:Northumberland County, Pennsylvania

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Northumberland County

| state = Pennsylvania

| seal =

| founded date = March 21

| founded year = 1772

| seat wl = Sunbury

| largest city wl = Sunbury

| area_total_sq_mi = 478

| area_land_sq_mi = 458

| area_water_sq_mi = 19

| area percentage = 4.0%

| census yr = 2020

| pop = 91647 {{decrease}}

| pop_est_as_of =

| pop_estimate =

| density_sq_mi = 204

| web = www.norrycopa.net

| ex image = Northumberland County Courthouse - Sunbury, PA.jpg

| ex image size = 250

| ex image cap = Northumberland County Courthouse

| time zone = Eastern

| district = 9th

| named for = Northumberland, England

}}

Northumberland County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 91,647.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/northumberlandcountypennsylvania/PST045221 |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Northumberland County, Pennsylvania |publisher=Census.gov |date= |accessdate=July 20, 2022}} Its county seat is Sunbury.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011}} The county is part of the Central Pennsylvania region of the state.{{efn|Includes Centre, Lycoming, Northumberland, Columbia, Mifflin, Union, Snyder, Clinton, Juniata and Montour Counties}}

The county was formed in 1772 from parts of Lancaster, Berks, Bedford, Cumberland, and Northampton Counties and named for the county of Northumberland in northern England. Northumberland County is a fifth class county according to the Pennsylvania's County Code.{{Cite web |title=Pennsylvania Counties by Class |url=https://www.pacounties.org/who-we-are/pennsylvania-county-by-class |access-date=April 1, 2024 |website=County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania}} Northumberland County comprises the Sunbury, Pennsylvania Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Bloomsburg-Berwick-Sunbury, PA Combined Statistical Area. Among its notable residents are Thomas L. Hamer, a Democratic member of Congress in the 1830s, and Joseph Priestley, the Enlightenment chemist and theologian, who left England in 1796 due to religious and political persecution and settled on the Susquehanna River. His former house, originally purchased by chemists from Pennsylvania State University after a colloquium that founded the American Chemical Society,[http://portal.acs.org/portal/acs/corg/content?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=PP_ARTICLEMAIN&node_id=925&content_id=CTP_004441&use_sec=true&sec_url_var=region1] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323215907/http://portal.acs.org/portal/acs/corg/content?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=PP_ARTICLEMAIN&node_id=925&content_id=CTP_004441&use_sec=true&sec_url_var=region1|date=March 23, 2012}} is a historical museum.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110721044904/http://www.josephpriestleyhouse.org/index.php?page=history-of-the-joseph-priestley-house Joseph Priestley House]}}. Joseph Priestley House. Retrieved on July 23, 2013.

History

Before European settlement the area was inhabited by the Akhrakouaeronon or Atrakouaehronon, a subtribe of the Susquehannock. By 1813 the area once comprising the sprawling county of Northumberland had been divided over time and allotted to other counties such that lands once occupied by Old Northumberland at its greatest extent are now found in Centre, Columbia, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mifflin, Union, Clearfield, Clinton, Montour, Bradford, Lackawanna, Susquehanna, Wyoming, Tioga, Potter, McKean, Warren, Venango, Snyder, and Schuylkill Counties.

Geography

File:Susquehanna River from the Shikellamy State Park overlook.JPG

File:View from the Shikellamy State Park overlook (July 2015).JPG

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|478|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|458|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|19|sqmi}} (4.0%) is water.{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_42.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 9, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}

The county has a humid continental climate (Dfa/Dfb). Average temperatures in Sunbury range from 27.3 °F in January to 72.7 °F in July, while in Mount Carmel they range from 25.0 °F in January to 70.2 °F in July.{{cite web|url=http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/ |title=PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University |publisher=Prism.oregonstate.edu |date= |accessdate=July 20, 2022}}

The main river in Northumberland County is the Susquehanna River. The Susquehanna River's tributaries in the county include the West Branch Susquehanna River, Chillisquaque Creek, Shamokin Creek, and Mahanoy Creek. The county has mountains in the south and north, with the rest being mostly rolling hills.

