	Cochranton	Borough	1,136
7	Linesville	Borough	1,040
8	Saegertown	Borough	997
9	Conneautville	Borough	774
10	Fredericksburg	CDP	733
11	Conneaut Lake	Borough	653
12	Hydetown	Borough	526
13	Canadohta Lake	CDP	516
14	Pymatuning South	CDP	479
15	Springboro	Borough	477
16	Harmonsburg	CDP	401
17	Blooming Valley	Borough	337
18	Townville	Borough	323
19	Pymatuning North	CDP	311
T-20	Spartansburg	Borough	305
T-20	Kerrtown	CDP	305
21	Venango	Borough	239
22	Centerville	Borough	218
23	Hartstown	CDP	201
24	Woodcock	Borough	157
25	Guys Mills	CDP	124
26	Geneva	CDP	109
27	Lincolnville	CDP	96
28	Atlantic	CDP	77
29	Riceville	CDP	68
30	Adamsville	CDP	67

Notable people

• The abolitionist John Brown lived in Crawford County for 11 years, more than he lived anywhere else. He was the first postmaster of Randolph Township, a position he held from 1828 to 1836, and he carried the mail from Meadville. In 1825 he started the county's first industry, a tannery, today the John Brown Farm, Tannery & Museum. In his barn, an Underground Railroad station, he had a secret, well-ventilated room in which to hide fugitive slaves. One reason he relocated to Crawford County, he said, was that it was a good location for helping them.
• Robert F. Kent (1911–1982) was born in Meadville and represented Crawford County in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1947 to 1956. He was elected Pennsylvania State Treasurer in 1956 and held this office from January 1957 to January 1961.^[18]

See also

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