Lycoming County, Pennsylvania

Lycoming County is a county in the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,111.[1] Its county seat is Williamsport.[2]

Lycoming County
U.S. county
The Lycoming County courthouse in Williamsport
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°21′N 77°04′W
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
FoundedApril 13, 1795
Named forLycoming Creek
SeatWilliamsport
Largest cityWilliamsport
Area
 • Total1,244 sq mi (3,220 km2)
 • Land1,229 sq mi (3,180 km2)
 • Water15 sq mi (40 km2)  1.2%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
113,299
 • Density92/sq mi (36/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district12th
Websitewww.lyco.org

Lycoming County comprises the Williamsport Metropolitan Statistical Area.

About 130 miles (209 km) northwest of Philadelphia and 165 miles (266 km) east-northeast of Pittsburgh, Lycoming is Pennsylvania'a largest county by area.

History
Main article: History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania

Formation of the county

Lycoming County was formed from Northumberland County on April 13, 1795. The county was larger than it is today. It took up most of the land that is now north central Pennsylvania. The following counties have been formed from land that was once part of Lycoming County: Armstrong, Bradford, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Indiana, Jefferson, McKean, Potter, Sullivan, Tioga, Venango, Warren, Forest, Elk and Cameron.

Lycoming County was originally named Jefferson County in honor of Thomas Jefferson. This name proved to be unsatisfactory. The name change went through several steps. First a change to Lycoming County was rejected, next the name Susquehanna County was struck down as was Muncy County, before the legislature revisited and settled on Lycoming County for Lycoming Creek, the stream that was the center of the pre-Revolutionary border dispute.

County "firsts"

1615: The first European in Lycoming County was Étienne Brûlé. He was a voyageur for New France. Brule descended the West Branch Susquehanna River and was held captive by a local Indian tribe near what is now Muncy before escaping and returning to Canada.[3]

1761: The first permanent homes were built in Muncy. Three log cabins were built by Bowyer Brooks, Robert Roberts and James Alexander.[3]

1772: The first gristmill is built on Muncy Creek by John Alward[3]

1775: The first public road is built along the West Branch Susquehanna River. The road followed Indian trails from Fort Augusta in what is now Sunbury to Bald Eagle Creek near modern-day Lock Haven.[3]

1786: The first church built in the county was Lycoming Presbyterian church in what was known as Jaysburg and is now the Newberry section of Williamsport.[3]

1792: The first sawmill was built on Lycoming Creek by Roland Hall.[3]

1795: The first elections for Lycoming County government are held soon after the county was formed from Northumberland County. The elected officers were Samuel Stewart, county sheriff and the first county commissioners were John Hanna, Thomas Forster and James Crawford. Andrew Gregg was elected to represent Lycoming County in the United States Congress, William Hepburn was voted to the Pennsylvania State Senate and Flavel Roan, Hugh White and Robert Martin served as representatives in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.[3]

1823: The county government funded the construction of the first bridges over Loyalsock and Lycoming Creeks.[3]

1839: The first railroad is built. It connected Williamsport with Ralston in northern Lycoming County. The railroad followed Lycoming Creek.[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,244 square miles (3,220 km2), of which 1,229 square miles (3,180 km2) is land and 15 square miles (39 km2) (1.2%) is water.[4] Lycoming County is the largest county in Pennsylvania by land area and second-largest by total area; it is larger than the state of Rhode Island. The county has a humid continental climate which is warm-summer (Dfb) except in lower areas near the river which are hot-summer (Dfa). Average monthly temperatures in downtown Williamsport average from 26.5 °F in January to 72.4 °F in July, while in Trout Run they average from 25.5 °F in January to 71.2 °F in July.

Appalachian Mountains and Allegheny Plateau
Major fault at the dividing line between the Allegheny Plateau and the true Appalachian Mountains near Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Lycoming County is divided between the Appalachian Mountains in the south, the dissected Allegheny Plateau (which also appears mountainous) in the north and east, and the valley of the West Branch Susquehanna River between these.

