Potter County, Pennsylvania

Potter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 17,457,[1] making it the fifth-least populous county in Pennsylvania. Its county seat is Coudersport.[2] The county was created in 1804 and later organized in 1836.[3] It is named after James Potter, who was a general from Pennsylvania in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. Due to its remoteness and natural environment, it has been nicknamed “Gods Country.” The county is also known for its white supremacy movements.[4][5][6][7][8][9]

Potter County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°44′N 77°54′W
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
FoundedSeptember 1, 1826
Named forJames Potter
SeatCoudersport
Largest boroughCoudersport
Area
 • Total1,082 sq mi (2,800 km2)
 • Land1,081 sq mi (2,800 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.02%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
16,622
 • Density16/sq mi (6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district12th
Websitevisitpottertioga.com

Potter County is located in the Allegheny Plateau and Susquehanna Valley region.

History

Major Isaac Lyman, an American Revolutionary war veteran was one of the first permanent settlers in Potter County. Major Lyman is recognized as the founder of Potter County. He was paid ten dollars for each settler he convinced to move to Potter County. He built his home in 1809 in nearby Lymansville, now known as Ladona, now Coudersport. Major Lyman also built the first road to cross Potter County and Potter County's first sawmill and gristmill.

Lyman had a colorful personal history. After the death in childbirth of his first wife, Sally Edgecombe, he remarried; later he left his second wife and started a third family in Potter County. The second Mrs. Lyman was determined not to suffer on her own. She sought out the Major, travelling from Bolton Landing, New York to Potter County with the help of their son, Burrell, who was 18 at the time. Major Lyman lived with these two families in Potter County. Historical accounts of the living situation vary. Some say that Lyman kept both wives under one roof. Others state that there were two log homes for the families on the same piece of property. Descendants of Major Isaac Lyman's three families still live and work in Potter County.

Geography
Welcome sign to Potter County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,082 square miles (2,800 km2), of which 1,081 square miles (2,800 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.02%) is water.[10]

Three major watersheds meet in Potter County: the watersheds of the Chesapeake Bay, St. Lawrence River, and Mississippi River. Moreover, the main stem by volume of the entire Mississippi river system, the Allegheny River, has its source in central Potter County, near Cobb Hill.

Potter has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb) and average monthly temperatures in Coudersport range from 22.0 °F in January to 66.4 °F in July.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
181029—
1820186541.4%
18301,265580.1%
18403,371166.5%
18506,04879.4%
186011,47089.6%
187011,265−1.8%
188013,79722.5%
189022,77865.1%
190030,62134.4%
191029,729−2.9%
192021,089−29.1%
193017,489−17.1%
194018,2014.1%
195016,810−7.6%
196016,483−1.9%
197016,395−0.5%
198017,7268.1%
199016,717−5.7%
200018,0808.2%
201017,457−3.4%
2018 (est.)16,622[11]−4.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790–1960[13] 1900–1990[14]
1990–2000[15] 2010–2017[1]

As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 18,080 people, 7,005 households, and 5,001 families residing in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile (6/km2). There were 12,159 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.06% White, 0.29% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 27.3% were of English, 26.9% were of German, 9.9% Irish and 5.8% Italian ancestry.

There were 7,005 households, out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.02.

In Potter County, the population was spread out, with 26.00% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.80 males.

Live birth rate

Potter County's live birth rate was 242 births in 1990. The county's live birth rate in 2000 was 223 births, while in 2011 it had declined to 201 babies.[17] Over the past 50 years (1960 to 2010), rural Pennsylvania saw a steady decline in both the number and proportion of residents under 18 years old. In 1960, 1.06 million rural residents, or 35 percent of the rural population, were children.

