Elk County, Pennsylvania

Geography

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 832 sqmi, of which 827 sqmi is land and 4.9 sqmi (0.6%) is water. 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.

Adjacent counties

• McKean County - north
• Cameron County - east
• Clearfield County - south
• Jefferson County - southwest
• Forest County - west
• Warren County - northwest

National protected area

• Allegheny National Forest (part)

State protected areas

• Bendigo State Park
• Elk State Park

Major highways

Demographics

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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 30,990, a population density of 38 /mi2, and 16,836 housing units at an average density of 20 /mi2.

The median age was 48.0 years. 18.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.0 males age 18 and over.

44.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 55.9% lived in rural areas.

There were 13,590 households in the county, of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.0% were married-couple households, 20.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 16,836 housing units, of which 19.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.1% were owner-occupied and 21.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.1%.

The racial makeup of the county was 95.4% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian,

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 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 2000 census reported that 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.

Economy

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

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Voter demographics

• 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. 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

• M. Fritz Lecker, Republican
• Matthew G. Quesenberry, Democrat
• Gregory J. Gebauer, Republican

Other county offices

• 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

• Mike Armanini, Republican, 75th district

State senator

• Cris Dush, Republican, 25th district

United States representative

• Glenn "G.T." Thompson, Republican, 15th district

United States senators

• John Fetterman, Democrat
• Dave McCormick, Republican

Education

Community education center

The Community Education Center of Elk and Cameron Counties (or CEC) provides credit, non-credit, and enrichment programs.

Public school districts

School districts include:

• 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

• 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

• 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

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

• St. Marys

Boroughs

• Johnsonburg
• Ridgway (county seat)

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 be listed here as well.

• Byrnedale
• Force
• James City
• Kersey
• Weedville
• Wilcox

Unincorporated communities

• Arroyo
• Dagus Mines
• Loleta
• Portland Mills

Townships

• Benezette
• Fox
• Highland
• Horton
• Jay
• Jones
• Millstone
• Ridgway
• Spring Creek

Former Townships

• Benzinger - consolidated with St. Marys borough in 1992.

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Elk County.

† county seat

References

References

1. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates".
2. "Elk County, Pennsylvania".
3. "Census - Geography Profile: Elk County, Pennsylvania". [[United States Census Bureau]].
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
5. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau.
6. "PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University".
7. "Census 2020".
8. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
9. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
10. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
11. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Elk County, Pennsylvania". [[United States Census Bureau]].
12. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Elk County, Pennsylvania".
13. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Elk County, Pennsylvania".
14. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections".
15. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".
16. Pennsylvania Department of State. (April 29, 2024). "Voter registration statistics by county".
17. "Voting and Election Statistics {{!}} Department of State {{!}} Commonwealth of Pennsylvania".
18. Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Find Your Legislator".
19. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Elk County, PA". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
20. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Portland+Mills,+PA+15853/@41.374509,-78.8358302,14z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x89cd02aa4bd327a5:0xb165fdab8910941!8m2!3d41.3781171!4d-78.8341976 ''Portland Mills PA'' (Google Maps - accessed 11 November 2019)]
21. "2010 U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].