West Branch Susquehanna River

The West Branch of the Susquehanna enters Lycoming County from Clinton County just west of the borough of Jersey Shore, which is on the northwest bank of the river. The river then flows generally east and a little north with some large curves for 15 miles (24 kilometers) to the city of Williamsport, followed by the borough of Montoursville (both on the north bank) as well as the boroughs of Duboistown and South Williamsport (on the south bank).

The river flows just north of Bald Eagle Mountain (one of the northernmost ridges of the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians) through much of its course in Lycoming County, but it passes the end of the mountain and turns south just before the borough of Muncy (on the east bank). It continues south past the borough of Montgomery and leaves Lycoming County, where it forms the border between Union and Northumberland Counties. From there the West Branch merges with the North Branch Susquehanna River at Northumberland, Pennsylvania, and then flows south to the Chesapeake Bay.

Major creeks and watersheds
Map of the West Branch Susquehanna River (dark blue) and Major Streams in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. From west to east (left to right) the watersheds are: Pine Creek (red); Larrys Creek (orange); Lycoming Creek (yellow); Loyalsock Creek (green); Muncy Creek (light blue); and White Deer Hole Creek (purple, south of the river).

The major creeks of Lycoming County are all tributaries of the West Branch Susquehanna River. On the north or left bank of the river they are (from west to east): Pine Creek (and its tributary Little Pine Creek) which the river receives just west of Jersey Shore; Larrys Creek, which the river receives about 7 km (4 mi) south of Salladasburg; Lycoming Creek which the river receives in western Williamsport; Loyalsock Creek which the river receives between Williamsport and Montoursville; and Muncy Creek (and its tributary Little Muncy Creek), which the river receives just north of Muncy. Loyalsock and Muncy Creeks are also the major watersheds of Sullivan County.

Finally there is White Deer Hole Creek, the only major creek in Lycoming County on the right bank (i.e. south and west) of the river. It is south of Bald Eagle Mountain, and flows from west to east. The river receives it at the village of Allenwood in Gregg Township in Union County. Other creeks found on the right bank (south and west) of the West Branch Susquehanna River in Lycoming County are relatively minor, including Antes Creek in the Nippenose valley (in Limestone and Nippenose Townships), Mosquito Creek (at Duboistown), Hagermans Run (at South Williamsport), and Black Hole Creek (at Montgomery).

The entire county is in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The percent of the county drained by each creek's watershed is as follows: Pine Creek, 15.27%; Little Pine Creek, 11.25% (if these two are considered together, 26.52%); Larry's Creek, 7.17%; Lycoming Creek, 17.80%; Loyalsock Creek, 13.23%; Muncy Creek, 4.82%; Little Muncy Creek, 5.86% (if these two are considered together, 10.68%); and White Deer Hole Creek, 4.40%.[5] Minor creeks account for the rest.

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18005,414—
181011,006103.3%
182013,51722.8%
183017,63630.5%
184022,64928.4%
185026,25715.9%
186037,39942.4%
187047,62627.3%
188057,48620.7%
189070,57922.8%
190075,6637.2%
191080,8136.8%
192083,1002.8%
193093,42112.4%
194093,6330.2%
1950101,2498.1%
1960109,3678.0%
1970113,2963.6%
1980118,4164.5%
1990118,7100.2%
2000120,0441.1%
2010116,111−3.3%
2019 (est.)113,299[6]−2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2019[1]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 120,044 people, 47,003 households, and 31,680 families residing in the county. The population density was 97 people per square mile (38/km2). There were 52,464 housing units at an average density of 42 per square mile (16/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.9% White, 4.3% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. 0.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.5% were of German, 11.7% American, 9.0% Irish, 7.4% Italian and 7.3% English ancestry.

There were 47,003 households, out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% 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 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.3% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

Lycoming County median household income was estimated, by the U.S. Census Bureau, as $46,663 in 2013.[12][13] Statewide the median household income was $52,005 in 2013. In 2008, the state's median household income was $50,702.

County poverty demographics

According to research by The Center for Rural Pennsylvania, which is a legislative agency of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the poverty rate for Lycoming County was 16% in 2014.[14] The statewide poverty rate was 13.6% in 2014. The 2012 childhood poverty rate by school district was: East Lycoming School District – 30.4% living at 185% or below than the Federal Poverty Level, Jersey Shore Area School District – 41.3%, Loyalsock Township School District – 29.2%, Montgomery Area School District – 42.7%, Montoursville Area School District – 22.1%, Muncy School District – 32.8%, South Williamsport Area School District – 34.3% and Williamsport Area School District – 62.5%.[15] The child poverty rate is collected by the school districts as part of the federal free school lunch program.