=Mountains=

class="wikitable"
Name	Height
Mahanoy Mountain	433 meters
Big Mountain	402 meters

=Major highways=

{{jct|state=PA|I|80}}
{{jct|state=PA|I|180}}
{{jct|state=PA|US|11}}
{{jct|state=PA|PA|44}}
{{jct|state=PA|PA|45}}
{{jct|state=PA|PA|54}}
{{jct|state=PA|PA|61}}
{{jct|state=PA|PA|125}}
{{jct|state=PA|PA|147}}
{{jct|state=PA|PA|225}}
{{jct|state=PA|PA|254}}
{{jct|state=PA|PA|405}}
{{jct|state=PA|PA|487}}
{{jct|state=PA|PA|642}}
{{jct|state=PA|PA|890}}
{{jct|state=PA|PA|901}}

=Adjacent counties=

Lycoming County (north)
Montour County (northeast)
Columbia County (east)
Schuylkill County (southeast)
Dauphin County (south)
Perry County (southwest)
Juniata County (west)
Snyder County (west)
Union County (west)

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1790= 17147

|1800= 27797

|1810= 36327

|1820= 15424

|1830= 18133

|1840= 20027

|1850= 23272

|1860= 28922

|1870= 41444

|1880= 53123

|1890= 74698

|1900= 90911

|1910= 111420

|1920= 122079

|1930= 128504

|1940= 126887

|1950= 117115

|1960= 104138

|1970= 99190

|1980= 100381

|1990= 96771

|2000= 94556

|2010= 94528

|2020= 91647

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 9, 2015}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=March 9, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|archive-date=August 11, 2012}} 1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/pa190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 24, 1995|access-date=March 9, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320031117/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/pa190090.txt|archive-date=March 20, 2015}}
1990–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=March 9, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218203824/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|archive-date=December 18, 2014}} 2010–2017{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/42/42097.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 20, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606195200/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/42/42097.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011}}

2010-2020{{cite web |title=Census 2020 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/northumberlandcountypennsylvania/PST045219}}

}}

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 94,556 people, 38,835 households, and 25,592 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|206|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 43,164 housing units at an average density of {{convert|94|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units }}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.09% White, 1.52% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 1.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.5% were of German, 12.9% Polish, 9.9% American, 8.2% Italian, 8.1% Irish and 5.8% Dutch ancestry. 95.8% spoke English and 1.5% Spanish as their first language.

There were 38,835 households, out of which 27.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.90% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 19.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

=2020 census=

class="wikitable"

|+Northumberland County Racial Composition{{Cite web|title =P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Northumberland County, Pennsylvania|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Northumberland%20County,%20Pennsylvania&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}

!Race

!Num.

!Perc.

White (NH)

|81,689

|89%

Black or African American (NH)

|2,392

|2.61%

Native American (NH)

|110

|0.12%

Asian (NH)

|444

|0.5%

Pacific Islander (NH)

|24

|0.03%

Other/Mixed (NH)

|2,837

|3.1%

Hispanic or Latino

|4,151

|4.52%

Micropolitan Statistical Area

[[File:BloomsburgBerwickSunburyCSA2014.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Map of the Bloomsburg–Berwick-Sunbury, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), composed of the following parts:

{{legend|#FF0000|Bloomsburg–Berwick, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)}}

{{legend|#FFFF00|Sunbury, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA)}}

{{legend|#7FFF00|Lewisburg, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA)}}

{{legend|#87CEEB|Selinsgrove, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA)}}]]

The United States Office of Management and Budget{{cite web|url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb|title=Office of Management and Budget|work=The White House|access-date=August 5, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429235115/https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/|archive-date=April 29, 2018}} has designated Northumberland County as the Sunbury, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA). As of the 2010 census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html|title=2010 Census|author=Center for New Media and Promotions(C2PO)|work=census.gov|access-date=August 5, 2015}} the micropolitan area ranked 2nd most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 37th most populous in the United States with a population of 94,528. Northumberland County is also a part of the Bloomsburg–Berwick–Sunbury, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which combines the population of Northumberland County as well as the Columbia, Montour, Snyder and Union County areas. The Combined Statistical Area ranked 8th in the State of Pennsylvania and 115th most populous in the United States with a population of 264,739.

Politics and government

{{PresHead|place=Northumberland County, Pennsylvania|source={{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=May 3, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323225526/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|archive-date=March 23, 2018}}}}

{{U.S. SenHead|place=Northumberland County, Pennsylvania|Seat=1|source={{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns) |website=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/pennsylvania-senate-results}}}}

As of November 7, 2022, there are 58,632 registered voters in Northumberland County.{{cite web|url=https://www.dos.pa.gov/VotingElections/OtherServicesEvents/VotingElectionStatistics/Documents/currentvotestats.xls |title=Voter registration statistics by county |date=November 7, 2022 }}. Dos.state.pa.us. Retrieved on November 7, 2022.

