Elk County, Pennsylvania
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county Elk County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 30,990.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Ridgway.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county was created on April 18, 1843, from parts of Jefferson, Clearfield, and McKean Counties. Elk County is named for the now-extinct eastern elk (Cervus canadensis) that historically inhabited the region. The county is part of the North Central Pennsylvania region of the state.Template:Efn
The county is notable for having one of the highest concentrations of Roman Catholics in the United States, with 69% of the county's residents identifying as Catholic.
Geography
[edit]Elk County consists of low rolling hills, carved by frequent drainages and heavily wooded.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.6%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Elk has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb) and average monthly temperatures in Ridgway range from 23.2 °F in January to 67.4 °F in July, while in Saint Marys they range from 22.6 °F in January to 66.8 °F in July.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Adjacent counties
[edit]- McKean County - north
- Cameron County - east
- Clearfield County - south
- Jefferson County - southwest
- Forest County - west
- Warren County - northwest
National protected area
[edit]- Allegheny National Forest (part)
State protected areas
[edit]Major highways
[edit]- Template:Jct
- Template:Jct
- Template:Jct
- Template:Jct
- Template:Jct
- Template:Jct
- Template:Jct
- Template:Jct
- Template:Jct
- Template:Jct
Demographics
[edit]As of the 2020 United States census,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> there were 30,990 people and 14,215 households. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 16,855 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 97.9% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.4% Asian, and 1.0% from two or more races. 0.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 42.9% were of German, 17.7% Italian, 13.1% Irish, 6.4% English, 5.8% Polish, and 5.2% Swedish.
Template:US Census population Template:Stack There were 14,124 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.00% were non-families. 27.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.99.
The county population contained 24.00% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.
Elk County has one of the highest concentrations of Roman Catholics in the United States. As of 2010, nearly 70% of the county's residents identified as Catholic.
2020 census
[edit]| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 30,339 | 97.9% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 155 | 0.5% |
| Native American (NH) | 62 | 0.2% |
| Asian (NH) | 124 | 0.4% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 310 | 1.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 279 | 0.9% |
Economy
[edit]As of the 2021 ACS 5-Year Estimates, Elk County's largest industry and source of employment is manufacturing, with the second largest being educational services, healthcare, and social services.
Government and politics
[edit]Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow |} Template:U.S. SenHead Template:U.S. SenRow Template:U.S. SenFoot
Voter demographics
[edit]Template:Pie chartAs of November 4, 2024, there are 20,837 registered voters in Elk County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Republican: 12,152 (58.31%)
- Democratic: 6,206 (29.78%)
- Independent: 1,657 (7.95%)
- Third Party: 822 (3.94%)
Elk County used to be competitive in statewide and national elections. The county frequently voted with the eventual winner of national elections, from 1920 to 2008, except for 1928, 1940, and 1968. In the 21st century, its Catholic identity has been replaced by its rural identity in defining how it votes; its longtime Democratic voter registration advantage was taken over by Republicans in 2018.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county voted for Mitt Romney by 16 points in 2012, then swung over 25 points to the right and voted for Donald Trump by 42 points in 2016, before swinging further right in 2020 and voting for Trump by 45 points.
County commissioners
[edit]- M. Fritz Lecker, Republican
- Matthew G. Quesenberry, Democrat
- Gregory J. Gebauer, Republican
Other county offices
[edit]- Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary, Susanne Schneider, Republican
- Coroner, Michelle Muccio, Republican
- District Attorney, Beau Grove, Republican
- Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds, Lee Neureiter, Republican
- Sheriff, Todd Caltagarone, Republican
- Treasurer, Matthew Frey, Republican
- Board of Auditors, Sandra A. Caltagarone, Republican; Jean Zore, Republican; Siobhan Voss, Democrat
State representative
[edit]- Mike Armanini, Republican, 75th district<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>
State senator
[edit]- Cris Dush, Republican, 25th district<ref name=":0" />
United States representative
[edit]- Glenn "G.T." Thompson, Republican, 15th district
United States senators
[edit]- John Fetterman, Democrat
- Dave McCormick, Republican
Education
[edit]
Community education center
[edit]The Community Education Center of Elk and Cameron Counties (or CEC) provides credit, non-credit, and enrichment programs.
Public school districts
[edit]School districts include:<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>
- Brockway Area School District
- Forest Area School District
- Johnsonburg Area School District
- Kane Area School District
- Ridgway Area School District
- Saint Marys Area School District
Private schools
[edit]- Elk County Catholic High School
- St Boniface School - Kersey
- St Leo School - Ridgway
- St Marys Catholic Elementary School = Saint Marys
- St Marys Catholic Middle School = Saint Marys
- North Central Workforce Investment Board - Ridgway
- Anne Forbes Nursery School - Ridgway
Libraries
[edit]- Elk County Library System - Saint Marys
- Johnsonburg Public Library - Johnsonburg
- Ridgway Free Public Library - Ridgway
- Saint Marys Public Library - Saint Marys
- Tri State Coll Library Co-Op - Rosemont
- Wilcox Public Library - Wilcox
Communities
[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 Elk County:
City
[edit]Boroughs
[edit]- Johnsonburg
- Ridgway (county seat)
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.Template:Div col
Unincorporated communities
[edit]- Arroyo
- Dagus Mines
- Loleta
- Portland Mills<ref>Portland Mills PA (Google Maps - accessed 11 November 2019)</ref>
Townships
[edit]Former Townships
[edit]- Benzinger - consolidated with St. Marys borough in 1992.
Population ranking
[edit]The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Elk County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2010 Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Marys | City | 13,070 |
| 2 | † Ridgway | Borough | 4,078 |
| 3 | Johnsonburg | Borough | 2,483 |
| 4 | Kersey | CDP | 937 |
| 5 | Weedville | CDP | 542 |
| 6 | Byrnedale | CDP | 427 |
| 7 | Wilcox | CDP | 383 |
| 8 | James City | CDP | 287 |
| 9 | Force | CDP | 253 |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]Template:NotelistTemplate:Reflist
Template:Elk County, Pennsylvania Template:Pennsylvania Template:Authority control