Birth rate

Lycoming County's live birth rate was 1,705 births in 1990. The county's live birth rate in 2000 declined to 1,339 births, while in 2011 it had declined to 1,279 babies.[16][17][18] From 1960 to 2010, rural Pennsylvania has experienced an ongoing decline in the number of residents under 18 years old.[19]

Teen pregnancy rate

Lycoming County had 980 babies born to teens (age 15–19) in 2011. In 2015, the number of teen births in Lycoming County was 904.[20]

Law and government
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[21][22]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 69.8% 41,462 28.6% 16,971 1.6% 964
2016 69.7% 35,627 25.5% 13,020 4.9% 2,484
2012 65.7% 30,658 32.6% 15,203 1.7% 808
2008 61.2% 30,280 37.2% 18,381 1.6% 786
2004 67.8% 33,961 31.3% 15,681 0.9% 439
2000 62.8% 27,137 34.0% 14,663 3.2% 1,393
1996 54.9% 21,535 34.4% 13,516 10.7% 4,190
1992 47.6% 20,536 30.8% 13,315 21.6% 9,321
1988 64.0% 24,792 34.9% 13,528 1.1% 415
1984 68.0% 28,498 31.4% 13,147 0.6% 250
1980 57.7% 23,415 36.0% 14,609 6.2% 2,529
1976 53.8% 22,648 44.3% 18,635 1.9% 799
1972 68.7% 28,913 28.5% 11,999 2.8% 1,175
1968 54.7% 23,830 38.8% 16,888 6.5% 2,848
1964 42.3% 19,011 57.6% 25,879 0.1% 55
1960 62.1% 30,083 37.9% 18,351 0.1% 48
1956 66.7% 27,030 33.3% 13,490 0.1% 20
1952 61.6% 25,753 38.0% 15,870 0.4% 184
1948 57.2% 19,118 41.0% 13,692 1.9% 626
1944 55.6% 19,886 43.8% 15,658 0.6% 197
1940 53.6% 21,423 46.0% 18,363 0.4% 167
1936 47.8% 18,315 50.6% 19,376 1.6% 599
1932 55.4% 16,212 39.3% 11,499 5.3% 1,539
1928 79.5% 28,720 19.7% 7,132 0.8% 285
1924 58.7% 14,039 28.7% 6,857 12.6% 3,020
1920 56.7% 10,570 31.4% 5,853 11.9% 2,212
1916 41.5% 6,010 45.9% 6,640 12.6% 1,823
1912 11.0% 1,631 40.7% 6,039 48.3% 7,157[23]
1908 50.8% 8,708 41.7% 7,144 7.6% 1,298
1904 52.9% 8,928 38.1% 6,424 9.1% 1,527
1900 47.5% 7,750 45.6% 7,427 6.9% 1,127
1896 48.6% 8,097 44.0% 7,340 7.4% 1,231
1892 40.3% 5,736 52.9% 7,532 6.8% 966
1888 45.3% 6,591 51.4% 7,467 3.3% 478
1884 45.3% 5,355 49.9% 5,900 4.9% 579
1880 41.4% 4,955 53.6% 6,416 5.0% 596

County Commissioners
  • Scott Metzger, Chairman
  • Tony R. Mussare, Vice Chairman
  • Richard Mirabito, Secretary

Law enforcement agencies
  • Pennsylvania State Police
  • Williamsport Police Department
  • Lycoming County Sheriff's Office
  • South Williamsport Police Department (and DuBoistown borough)
  • Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police Department (and Porter, Piatt & Nippenose Townships)
  • Old Lycoming Township Police Department (and Hepburn & Lycoming Townships)
  • Montoursville Police Department
  • Muncy Police Department (and Brady Township)
  • Muncy Township Police Department
  • Hughesville Police Department (and Picture Rocks Borough)
  • Montgomery Police Department
  • Pennsylvania College of Technology Police Department

