Mifflin County, Pennsylvania

Geography

Main article: Geography of Pennsylvania#The Mountains

The county terrain is formed by the folded Appalachian Mountain ridges which run from southwest to northeast across the county. The terrain slopes to the northeast, with its highest point (Broad Mtn) 1.25 mi East Northeast from the county's Northwest corner, just south of the county's border with Centre County. It measures 2,339 ft Above sea level. The Juniata River flows northeast through the lower part of the county, exiting northeastward into Juniata County near Hawstone. The county has a total area of 415 sqmi, of which 411 sqmi is land and 3.7 sqmi (0.9%) is water.

Mifflin County is located in, and has its boundaries defined by, the Ridge-and Valley Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania. The county is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission, 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.

US Route 322, a major divided highway, connects the county to the rest of the state on its route between Harrisburg and State College. US Route 522 also connects the county to the rest of the state on its route between Selinsgrove and Mount Union.

The county has a humid continental climate (Dfa/Dfb) and average temperatures in downtown Lewistown range from 27.8 °F in January to 72.7 °F in July.

Adjacent counties

• Centre County - north
• Union County - northeast
• Snyder County - east
• Juniata County - south
• Huntingdon County - west

Major highways

Protected areas

• Reeds Gap State Park
• Bald Eagle State Forest (part)
• Rothrock State Forest (part)
• Tuscarora State Forest (part)
• State Game Lands Number 107 (part)
• State Game Lands Number 112B (part)
• White Mountain Wild Area (part of Bald Eagle State Forest)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2017 2024

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 46,143. The median age was 44.0 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.5 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 94.6% White, 0.8% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian,

45.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 54.5% lived in rural areas.

There were 18,823 households in the county, of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.8% were married-couple households, 17.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 21,313 housing units, of which 11.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.2% were owner-occupied and 28.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.2%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 U.S. census, there were 46,682 people and 18,743 households in the county. The population density was 113.6 /mi2. There were 21,537 housing units at an average density of 52.4 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 97.53% White, 0.64% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. 1.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.8% were of German, 19.2% American, 8.0% Irish and 7.5% English ancestry. 5.7% report speaking Pennsylvania Dutch, Dutch, or German at home.

There were 18,743 households, out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.60% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.99.

The county population contained 23.1% under the age of 18, 2.2% from 18 to 19, 5.1% from 20 to 24, 10.4% from 25 to 34, 20.1% from 35 to 49, 20.6% from 50 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. The population was 48.93% male, and 51.07% female.

Amish community

The Amish community in Mifflin County, established in 1791, had a total population of 3,905 people (in 30 congregations) in 2017, or 8.5% of the county's population.

Dialect

The dominant form of speech in Mifflin County is the Central Pennsylvania accent. Almost everyone in Mifflin County speaks English. The Amish and some Mennonites speak Pennsylvania German, also known as Pennsylvania Dutch, a West Central German dialect, which is quite different from modern Standard German. The Amish and Mennonites can also speak English. Few non-Amish or Mennonites in Mifflin County today speak Pennsylvania German, but this was not true in the past.

Micropolitan Statistical Area

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Mifflin County as the Lewistown, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA). As of the 2010 United States census the micropolitan area ranked 10th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 237th most populous in the United States with a population of 46,682.

Law and government

|}

County Commissioners

• Rob Postal (R)
• Noah Wise (R)
• Kevin Kodish (D)

County Auditors

• Helen Kirk (R)
• Barbara Clemmons (R)
• Kendra Dunmire (D)

Other County Officers

• District Attorney: Christopher Torquato (R)
• Sheriff: James Aumiller (Acting)
• Treasurer: Diane Griffith (R)
• Register & Recorder: Ellen Amspacker (R)
• Coroner: Andrea Alcalde (R)
• Prothonotary: Tammy Stuck (R)

State Representatives

Source:

• David H. Rowe, Republican, Pennsylvania's 85th Representative District
• Kerry A. Benninghoff, Republican, Pennsylvania's 171st Representative District (as of January 2023)

State Senator

Source:

