Ferguson Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania

Ferguson Township is a township with home rule status in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 17,690 at the 2010 census, which is a 25.8% increase from the 2000 census. Most of the agricultural research for Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), located in nearby State College, Pennsylvania, is at the Russell E. Larson Research Center located in the western part of Ferguson Township.

For other Pennsylvania townships with similar names, see Ferguson Township, Pennsylvania (disambiguation).
Ferguson Township,
Centre County,
Pennsylvania
Home Rule Municipality
St. Alban's Anglican Church in Pine Grove Mills
Map of Centre County, Pennsylvania highlighting Ferguson Township
Map of Centre County, Pennsylvania
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyCentre
Settled1791
Incorporated1801
Government
 • TypeBoard of Supervisors
 • Chair (Ward I)Laura Dininni
 • Vice-Chair (At Large)Lisa Strickland
 • Supervisor (At Large)Steve Miller
 • Supervisor (Ward II)Prasenjit Mitra
 • Supervisor (Ward III)Patricia Stephens
Area
 • Total47.70 sq mi (123.55 km2)
 • Land47.70 sq mi (123.54 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total17,690
 • Estimate 
(2016)[2]
19,350
 • Density405.69/sq mi (156.64/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Zip codes
16801, 16803, 16868 (Pine Grove Mills)
Area code(s)814
FIPS code42-027-25624
Websitewww.twp.ferguson.pa.us

Ferguson Township is served by the Ferguson Township Police Department and the Alpha Fire Company for police and fire protection.

History

The Bucher Ayres Farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.[3]

The township adopted a home rule charter in May 1974, effective January 5, 1976, retaining "Township of Ferguson" as its official name.[4] Despite the "Township" designation, Ferguson is no longer governed under the state's Township Code.

Following a referendum in November 2012, Marcellus shale drilling and all actions related to the fracking industry were prohibited in the township.[5][6][7]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 47.6 square miles (123.4 km2), all of it land.[8]

Ferguson Township is bordered by Halfmoon Township and Patton townships to the northwest, the borough of State College and College Township to the northeast, Harris Township to the east and Huntingdon County[9] to the south.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18501,601—
18601,78411.4%
18702,11118.3%
18801,817−13.9%
18901,748−3.8%
19001,512−13.5%
19101,5583.0%
19201,6395.2%
19301,549−5.5%
19401,93625.0%
19502,38823.3%
19603,83260.5%
19706,35165.7%
19808,10527.6%
19909,36815.6%
200014,06350.1%
201017,69025.8%
2016 (est.)19,350[2]9.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[10][11]

As of the census[12] of 2010, there were 17,690 people, 7,195 households, and 4,192 families residing in the township. The population density was 367.8 people per square mile (141.9/km2). There were 7,501 housing units at an average density of 155.9 per square mile (60.2/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 82.0% White, 3.2% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 11.4% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.0% of the population.

There were 7,195 households, out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 2.4% had a male householder with no wife present, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.7% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% 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 2.94.

The age distribution was 19.6% under 18, 18.0% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.3 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $57,459, and the median income for a family was $72,339. The per capita income for the township was $31,016. About 5.6% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.

References
  1. "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Aug 13, 2017.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  3. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  4. Pennsylvania Code Title 314, Sec. 31.1-101 et seq.
  5. VanderKolk, Jessica, "Ferguson Township approves environmental bill of rights", CentreDaily Times, November 7, 2012
  6. State College News Network, Proposed Gas-Drilling Ban, Environmental-Rights Question Set for State College Ballot, August 30, 2011
  7. WNEPTV, 2012 Election Results, November 7, 2012
  8. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Ferguson township, Centre County, Pennsylvania". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on April 9, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  9. Ferguson Township. "Township Information and Location". Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  10. "Centre County PAGenWeb Project". Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  11. http://www.statecollegepa.us/DocumentCenter/View/9917%7Ctitle=Fair Housing Analysis Update for the Borough of State College|accessdate=2016-06-04
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

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