Clearfield County, Pennsylvania

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Clearfield County, Pennsylvania
Clearfield County Courthouse Apr 10.JPG
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Clearfield County
Location in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Map of the United States highlighting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location in the U.S.
Founded January 29, 1822
Seat Clearfield
Largest city DuBois
Area
 • Total 1,154 sq mi (2,989 km2)
 • Land 1,145 sq mi (2,966 km2)
Population (est.)
 • (2017) 79,685
 • Density 71/sq mi (27/km2)
Congressional district 5th
Time zone Eastern: UTC−5/−4
Website www.clearfieldco.org
Footnotes:
Designated September 17, 1982[1]

Clearfield County is a sixth-class county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 81,642.[2] The county seat is Clearfield,[3] and the largest city is DuBois. The county was created in 1804 and later organized in 1822.[4]

Clearfield County comprises the DuBois, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the State College-DuBois, PA Combined Statistical Area.

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 still being floated down the West Branch of the Susquehanna up until 1917. Coal remains the main industry of the county to this day.

Geography[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,154 square miles (2,990 km2), of which 1,145 square miles (2,970 km2) is land and 9.2 square miles (24 km2) (0.8%) is water.[5] It is the third-largest county in Pennsylvania by land area and fourth-largest by total area. 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.

The shape of Clearfield County bears an amazing resemblance to that of the state of Arkansas.

Major highways[edit]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1810875—
18202,342167.7%
18304,803105.1%
18407,83463.1%
185012,58660.7%
186018,75949.0%
187025,74137.2%
188043,40868.6%
189069,56560.3%
190080,61415.9%
191093,76816.3%
1920103,23610.1%
193086,727−16.0%
194092,0946.2%
195085,957−6.7%
196081,534−5.1%
197074,619−8.5%
198083,57812.0%
199078,097−6.6%
200083,3806.8%
201081,642−2.1%
Est. 201779,685[6]−2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2017[2]

As of the census[11] 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.

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.

Micropolitan Statistical Area[edit]

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
See also: List of Micropolitan Statistical Areas and List of Combined Statistical Areas

The United States Office of Management and Budget[12] has designated Clearfield County as the DuBois, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area (µSA). As of the 2010 census[13] the micropolitan area ranked 6th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 65th most populous in the United States with a population of 81,642. Clearfield County is also a part of the State College-DuBois, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which combines the populations of both Clearfield and Centre County areas, as well as the State College area. The Combined Statistical Area ranked 9th in the State of Pennsylvania and 125th most populous in the United States with a population of 235,632.

Politics and government[edit]

Presidential elections results
Presidential Elections Results[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 72.2% 24,932 23.7% 8,200 4.1% 1,418
2012 63.3% 20,347 34.6% 11,121 2.0% 654
2008 54.9% 18,662 42.8% 14,555 2.4% 805
2004 60.0% 20,533 39.5% 13,518 0.5% 182
2000 58.8% 18,019 38.3% 11,718 2.9% 896
1996 44.9% 12,987 41.4% 11,991 13.7% 3,977
1992 37.5% 11,553 39.7% 12,247 22.9% 7,047
1988 53.5% 14,296 45.8% 12,235 0.7% 182
1984 60.6% 18,653 38.9% 11,963 0.5% 153
1980 54.3% 15,299 41.3% 11,647 4.4% 1,246
1976 49.2% 13,626 49.5% 13,714 1.3% 345
1972 63.5% 16,780 35.0% 9,246 1.5% 383
1968 49.6% 14,471 42.4% 12,369 8.0% 2,323
1964 37.0% 11,338 62.7% 19,211 0.3% 103
1960 57.0% 18,911 42.8% 14,212 0.2% 72
1956 57.5% 17,519 42.2% 12,852 0.3% 89
1952 54.3% 16,045 45.2% 13,376 0.5% 156
1948 50.0% 11,810 48.0% 11,347 2.1% 487
1944 50.2% 13,986 48.9% 13,617 0.8% 233
1940 46.3% 15,407 53.2% 17,705 0.5% 163
1936 40.3% 14,531 57.7% 20,799 2.0% 720
1932 46.5% 10,500 49.6% 11,209 3.9% 888
1928 67.3% 16,719 31.7% 7,870 1.1% 270
1924 60.3% 13,745 22.1% 5,027 17.6% 4,015
1920 52.3% 9,615 32.6% 5,987 15.2% 2,791
1916 42.7% 5,676 46.5% 6,180 10.9% 1,443
1912 11.8% 1,523 36.2% 4,670 52.0% 6,707
1908 51.7% 7,726 39.8% 5,954 8.5% 1,271
1904 64.1% 9,541 28.8% 4,291 7.0% 1,047
1900 53.6% 7,955 40.8% 6,066 5.6% 833
1896 51.0% 7,395 44.5% 6,460 4.5% 653
1892 40.7% 4,765 52.2% 6,108 7.1% 829
1888 44.5% 5,297 52.7% 6,266 2.8% 337