• Judy Ward, Republican, Pennsylvania's 30th Senatorial District (as of January 2023)

United States Representative

• John Joyce, Republican, Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district

United States Senators

• John Fetterman, Democrat
• Dave McCormick, Republican

Mifflin County voters have been reliably Republican. In only one national election since 1940 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

Economy

Major employers in Mifflin County include:

• Asher’s Chocolates
• First Quality
• Geisinger Health
• Giant Food
• Jarden Plastics
• Lowe’s
• Marlette Homes
• Mifflin County School District
• Overhead Door Corporation
• Philips
• Standard Steel
• Trinity Packaging
• Walmart

Education

Public school districts

Most of the county is served by the Mifflin County School District, with the exception of Wayne Township and the boroughs of Newton-Hamilton and Kistler, which are part of the Mount Union Area School District.

• Mifflin County School District
• Mount Union Area School District (also in Huntingdon County)

Head Start preschool programs

Head Start is a federally and state funded preschool program for low income children. The program serves 3- and 4-year-olds. In order to participate the family income must be below federal poverty guidelines.

• Coleman Head Start Center
• McVeytown Head Start Center

Private schools

• Sacred Heart provides a private, Catholic education from kindergarten through fifth grade.
• Belleville Mennonite School, Beth-El Christian Day School, and Valley View Christian School provide Mennonite education through grade twelve.
• Mifflin County Christian Academy located in Decatur Township provides Christian education from kindergarten through grade twelve as well as day care.
• Several Old Order Amish schools provide education through grade eight.

Colleges and universities

Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology located in Lewistown provides post high school degrees in nursing, auto mechanics and electrical services and other technology driven careers.

The Lewistown branch of the South Hills School of Business and Technology offers associate degrees and other certifications in various areas of business, technology, and some health care. (Closed 2019)

The Penn State Learning Center in Lewistown offers both two-year and four-year degrees. Recently, the Learning Center opened a state-of-the-art science lab to be used by students attending the Lewistown Hospital School of Nursing.

Media

Radio stations

AM

• WLUI 670 AM- Lewistown (simulcast on W225CK, 92.9 FM)
• WKVA 920 AM- Lewistown (simulcast on W262DO, 100.3 FM)

FM

• WRYV 88.7- Milroy
• WJRC 90.9- Lewistown
• WMRF 95.7- Lewistown
• WVNW 96.7- Burnham
• WCHX 105.5- Burnham

Television

Mifflin County does not have a local television station but it is provided with local coverage from the following stations outside of the county from both the Harrisburg and Johnstown/Altoona markets:

• WHTM 27 Harrisburg (27.1 ABC, 27.2 ION, 27.3 GetTV, 27.4 Laff)
• WPMT 43 York (43.1 FOX, 43.2 AntennaTV)
• WHP 21 Harrisburg (21.1 CBS, 21.2 MyNetworkTV, 21.3 CW)
• WGAL 8 Lancaster (8.1 NBC, 8.2 MeTV)
• WTAJ 10 Altoona (10.1 CBS, 10.2 Escape, 10.3 Laff, 10.4 Grit)
• WJAC 6 Johnstown (6.1 NBC, 6.2 MeTV, 6.3 Comet, 6.4 CW)
• WATM 23 Altoona (23.1 ABC, 23.2 FOX, 23.3 ThisTV, 23.4 AntennaTV)
• WWCP 8 Johnstown (8.1 FOX, 8.2 ABC)
• WHVL 29 State College (29.1 MyNetworkTV, 29.2 Buzzr)

Newspapers

• Lewistown Sentinel
• County Observer
• The Valley Newspaper

Communities

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns.

Boroughs

• Burnham
• Juniata Terrace
• Kistler
• Lewistown (county seat)
• McVeytown
• Newton Hamilton

Census-designated places and unincorporated communities

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the US Census Bureau for the purpose of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities are listed here as well.

