Elk County, Pennsylvania

Elk County
Elk County
U.S. county
	in Ridgway
	Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
	Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 41°25′N 78°39′W / 41.42°N 78.65°W
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
Founded	18 April 1843
Named for	Eastern elk
Seat	Ridgway
Largest city	St. Marys
Area
• Total	832 sq mi (2,150 km2)
• Land	827 sq mi (2,140 km2)
• Water	4.9 sq mi (13 km2) 0.6%%
Population
• Estimate (2019)	29,910
• Density	36.5/sq mi (14.1/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	15th
Website	www.co.elk.pa.us

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 (Cervus canadensis canadensis) that historically inhabited the region.

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. [2]

Adjacent counties[]

McKean County - north
Cameron County - east
Clearfield County - south
Jefferson County - southwest
Forest County - west
Warren County - northwest

National protected area[]

Allegheny National Forest (part)

State protected areas[]

Major highways[]

US 219
US 219 Truck
PA 66
PA 120
PA 153
PA 255
PA 321
PA 555
PA 948
PA 949

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1850	3,531		—
1860	5,915		67.5%
1870	8,488		43.5%
1880	12,800		50.8%
1890	22,239		73.7%
1900	32,903		48.0%
1910	35,871		9.0%
1920	34,981		−2.5%
1930	33,431		−4.4%
1940	34,443		3.0%
1950	34,503		0.2%
1960	37,328		8.2%
1970	37,770		1.2%
1980	38,338		1.5%
1990	34,878		−9.0%
2000	35,111		0.7%
2010	31,946		−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]

Population pyramid

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. 41% were of German, 13% Italian, 9% American, 6% Irish, 4% Polish, 4% Swedish, 3% English.

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[]

show

Presidential election results

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

Democratic: 7,351 (36.45%)
Republican: 10,527 (52.19%)
Other parties: 2,291 (11.36%)

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, making it the strongest performance by any single candidate in the county's history (although Coolidge had carried the county by a larger margin in 1924).

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][]

, Republican, 75th district

State senator^[13][]

Cris Dush, Republican, 25th district

U.S. representative[]

Glenn "G.T." Thompson, Republican, 15th district

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[]

St. Marys

Boroughs[]

Johnsonburg
Ridgway (county seat)

Census-designated places[]

Unincorporated communities[]

Arroyo
Dagus Mines
Loleta
Portland Mills^[14]

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

References[]

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

Coordinates: 41°25′N 78°39′W / 41.42°N 78.65°W / 41.42; -78.65

[est-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.

[QF-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b "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.

[11] [1]

[12] ttps://www.co.elk.pa.us/index.php/government/local-government/county-offices/item/282-meet-the-commissioners

[:0-13] Jump up to: ^a ^b 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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[12]

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[14]

[15]

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
2020	71.6% 12,140	26.7% 4,522	1.7% 284
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

show v t Municipalities and communities of Elk County, Pennsylvania, United States
County seat: Ridgway
City	St. Marys
Boroughs	Johnsonburg Ridgway
Townships	Benezette Fox Highland Horton Jay Jones Millstone Ridgway Spring Creek
CDPs	Byrnedale Force James City Kersey Weedville Wilcox
Unincorporated communities	Benezette Brandy Camp Brockport Coal Hollow Dagus Mines Dahoga Dents Run Loleta McKinley Pigs Ear Russell City Toby
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Elk County, Pennsylvania

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