As of October 2014, there were 50,846 registered voters in Clearfield County.[15]

While the county registration tends to be evenly matched between Democrats and Republicans, the county trends Republican in statewide and federal elections. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, while Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton winning pluralities in the county, with the former by 88 votes. 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]

Commissioners Party First Elected
Mark McCracken Democratic 2003
Antonio Scotto Republican 2015
John Sobel Republican 2007

Other county offices[edit]

Office Official Party First Elected
Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary Brian K. Spencer Republican 2013
Controller Charles Adamson Republican 2015 (appointed)
Coroner Kim Shaffer Snyder Republican 2017 (appointed)
District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. Democratic 2003
Recorder of Deeds and Register of Wills Maurene Inlow Republican 2007
Sheriff Michael Churner Republican 2017
Treasurer Carol Fox Democratic 1998 (appointed)

State Senate[edit]

District Senator Party
25 Joseph B. Scarnati Republican
35 Wayne Langerholc Jr. Republican
41 Donald C. White Republican

State House of Representatives[edit]

District Representative Party
73 Tommy Sankey 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

Correctional facilities[edit]

Education[edit]

Colleges and universities[edit]

Map of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

Community, junior and technical colleges[edit]

Public school districts[edit]

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

Libraries[edit]

  • Clearfield County Public Library - Curwensville
  • Curwensville Public Library
  • DuBois Public Library -
  • Glendale Public Library - Coalport
  • Joseph and Elizabeth Shaw Public Library - Clearfield

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[16]

Campground # Name Location Campsites Swimming Fishing Hunting
2515 Woodland Campground Woodland 70 yes yes yes

Hunting/fishing[edit]

Hunting[17]

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

Lake/stream Location Tributary of
Bear Run Reservoir Pike Township West Branch of the Susquehanna River
Chest Creek Chest Township West Branch of the Susquehanna River
Clearfield Reservoir Pike Township West Branch of the Susquehanna River
Curwensville Lake Pike Township West Branch of the Susquehanna River
DuBois Reservoir Union Township near Home Camp
Duck Marshes northern Girard Township near Elk County line
Irvona Reservoir Chest Township Clearfield Creek
Lake Sabula Sandy Township near Sabula
Laurel Run (Bennett Branch Sinnemahoning Creek) Huston Township in Parker Dam State Park Bennett Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek
Moose Creek Reservoir Lawrence Township near Mt. Joy West Branch of the Susquehanna River
Parker Lake Huston Township in Parker Dam State Park Bennett Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek
Penfield Reservoir Huston Township near Hoovertown Bennett Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek
Treasure Lake Sandy Township Treasure Lake
Tyler Reservoir Huston Township near Tyler Bennett Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek
West Branch of the Susquehanna River Most of central & eastern Clearfield County including Mahaffey, Curwensville, and Clearfield Susquehanna River

Sporting[edit]

Golf

Course # Name Location Holes Website
3133 Chetremon Golf Course 2 miles north of Cherry Tree in Burnside Township Clearfield County 10 https://web.archive.org/web/20111117163225/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]

Communities[edit]

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

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:

City[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 are region of land that are not parts of any incorporated boroughs, cities, or towns.

Population ranking[edit]

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

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Population (2010 Census) Municipal type
1 DuBois 7,794 City
2 † Clearfield 6,215 Borough
3 Treasure Lake 3,861 CDP
4 Curwensville 2,542 Borough
5 Sandy 1,429 CDP
6 Hyde 1,399 CDP
7 Osceola Mills 1,141 Borough
8 Falls Creek (mostly in Jefferson County) 1,037 Borough
9 Plymptonville 981 CDP
10 Chester Hill 883 Borough
11 Houtzdale 797 Borough
12 Oklahoma 782 CDP
13 Morrisdale 754 CDP
14 Irvona 647 Borough
15 Hawk Run 534 CDP
16 West Decatur 533 CDP
17 Coalport 523 Borough
18 Grassflat 511 CDP
19 Ramey 451 Borough
20 Brisbin 411 Borough
21 Bigler 398 CDP
22 Westover 390 Borough
23 Mahaffey 368 Borough
24 Grampian 356 Borough
25 Kylertown 340 CDP
26 Wallaceton 313 Borough
27 Allport 264 CDP
28 Troutville 243 Borough
29 Burnside 234 Borough
30 Glen Hope 142 Borough
31 Newburg 92 Borough
32 New Washington 59 Borough

Notable people[edit]


See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "PHMC Historical Markers Search" (Searchable database). Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "Pennsylvania: Individual County Chronologies". Pennsylvania Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  6. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  9. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  11. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. ^ http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb
  13. ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-12-21. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  14. ^ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  15. ^ http://www.dos.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/voter_registration_statistics/12725
  16. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 23, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  17. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 31, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  18. ^ Hometown Locator: New Castle ( Clearfield Co., PA)

External links[edit]

Coordinates: 41°00′N 78°28′W / 41.00°N 78.47°W / 41.00; -78.47

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