Republican: 31,682 (54.04%)
Democratic: 18,515 (31.58%)
Independent: 5,547 (9.46%)
Third Party: 2,888 (4.93%)

While county-level politics tend to be competitive, Northumberland is a Republican county in most statewide elections. The margins of victory in the county for the Republican presidential candidate in 2000, 2004, and 2008 have been 13, 21, and 14 percentage points, respectively. Governor Ed Rendell narrowly carried it against Lynn Swann while Republican Rick Santorum narrowly carried it against Bob Casey in 2006. The only Democratic statewide candidate to carry the county in 2008 was incumbent Auditor General Jack Wagner. In 2011, the election of Stephen Bridy resulted in a three-way split among the county commissioners.

=County commissioners=

Kymberley Best, Democrat
Joseph Klebon, Republican
Samuel Schiccatano, Republican

=Other county offices=

Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary, Jamie Saleski, Republican
Controller, Christopher L. Grayson, Democrat
District Attorney, Anthony Matulewicz III, Republican
Recorder of Deeds and Register of Wills, Christina Mertz, Republican
Sheriff, Robert J.Wolfe, Republican
Treasurer, Kevin P. Gilroy, Republican
Coroner, James F. Kelley, Democrat

=State House of Representatives=

Source:{{cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/county_list.cfm?CNTYLIST=Northumberland|title=Find Your Legislator|last=Center|first=Legislativate Data Processing|website=The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.|language=en|access-date=April 27, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428052712/http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/county_list.cfm?CNTYLIST=Northumberland|archive-date=April 28, 2017}}

Joanne Stehr, Republican, 107th district
Lynda Schlegel-Culver, Republican, 108th district

=State Senator=

John Gordner, Republican, 27th district

=United States Representative=

Dan Meuser, Republican, 9th district

=United States Senate=

Education

Image:Map of Northumberland County Pennsylvania School Districts.png

=Public school districts=

Danville Area School District (also in Montour County)
Line Mountain School District
Milton Area School District (also in Union County)
Mount Carmel Area School District (also in Columbia County)
Shamokin Area School District
Shikellamy School District
Southern Columbia Area School District (also in Columbia County)
Warrior Run School District (also in Montour and Union Counties)

=Career Tech school=

Northumberland County Career Technology Center located in Coal Township

=Intermediate Unit=

Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit 16 – The primary service area consists of: Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union counties in central Pennsylvania. Provides a wide variety of education related services to school districts, private and parochial schools and hame schooled students.

=Independent schools=

Bethesda Alternative School, Milton 7–12th grade
Keefertown Parochial School 1–8th grade
Maranatha Mennonite Christian School K-12th grade
Meadowbrook Christian Academy PreK-12th grade
Meadowview Christian Academy PreK-10th grade
Northumberland Christian School PreK-12th grade
Northwestern Academy 5–12th grade
Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School preK–12th grade{{cite web|url=http://www.lourdes.k12.pa.us/|title=Our Lady of Lourdes ONLINE!|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806234133/http://www.lourdes.k12.pa.us/|archive-date=August 6, 2007}}
Schwaben Creek School 1–8th grade
Spring View Parochial School, Watsontown 1–9th grade
St Louis De Monfort Academy, Herdon 7–12 grade{{cite web|url=http://montfortacademy.edu/|title=St Louis de Montfort Academy|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226155554/http://montfortacademy.edu/|archive-date=December 26, 2013}}
Sunbury Christian Academy, Northumberland K-12th grade{{cite web|url=http://sunburychristianacademy.org/|title=Sunbury Christian Academy|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204170433/http://sunburychristianacademy.org/|archive-date=February 4, 2014}}
Sunny Slope Amish Parochial School 1–8th grade
Telos Educational Services Tutoring Center, MontandonDaily Item.com, New tutoring center opens, April 10, 2016
Transfiguration Elementary School, Shamokin PreK-8th grade
Watsontown Christian Academy, Watsontown PreK-12th grade

Communities

Image:Map of Northumberland CountyPennsylvania With Municipal and Township Labels.png

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in one case, a town. The following cities, boroughs, and townships are located in Northumberland County:

=Cities=

Shamokin
Sunbury (county seat)

