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Centre County, Pennsylvania

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Template:Short description Template:Distinguish Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

Centre County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 158,172.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Bellefonte.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> Centre County is composed of the State College, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county is part of the Central Pennsylvania region of the state.Template:Efn

History

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The land of the future Centre County was first recorded by James Potter in 1764. Potter 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!'" <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Centre County was created on February 13, 1800 by Act 2092 of the Pennsylvania Legislature from parts of Huntingdon, Lycoming, Mifflin, and Northumberland counties. The act said that its inhabitants “labour under great hardships, by reason of their great distance from the present seats of justice, and the public offices” of their current counties.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its population was 4,112. Centre was among ten new counties carved from the existing twenty-six in early 1800. The county was named for its central location in the state.<ref>Centre County, Pennsylvania [website] “Centre County Government History” https://centrecountypa.gov/3475/Centre-County-Government-History. Accessed 28Nov2024.</ref> (The American spelling of ‘center’ was yet to be popularized by Noah Webster’s dictionaries, the first edition of which appeared in 1806.)

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.3%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref> Centre County is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission,<ref name="ARC">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="NYT_CW">Template:Cite web</ref> It is the fifth-largest county in Pennsylvania by area and its area code is 814.

Centre County has a humid continental climate (Dfb/Dfa at lower elevations). Template:Climate chart

Features

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Template:US Census population

As of the 2010 census,<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 153,990 people, 57,573 households, and 31,256 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 63,297 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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

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Centre County Racial Composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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

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File:SCDuBoisCSA.jpg
Map of the State College-DuBois, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), composed of the following parts: Template:Legend Template:Legend

The United States Office of Management and Budget<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> has designated Centre County as the State College, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of the 2010 U.S. Census<ref name="census2">Template:Cite web</ref> the metropolitan area ranked 13th most populous in 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 Pennsylvania and 123rd most populous in the United States with a population of 236,577.

Law and government

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County commissioners

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Other county offices

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State senate

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State House of Representatives

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United States House of Representatives

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United States Senate

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Politics

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Template:Pie chartTemplate: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:PresRow Template:PresRow |} Template:U.S. SenHead Template:U.S. SenRow Template:U.S. SenFoot Centre County for many years has been a strongly Republican county, like most of rural Pennsylvania. In the early 21st century, however, it has been more competitive. 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).

File:2020 United States Presidential Election in Centre County, Pennsylvania.svg
2020 presidential election, shaded by city and township
Biden:Template:Legend0 Template:Legend0 Template:Legend0
Trump: Template:Legend0 Template:Legend0 Template:Legend0 Template:Legend0 Template:Legend0

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2016, Democrat Hillary Clinton beat Republican nominee Donald Trump 47.76% to 45.86%.<ref name="centrecountypa.gov">Template:Cite web</ref> In the same election, incumbent Republican Senator Pat Toomey beat Democratic opponent Katie McGinty 47.91% to 46.2% in the county.<ref name="centrecountypa.gov"/>

Voter registration

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As of February 7, 2024, there were 100,829 registered voters in Centre County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Education

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File:Penn state old main summer.jpg
Old Main, the main administrative building of Penn State, at University Park, July 2006

Colleges and universities

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Community, junior, and technical colleges

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Public school districts

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File:Map of Centre County Pennsylvania School Districts.png
Map of Centre County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

School districts include:<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>

Public charter schools

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  • 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

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As reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Education 2010. Template:Div col

  • Bower Hollow Parochial School – Woodward
  • Centre County Christian Academy – Bellefonte
  • Elk Creek School – Rebersburg
  • Faith Christian Academy – Philipsburg
  • Grace Prep – Ferguson
  • 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
  • Park Forest Montessori School - Patton
  • 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

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Libraries

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  • 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

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

Transportation

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

Major highways

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Recreation

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File:Bald Eagle State Park Apple Tree.jpg
An apple tree and meadow at Bald Eagle State Park, October 2009
File:Black Moshannon State Park (Revisited).jpg
Black Moshannon State Park, December 2011

There are six Pennsylvania state parks in Centre County.

Media

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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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Magazines in the area include Town & Gown,<ref>Town & Gown Magazine Town & Gown Magazine</ref> State College Magazine,<ref>State College Magazine, Pennsylvania Template:Webarchive. State College Magazine (March 1, 2011). Retrieved on 2011-03-30.</ref> Good Life in Happy Valley,<ref>Good Life in Happy Valley | Centre Daily Times – State College, PA | Penn State, Nittany Lions, weather, news, jobs, homes, apartments, real estate Template:Webarchive. Centredaily.com (June 19, 2009). Retrieved on 2011-03-30.</ref> Blue White Illustrated, Pennsylvania Business Central, and Voices of Central Pennsylvania.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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 are 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) maintain satellite studios and offices.

Communities

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File:Map of Centre County Pennsylvania With Municipal and Township Labels.png
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. These are the municipalities, boroughs and townships in Centre County:

Home rule municipalities

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Boroughs

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Townships

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Census-designated places

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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.

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Other communities

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Population ranking

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The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Centre County.<ref name="census2"/>

† 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

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References

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Template:NotelistTemplate:Reflist

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Template:State College, Pennsylvania Template:Centre County, Pennsylvania Template:Pennsylvania Template:Authority control

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