Elk County, Pennsylvania

Elk County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 31,946.[2] Its county seat is Ridgway.[3] The county was created on April 18, 1843, from parts of Jefferson, Clearfield and McKean Counties, and is named for the Eastern elk that historically inhabited the region.

Elk County
U.S. county
County courthouse in Ridgway
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°25′N 78°39′W
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
Founded18 April 1843
Named forEastern elk
SeatRidgway
Largest citySt. Marys
Area
 • Total832 sq mi (2,150 km2)
 • Land827 sq mi (2,140 km2)
 • Water4.9 sq mi (13 km2)  0.6%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
30,169[1]
 • Density36.5/sq mi (14.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district15th
Websitewww.co.elk.pa.us

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 square miles (2,150 km2), of which 827 square miles (2,140 km2) is land and 4.9 square miles (13 km2) (0.6%) is water.[4] 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

National protected area

State protected areas

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18503,531—
18605,91567.5%
18708,48843.5%
188012,80050.8%
189022,23973.7%
190032,90348.0%
191035,8719.0%
192034,981−2.5%
193033,431−4.4%
194034,4433.0%
195034,5030.2%
196037,3288.2%
197037,7701.2%
198038,3381.5%
199034,878−9.0%
200035,1110.7%
201031,946−9.0%
2018 (est.)30,169[1]−5.6%
US Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2017[2]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[9] there were 35,112 people, 14,124 households, and 9,745 families in the county. The population density was 42/sqmi (16/km2). There were 18,115 housing units at an average density of 22/sqmi (8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.96% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.31% from two or more races. 0.40% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 54.4% were of German, 21.7% Italian, 16.5% Irish, 8.8% Polish, 7.6% American, 7.4% English, 6.3% Swedish, 3.6% French ancestry.

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 age 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.

Politics and government
Presidential election results
Presidential elections results[10]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 71.8% 12,140 26.7% 4,522 1.4% 244
2016 68.9% 10,025 26.5% 3,853 4.6% 669
2012 57.1% 7,579 41.1% 5,463 1.8% 237
2008 46.5% 6,676 50.8% 7,290 2.8% 396
2004 54.1% 7,872 45.4% 6,602 0.5% 76
2000 54.1% 7,347 42.4% 5,754 3.5% 479
1996 37.6% 4,889 44.2% 5,749 18.3% 2,375
1992 35.5% 4,908 36.3% 5,016 28.3% 3,908
1988 52.9% 6,737 46.1% 5,879 1.0% 128
1984 60.5% 8,470 39.2% 5,486 0.4% 51
1980 52.5% 7,175 43.2% 5,898 4.4% 596
1976 47.0% 6,159 51.2% 6,713 1.8% 237
1972 61.2% 7,900 36.5% 4,710 2.3% 298
1968 44.1% 6,193 49.0% 6,886 6.9% 967
1964 29.4% 4,354 70.5% 10,455 0.1% 19
1960 46.0% 7,155 54.0% 8,398 0.1% 14
1956 61.8% 8,947 38.0% 5,498 0.2% 23
1952 54.3% 7,702 45.4% 6,448 0.3% 45
1948 49.0% 5,148 51.0% 5,363
1944 47.8% 5,645 51.6% 6,097 0.6% 67
1940 50.0% 6,949 49.8% 6,920 0.2% 31
1936 35.1% 5,489 57.8% 9,035 7.1% 1,107
1932 46.4% 5,797 51.7% 6,461 1.9% 239
1928 40.2% 5,234 59.2% 7,705 0.5% 70
1924 70.9% 6,626 14.7% 1,370 14.5% 1,356
1920 66.1% 5,267 26.3% 2,093 7.6% 604
1916 52.3% 2,829 40.4% 2,186 7.2% 390
1912 10.5% 603 35.8% 2,057 53.7% 3,082
1908 51.5% 2,991 43.6% 2,531 4.9% 283
1904 55.3% 3,820 41.3% 2,857 3.4% 237
1900 50.1% 3,254 47.8% 3,105 2.2% 141
1896 49.6% 2,807 48.0% 2,717 2.5% 139
1892 38.9% 1,438 57.6% 2,126 3.5% 129
1888 41.1% 1,321 56.7% 1,824 2.2% 70

As of January 2021, there were 20,169 registered voters in Elk County.[11]

Elk County tended to be politically competitive in statewide and national elections, but has recently become a solid Republican county like most of rural Pennsylvania. The county was carried by George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004. The county was carried by Barack Obama in 2008 and by Mitt Romney in 2012 over Obama's victorious ticket. Like most other rural counties, both in Pennsylvania and nationwide, Donald Trump strongly won the county in 2016 and 2020 -- increasing his margin in the latter.

The county has frequently voted with the eventual winner of national elections, from 1920 to 2008, except for 1928 when Al Smith carried the county with nearly 60% of the vote over winner Herbert Hoover, 1940 when Wendell Willkie carried the county with a very slim margin of 29 votes over incumbent Franklin D. Roosevelt, and in 1968, when Hubert Humphrey won it over eventual winner Richard Nixon.

The three state row offices winners also carried Elk and Democratic incumbent State Representative Dan Surra lost after nine terms to Republican Matt Gabler in 2008.

County commissioners
  • Joseph Daghir, Republican
  • M. Fritz Lecker, Republican
  • Matthew G. Quesenberry, Democrat

[12]

Other county offices
  • Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary, Susanne Schneider, Republican
  • Coroner, Michelle Muccio, Republican
  • District Attorney, Shawn McMahon,
  • Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds, Pete Weidenboerner, Democrat
  • Sheriff, Todd Caltagarone, Republican
  • Treasurer, Peggy Schneider, Democrat

State representative[13]

State senator[13]

U.S. representative

Education
Map of Elk County, Pennsylvania School Districts

Public school districts

All children living in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania may also choose to attend one of 12 state-licensed public cyber charter schools.

Children in Elk County are also served by Seneca Highlands Intermediate Unit Nine, in Saint Marys. The IU serves all schools (public, private, charter) in Cameron County, Elk County, McKean County and Potter County. IU9 serves 15,761 public school students in fourteen school districts and 1,673 non-public school students in nineteen schools. Intermediate Unit Nine covers 3,300 square miles with a population of 105,102.

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
Elk County boroughs and municipalities

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

Boroughs

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Elk County.[15]

† 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

References
  1. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 31 May 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  5. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  7. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  8. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  9. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  10. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  12. https://www.co.elk.pa.us/index.php/government/local-government/county-offices/item/282-meet-the-commissioners
  13. Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Find Your Legislator". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  14. Portland Mills PA (Google Maps - accessed 11 November 2019)
  15. "2010 U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 10 February 2013.

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