=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=

Alaska{{cite map |publisher=PA HomeTownLocator |title=Other Populated Places in Northumberland County |url=https://pennsylvania.hometownlocator.com/counties/cities,cfips,097,c,northumberland.cfm |year=2021 |accessdate=March 4, 2021}}
Asherton
Augustaville
Bear Gap
Bear Valley
Big Mountain
Boyd
Boydtown
Burnside
Cabel
Caketown
Cameron
Chillisquaque
Chulasky
Coal Run
Colonial Park
Connersville
Deibler
Delaware Run
Diamondtown
Dooleyville
Dornsife
Dunkelbergers
East Lewisburg
Excelsior
Farnsworth
Fisherdale
Fishers Ferry
Five Points
Gowen City
Greenback
Greenbriar
Hamilton
Hebe
Helfenstein
Hickory Corners
Hunter
Kapp
Keefers
Keiser
Kipps Run
Kline Grove
Kneass
Knoebels Grove
Kulps
Lantz
Leck Kill
Line Mountain
Lithia Springs
Locust Gap
Locust Summit
Malta
Mandata
Mayfair
Meadowview
Merrian
Mile Run
Millers Crossroads
Mount Carmel Junction
Mount Pleasant
Natalie
North Hills
Oak Park
Oaklyn
Otto
Overlook
Patricksburg
Paxinos
Point Breeze
Potts Grove
Purdytown
Quitman
Rebuck
Red Cross
Reed
Resler
Rushtown
Sagon
Selinsgrove Junction
Seven Points
Shady Acres
Shamrock
Snufftown
South Danville
Springtown
Stonington
Sunnyside
Union Corner
Urban
Warrior Run
West Cameron
Wolfs Crossroads
Wolverton
Yordy

=Population ranking=

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Northumberland County.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html|title=US Census Bureau 2010 Census|first=Center for New Media and|last=Promotions}}

† county seat

class="wikitable sortable"
Rank !City/Town/etc. !Municipal type !Population (2010 Census)
style="background:#fffacd;" \| 1 \|† Sunbury \| City \| 9,905
style="background:#fffacd;" \| 2 \| Shamokin \| City \| 7,374
style="background:seaShell;" \| 3 \| Milton \| Borough \| 7,042
style="background:seaShell;" \| 4 \| Mount Carmel \| Borough \| 5,893
style="background:seaShell;" \| 5 \| Northumberland \| Borough \| 3,804
style="background:seaShell;" \| 6 \| Kulpmont \| Borough \| 2,924
style="background:honeyDew;" \| 7 \| Paxinos \| CDP \| 2,467
style="background:honeyDew;" \|8 \| Edgewood \| CDP \| 2,384
style="background:seaShell;" \| 9 \| Watsontown \| Borough \| 2,351
style="background:honeyDew;" \| 10 \| Elysburg \| CDP \| 2,194
style="background:honeyDew;" \| 11 \| Fairview-Ferndale \| CDP \| 2,139
style="background:seaShell;" \| 12 \| Riverside \| Borough \| 1,932
style="background:honeyDew;" \| 13 \| Trevorton \| CDP \| 1,834
style="background:honeyDew;" \| 14 \| Dewart \| CDP \| 1,471
style="background:honeyDew;" \| 15 \| Marshallton \| CDP \| 1,441
style="background:honeyDew;" \| 16 \| Montandon \| CDP \| 903
style="background:honeyDew;" \| 17 \| Kapp Heights \| CDP \| 863
style="background:honeyDew;" \| 18 \| Atlas \| CDP \| 809
style="background:seaShell;" \| 19 \| Turbotville \| Borough \| 705
style="background:seaShell;" \| 20 \| Marion Heights \| Borough \| 611
style="background:honeyDew;" \| 21 \| Ranshaw \| CDP \| 510
style="background:honeyDew;" \| 22 \| Tharptown (Uniontown) \| CDP \| 498
style="background:honeyDew;" \| 23 \| Dalmatia \| CDP \| 488
style="background:seaShell;" \| 24 \| Snydertown \| Borough \| 339
style="background:seaShell;" \| 25 \| Herndon \| Borough \| 324
style="background:seaShell;" \| 26 \| McEwensville \| Borough \| 279
style="background:honeyDew;" \| 27 \| Strong \| CDP \| 147

class="wikitable sortable"

Rank

!City/Town/etc.

!Municipal type

!Population (2010 Census)

style="background:#fffacd;"

| 1

|† Sunbury

| City

| 9,905

style="background:#fffacd;"

| 2