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 Potter County was 14.3% in 2014.[18] The statewide poverty rate was 13.6% in 2014. The 2012 childhood poverty rate by school district was: Austin Area School District – 42% of pupils living at 185% or below than the Federal Poverty Level and Coudersport Area School District – 41.9%, Galeton Area School District – 57.1%, Northern Potter School District – 51.3%, Oswayo Valley School District – 54.9%, Port Allegany School District – 46.8% and Keystone Central School District – 51.7% of pupils living in poverty.[19]

Politics and Government
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 79.9% 7,239 19.0% 1,726 1.1% 99
2016 79.5% 6,251 16.6% 1,302 4.0% 311
2012 71.9% 5,231 26.1% 1,897 2.1% 151
2008 67.7% 5,109 30.5% 2,300 1.9% 142
2004 70.8% 5,640 28.5% 2,268 0.7% 54
2000 68.5% 4,858 28.7% 2,037 2.8% 199
1996 54.5% 3,714 31.5% 2,146 14.0% 957
1992 49.0% 3,452 26.9% 1,892 24.1% 1,700
1988 67.2% 4,432 32.2% 2,119 0.6% 41
1984 73.9% 5,164 25.6% 1,789 0.4% 31
1980 61.1% 4,073 34.5% 2,299 4.5% 297
1976 55.6% 3,828 43.3% 2,983 1.2% 80
1972 70.9% 4,422 27.4% 1,710 1.7% 104
1968 63.4% 4,019 29.3% 1,860 7.3% 460
1964 46.8% 3,232 52.9% 3,652 0.4% 25
1960 65.1% 5,099 34.7% 2,715 0.2% 16
1956 69.5% 5,181 30.3% 2,257 0.3% 22
1952 71.8% 5,117 27.7% 1,974 0.5% 38
1948 68.0% 3,672 32.0% 1,729
1944 69.9% 4,474 29.6% 1,894 0.6% 36
1940 65.4% 5,205 34.3% 2,731 0.3% 27
1936 57.9% 5,172 39.8% 3,553 2.3% 201
1932 58.5% 3,847 34.6% 2,271 6.9% 455
1928 79.5% 5,653 19.9% 1,416 0.6% 42
1924 65.5% 4,087 18.6% 1,161 15.9% 993
1920 70.2% 4,036 19.2% 1,106 10.6% 608
1916 52.5% 2,386 38.2% 1,733 9.3% 422
1912 18.2% 850 30.9% 1,445 51.0% 2,384
1908 60.5% 3,603 32.4% 1,932 7.1% 423
1904 70.2% 3,976 19.0% 1,074 10.9% 618
1900 56.3% 3,224 37.5% 2,147 6.2% 356
1896 55.8% 3,281 41.6% 2,446 2.6% 150
1892 46.9% 2,315 34.4% 1,699 18.7% 921
1888 55.7% 2,570 36.7% 1,692 7.7% 354

Politics and elections

Potter County is one of the most Republican counties in Pennsylvania. In 2004, George W. Bush received 5,640 votes (71%) to 2,268 votes (29%) for John Kerry. The county has voted for the Republican in every presidential election since 1964. In 2006, Rick Santorum received 3,476 votes (63%) to 2,012 votes (37%) for Bob Casey, Jr., making it Santorum's strongest county in his defeat. Lynn Swann also received more than 60% of the Potter County vote in his defeat. In 2016, Donald Trump and Pat Toomey were overwhelmingly elected in Potter County for the U.S. presidential election and U.S. Senate election respectively. Trump won 80.31% of the vote over Hillary Clinton while Toomey won 77.79% of the vote over Katie McGinty. In the 2016 State Attorney General race, John Rafferty won 79.15% of the vote.[21]

State Senate[22]

State House of Representatives[22]

United States House of Representatives

United States Senate

Local government

Potter County constitutes Judicial District 55 in the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania.[23] The Court of Common Pleas for District 55 is located in Coudersport, and staffed by a single judge, President Judge Stephen P.B. Minor.[24] Since about 2001, Potter County's Court of Common Pleas has become a center for filing no-fault divorces in Pennsylvania, most of which do not involve any Potter County residents. Under Pennsylvania's unusual venue rules, divorce cases involving a Pennsylvania resident may be filed anywhere in the state so long as neither party objects. As of 2009, the over 6,000 divorces filed per year in Potter County raised several hundred thousand dollars in revenue for the county's general fund.[25]

Education
Map of Potter County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

Public school districts

Private schools
  • Chestnut Ridge School, Genesee, Grades 1–8
  • Hebron Center Christian School, Coudersport, Grades PK-12
  • Meadow View School, Genesee, Grades 1–8
  • Musto Hollow Amish School, Genesee, Grades 1–8
  • Penn-York Camp & Retreat Center, Ulysses
  • Ulysses Amish School, Ulysses, Grades 1–8

List from National Center for Education Statistics[26]

Libraries
  • Coudersport Public Library
  • Galeton Public Library
  • Genesee Area Library
  • Oswayo Valley Memorial Library, Shinglehouse
  • Ulysses Library Association
  • Potter-Tioga County Library System, Coudersport

Pennsylvania EdNA – Educational Entities, 2013

Recreation
Lyman Lake at Lyman Run State Park

Potter County is home to 8 state parks and many more acres of state forest and gamelands.