Fire departments
  • Williamsport Bureau of Fire - Station 1 (HQ on Walnut Street, Engine 14-1 runs out of Station 14)
  • Woodward Township VFC - Station 2
  • Independent Hose of Jersey Shore - Station 3
  • South Williamsport VFC - Station 5 (Quarters of MICU1-91, Merger of former Stations 10 & 11)
  • Nippenose Valley VFC - Station 6
  • Nisbet VFC - Station 7
  • DuBoistown VFC Station - 8
  • Clinton Township VFC - Station 12
  • Montgomery VFC - Station 13
  • Old Lycoming Township VFC - Station 14 (Quarters of MICU91)
  • Hepburn Township VFC - Station 15
  • Trout Run VFC - Station 16
  • Ralston VFC - Station 17
  • Loyalsock VFC - Station 18 (Quarters of MICU18)
  • Williamsport Regional Airport - Station 19
  • Montoursville Fire Department - Station 20 (Quarters of Medic 1-91)
  • Washington Township VFC - Station 21
  • Eldred TWP VFC - Station 22
  • Muncy Township VFC - Station 23
  • Hughesville VFC - Station 24
  • Pluntetts Creek VFC - Station 25
  • Picture Rocks VFC - Station 26
  • Lairdsville VFC - Station 27
  • Waterville VFC - Station 28
  • Antes Fort VFC - Station 31
  • Unityville VFC - Station 32 (Dispatched by Montour County)
  • Brown Township VFC - Station 35
  • Black Forest VFC - Station 36
  • Muncy Area VFC - Station 39
  • Citizens Hose of Jersey Shore - Station 45 (Quarters of MICU94 & MICU1-94)

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Pennsylvania State Senate

United States House of Representatives

United States Senate

Education

Colleges

Public school districts
Map of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

Other public entities

Non public entities
  • Bald Eagle School - Montgomery
  • Brookside School - Montgomery
  • Countryside School - Jersey Shore
  • Fairfield Academy - Montoursville
  • LCCCs Children's Development Center - Williamsport
  • Mountain View Christian School - South Williamsport
  • Mountain View School - Williamsport
  • Pine Woods Nippenose Valley - Jersey Shore
  • Scenic Mountain Parochial School - Allenwood
  • St John Neumann Regional Academy - Williamsport (accepting OSTC students)
  • St John Neumann Regional Academy at Faxon - Williamsport
  • St John Neumann Regional Academy High School Campus - Williamsport (accepting OSTC students)
  • Valley Bell School - Montgomery
  • West Branch School - Williamsport
  • White Deer Valley School - Montgomery
  • Williamsport Christian School - Williamsport

Data from EdNA database maintained by Pennsylvania Department of Education, July 2012

Libraries

There are six public libraries in Lycoming County:

There are also four Link libraries in the county.

Transportation

Major freeways

Airports

There are only two public use airports in the county. The Williamsport Regional Airport, has daily non-stop flights to Philadelphia, and a FBO for private jets and charters. There is also the Jersey Shore Airport, which only has a grass runway and can only handle light aircraft.

Recreation

There are three Pennsylvania state parks in Lycoming County:

There are parts of two Pennsylvania state forests in Lycoming County:

Communities
Map of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Cities and Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).
See also: List of municipalities in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania and List of villages in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania

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 Lycoming County:

City

Boroughs

Townships

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.

Unincorporated communities

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Lycoming County.[25]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 † Williamsport City 29,381
2 South Williamsport Borough 6,379
3 Montoursville Borough 4,615
4 Jersey Shore Borough 4,361
5 Kenmar CDP 4,124
6 Garden View CDP 2,503
7 Muncy Borough 2,477
8 Hughesville Borough 2,128
9 Montgomery Borough 1,579
10 Faxon CDP 1,395
11 Duboistown Borough 1,205
12 Rauchtown (mostly in Clinton County) CDP 726
13 Picture Rocks Borough 678
14 Oval CDP 361
15 Salladasburg Borough 238

Marcellus shale impact fee

Act 13 of 2012,[26] which levied a Marcellus Shale Impact Fee, was signed into law by Governor Tom Corbett on February 14, 2012. The bill provides for the imposition of an unconventional well fee by county (or alternatively municipalities compelling the imposition of an unconventional well fee).