• Alfarata
• Allensville
• Anderson
• Atkinson Mills
• Barrville
• Belleville
• Belltown
• Cedar Crest
• Church Hill
• Granville
• Hawstone
• Highland Park
• Little Kansas
• Longfellow
• Lumber City
• Maitland
• Mattawana
• Menno
• Milroy
• Naginey
• Potlicker Flats
• Reedsville
• Ryde
• Shindle
• Siglerville
• Strodes Mills
• Union Mills
• Wagner
• Woodland
• Yeagertown

Townships

• Armagh
• Bratton
• Brown
• Decatur
• Derry
• Granville
• Menno
• Oliver
• Union
• Wayne

Population ranking

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

† county seat

References

References

1. "Parke County, Indiana".
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. "QuickFacts: Mifflin County, Pennsylvania".
4. ""Find an Altitude/Mifflin County PA" - Google Maps (accessed 23 May 2019)".
5. [https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=7574 "Broad Mountain Pennsylvania" - PeakBagger.com (accessed 23 May 2019)]
6. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mifflin+County,+PA/@40.6034009,-77.8811494,10z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89cecafe4d50302b:0xd35a18bbb3e25a25!8m2!3d40.652279!4d-77.6077865 Mifflin County PA - Google Maps (accessed 23 May 2019)]
7. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau.
8. "About the Appalachian Region". Appalachian Regional Commission.
9. "The Maps That Show That City vs. Country Is Not Our Political Fault Line". New York Times.
10. "PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University".
11. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau.
12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
13. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau.
14. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". US Census Bureau.
15. "State & County QuickFacts". [[United States Census Bureau]].
16. "Census 2020".
17. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
18. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
19. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
20. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Mifflin County, Pennsylvania". [[United States Census Bureau]].
21. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Mifflin County, Pennsylvania".
22. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Mifflin County, Pennsylvania".
23. "Language Map Data Center".
24. [http://amishamerica.com/12-largest-amish-communities-2017/ The 12 Largest Amish Communities (2017)] at Amish America
25. "Office of Management and Budget".
26. "Businesses that Received Forms in 2012: Pennsylvania - U.S. Census Bureau".
27. Promotions, Center for New Media and. "US Census Bureau 2010 Census".
28. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
29. Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Find Your Legislator".
30. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".
31. Snyder, Union, Mifflin Child Development Report. Feb 2010
32. [http://sacredheartschool.com/?page_id=328 Sacred Heart School/Academics (accessed 23 May 2019)]
33. [https://www.manta.com/c/mmydd7f/county-observer County Observer (Manta, accessed 23 May 2019)]
34. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Anderson,+PA+17044/@40.5397957,-77.6543029,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x89cecafe4d50302b:0xd35a18bbb3e25a25!2sMifflin+County,+PA!3b1!8m2!3d40.652279!4d-77.6077865!3m4!1s0x89c94bfc5c5f1c51:0xaeff612294fde06f!8m2!3d40.5397647!4d-77.6455307 Anderson PA - Google Maps (accessed 23 May 2019)]
35. [https://www.mapquest.com/us/pennsylvania/anderson-pa-283401116 Anderson PA (MapQuest, accessed 23 May 2019)]
36. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Belltown,+PA+17841/@40.7128491,-77.4254138,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x89cecafe4d50302b:0xd35a18bbb3e25a25!2sMifflin+County,+PA!3b1!8m2!3d40.652279!4d-77.6077865!3m4!1s0x89cecfaceecb3fa7:0x813565ebfe1e5322!8m2!3d40.7129149!4d-77.4167061 Belltown PA - Google Maps (accessed 23 May 2019)]