The county is also the location of the annual "God's Country Marathon" race between Galeton and Coudersport.

Communities
Map of Potter County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Boroughs (red) and Townships (white).

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

Boroughs

Townships

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Road district (defunct)
  • East Fork Road was a former district which dissolved on January 1, 2004. The district contained only one road and 14 residents, with almost all of the district's land claimed as part of the Susquehannock State Forest. The territory that constituted the East Fork Road District is now the eastern half of Wharton Township.

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Potter County.[27]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 † Coudersport Borough 2,546
2 Galeton Borough 1,149
3 Shinglehouse Borough 1,127
4 Roulette CDP 779
5 Ulysses Borough 621
6 Austin Borough 562
7 Sweden Valley CDP 223
8 Oswayo Borough 139

Marcellus shale impact fee

Act 13 of 2012,[28] 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.[29][30] In 2014, Potter County received an impact fee disbursement of $256,456.52. The top county recipient was Washington County which received $6,512,570.65 in 2014.[31] In 2014, there were 40 marcellus shale wells in Potter County.[32]

  • 2013 – 58 wells, received $401,640.77,[33]
  • 2012 – 30 wells, received $407,315.48[34]
  • 2011 – $554, 536.48[35]

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 24, 2016. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. "Pennsylvania: Individual County Chronologies". Pennsylvania Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
  4. Zoe Daniel & Emily Olson (2019). "Nazis, Ku Klux Klan fliers and a dog named Adolf: Is this small US town a hotbed for white nationalism?". ABC News. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  5. Dennis B. Roddy (2002). "Aryan Nation shares its message of hate". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  6. "About August Kreis". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  7. "Aryan Nation shares its message of hate". Cult Education Institute (originally in the Arizona Republic). 2001. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  8. Alex Davis (2016). "Neo-Nazi group plans event in Potter County". The Bradford Era. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  9. Susan Koomar (2001). "Former Bangor neo-Nazi setting up camp in Potter County". Pocono Record. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  10. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  11. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  12. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  14. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  15. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  17. Pennsylvania Department of Health, Birth Age County Reports 1990, 2000 and 2011, 2011
  18. US Census Bureau (2015). "Poverty Rates by County Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates".
  19. Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (2012). "Student Poverty Concentration 2012". Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  20. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  21. "Pennsylvania Elections – County Results". www.electionreturns.pa.gov. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  22. Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Find Your Legislator". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  23. "Judicial Districts". Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  24. "Judge's Chambers". Potter County, Pa. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  25. ""Untying the knot" in Potter, Cameron Counties". EndeavorNews. June 20, 2009. Archived from the original on 13 September 2017.
  26. ies, National Center for Education Statistics, US Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, Private School Universe Survey 2008
  27. Promotions, Center for New Media and. "US Census Bureau 2010 Census". www.census.gov. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  28. Pennsylvania House of Representatives (February 8, 2012). "HB1950 of Session 2011 OIL AND GAS (58 PA.C.S.) – OMNIBUS AMENDMENTS".
  29. Pennsylvania General Assembly, Act 13 of 2012, February 14, 2012.
  30. Pennsylvania Utility Commission (2012). "Act 13 (Impact Fee)".
  31. Pennsylvania Utility Commission (2015). "Disbursements and Impact Fees 2014".
  32. Pennsylvania Utility Commission (2015). "County Well Count Breakdown for 2014".
  33. PUC (2013). "Potter County Total distribution for year 2013 :".
  34. Pennsylvania Utility Commission (2013). "Potter County disbursements".
  35. Pennsylvania Utility Commission (2012). "Potter County disbursements".

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