A county may impose the fee if unconventional gas wells are located within its borders and it passes an ordinance within 60 days of the effective date of Act 13. A county that did not pass an ordinance imposing a fee is prohibited from receiving funds. This prohibition remains in effect until a county passes an ordinance imposing a fee.[27][28]

In 2015, Lycoming County received an impact fee disbursement of $3,727,886.78 which was among the top seven counties receiving funds. The top county recipient was Washington County which received $6,512,570.65 in 2014.[29] Cogan House Township received $798,627.10 making it one of the top seven receiving municipalities. Lycoming County had 877 marcellus shale wells. Cummings Township had 248 wells and Cogan House Township had 180 wells.

In 2014, Lycoming County received an impact fee disbursement of $4,822,064 which was among the top seven counties receiving funds. The top county recipient was Washington County which received $6,512,570.65 in 2014.[30] In 2014, there were 873 marcellus shale wells in Lycoming County.[31] Cogan House Township was the top receiving municipality in Lycoming County getting $852,291.25.

  • 2013 – 768 shale wells, impact fee revenues to Lycoming County – $5,099521.27[32]
  • 2012 – 649 shale wells, impact fee revenues to Lycoming County – $4,375,741.90[33]
  • 2011 – 445 shale wells.[34]

Marcellus shale gas well methane leakage

The Harman Lewis 1H well, a Marcellus Shale natural gas well in Moreland Township, has been leaking methane since 2011.[35] Combustible gas has been found "in groundwater, in soil surveys in nearby farm fields and surfacing on Greg’s Run and Sugar Run."[36] In January 2020, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued an order to the well operator, Range Resources, to address the leakage problems "for once and for all."[36]

See also

References
Specific
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Robin Van Auken, Lou Hunsinger Jr. "Lycoming County: Williamsport Firsts". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Archived from the original on 2012-02-09. Retrieved 2012-02-15.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  5. Archived September 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  9. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute (2015). "Median household income".
  13. US Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2015
  14. US Census Bureau (2015). "Poverty Rates by County Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates".
  15. Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (2012). "Student Poverty Concentration 2012". Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2016-06-23.
  16. Pennsylvania Department of Health, Birth Age County Reports 1990, 1990
  17. Pennsylvania Department of Health, Birth Age County Reports 2000, 2000
  18. Pennsylvania Department of Health, Birth Age County Reports 2011, 2011
  19. Center for Rural Pennsylvania, Number of Children Decreasing in Rural Pennsylvania, 2011
  20. "Pennsylvania Teen Births 2015". Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 2016.
  21. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  22. Burnham, Walter Dean. "Presidential ballots, 1836-1892". archive.org. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  23. The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 5,208 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 1,523 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 423 votes, and Socialist Labor candidate Arthur Reimer received 3 votes.
  24. "Find Your Legislator". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
  25. Bureau, US Census. "Decennial Census by Decades". www.census.gov. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  26. Pennsylvania House of Representatives (February 8, 2012). "HB1950 of Session 2011 OIL AND GAS (58 PA.C.S.) - OMNIBUS AMENDMENTS".
  27. Pennsylvania General Assembly, Act 13 of 2012, February 14, 2012.
  28. Pennsylvania Utility Commission (2012). "Act 13 (Impact Fee)".
  29. Pennsylvania Utility Commission (2016). "Disbursements and Impact Fees 2015".
  30. Pennsylvania Utility Commission (2015). "Disbursements and Impact Fees 2014".
  31. Pennsylvania Utility Commission (2015). "County Well Count Breakdown for 2014".
  32. PUC (2013). "Lycoming County Total distribution for year 2013 :".
  33. PUC (2012). "Lycoming County Total distribution for year 2012 :".
  34. PUC (2011). "Lycoming County Total distribution for year 2011 :".
  35. Levy, Mark (January 14, 2020). "State orders gas well plugged in fight over methane leaks". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  36. Cocklin, Jamison (January 15, 2020). "Pennsylvania Regulators, Range Resources Face Off Over Problem NatGas Well". www.naturalgasintel.com. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
General

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.