37. [https://www.mapquest.com/us/pennsylvania/belltown-pa-283419683 Belltown PA (MapQuest, accessed 23 May 2019)]
38. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hawstone,+PA+17044/@40.5917399,-77.5145805,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x89cecafe4d50302b:0xd35a18bbb3e25a25!2sMifflin+County,+PA!3b1!8m2!3d40.652279!4d-77.6077865!3m4!1s0x89c934d00d850d67:0x10a08d9d62955ad5!8m2!3d40.5917308!4d-77.5057983 Hawstone PA - Google Maps (accessed 23 May 2019)]
39. [https://pennsylvania.hometownlocator.com/pa/mifflin/hawstone.cfm Hawstone, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania (Hometown Locator, accessed 23 May 2019)]
40. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Little+Kansas,+PA+17051/@40.4878519,-77.8195835,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x89cecafe4d50302b:0xd35a18bbb3e25a25!2sMifflin+County,+PA!3b1!8m2!3d40.652279!4d-77.6077865!3m4!1s0x89c950968a3382f3:0x7889fdf4f8662c78!8m2!3d40.4878235!4d-77.8108406 Little Kansas PA - Google Maps (accessed 23 May 2019)]
41. [https://www.mapquest.com/us/pennsylvania/little-kansas-pa-283486330 Little Kansas PA (MapQuest, accessed 23 May 2019)]
42. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Menno,+PA+17004/@40.5784037,-77.77875,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x89cecafe4d50302b:0xd35a18bbb3e25a25!2sMifflin+County,+PA!3b1!8m2!3d40.652279!4d-77.6077865!3m4!1s0x89c95242e9c47673:0xab739037315c39eb!8m2!3d40.5783682!4d-77.7699852 Menno PA - Google Maps (accessed 23 May 2019)]
43. [https://www.mapquest.com/us/pennsylvania/menno-pa-283370274 Menno PA (MapQuest, accessed 23 May 2019)]
44. [https://roadsidethoughts.com/pa/naginey-xx-mifflin-misc.htm Naginey, Mifflin County PA (Roadside Thoughts Gazeteer; accessed 23 May 2019)]
45. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Naginey,+PA+17063/@40.7042345,-77.5604166,3473m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89cec9e7c8994fe3:0xf6dbd800d78243ce!8m2!3d40.7042354!4d-77.5516618 Naginey PA - Google Maps (accessed 23 May 2019)]
46. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ryde,+PA+17051/@40.4356318,-77.7676368,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x89cecafe4d50302b:0xd35a18bbb3e25a25!2sMifflin+County,+PA!3b1!8m2!3d40.652279!4d-77.6077865!3m4!1s0x89c95adaf80abfc9:0x305063b0f07f79c9!8m2!3d40.4356461!4d-77.758913 Ryde PA - Google Maps (accessed 23 May 2019)]
47. [https://www.mapquest.com/us/pennsylvania/ryde-pa-283498425 Ryde PA (MapQuest, accessed 23 May 2019)]
48. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Shindle,+PA+17841/@40.6695173,-77.4220797,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x89cecafe4d50302b:0xd35a18bbb3e25a25!2sMifflin+County,+PA!3b1!8m2!3d40.652279!4d-77.6077865!3m4!1s0x89cecdd78c4e4beb:0xbc49a247999c4f9!8m2!3d40.6695067!4d-77.4133587 Shindle PA - Google Maps (accessed 23 May 2019)]
49. [https://www.mapquest.com/us/pennsylvania/shindle-pa-283405270 Shindle PA (MapQuest, accessed 23 May 2019)]
50. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Union+Mills,+PA+17004/@40.6059034,-77.7081937,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x89cecafe4d50302b:0xd35a18bbb3e25a25!2sMifflin+County,+PA!3b1!8m2!3d40.652279!4d-77.6077865!3m4!1s0x89c94d209ffeba95:0x32e7d8a4b6e84c66!8m2!3d40.6058727!4d-77.6994324 Union Mills PA - Google Maps (accessed 23 May 2019)]
51. [https://www.mapquest.com/us/pennsylvania/union-mills-pa-283470276 Union Mills PA (MapQuest, accessed 23 May 2019)]
52. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Woodland,+PA+17084/@40.6945115,-77.6337503,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x89cecafe4d50302b:0xd35a18bbb3e25a25!2sMifflin+County,+PA!3b1!8m2!3d40.652279!4d-77.6077865!3m4!1s0x89ceb69e075e763f:0x803e6f2bbe4537d8!8m2!3d40.6945008!4d-77.6250172 Woodland PA - Google Maps (accessed 23 May 2019)]
53. [https://www.mapquest.com/us/pennsylvania/woodland-pa-282924351 Woodland PA (MapQuest, accessed 23 May 2019)]