Elk County, Pennsylvania

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Elk County

| state = Pennsylvania

| flag = Flag of Elk County, Pennsylvania.png

| seal =

| logo = Logo of Elk County, Pennsylvania.png

| founded = April 18, 1843

| seat wl = Ridgway

| largest city wl = St. Marys

| area_total_sq_mi = 832

| area_land_sq_mi = 827

| area_water_sq_mi = 4.9

| area percentage = 0.6%

| census yr = 2020

| pop = 30,990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2017.html|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|access-date=March 14, 2022}}

| density_sq_mi = 37.5

| web = www.co.elk.pa.us

| ex image = Elk County Courthouse.jpg

| ex image cap = Elk County Courthouse in Ridgway, Pennsylvania

| time zone = Eastern

| district = 15th

| named for = Eastern elk

}}

Elk County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 30,990.{{cite web|title=Census - Geography Profile: Elk County, Pennsylvania|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US42047|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 26, 2022}} Its county seat is Ridgway.{{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=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011}} The county was created on April 18, 1843, from parts of Jefferson, Clearfield, and McKean Counties. Elk County is named for the now-extinct eastern elk (Cervus canadensis) that historically inhabited the region. The county is part of the North Central Pennsylvania region of the state.{{efn|Includes Clearfield, Jefferson, Tioga, McKean, Warren, Clarion, Elk, Potter, Forest and Cameron Counties}}

The county is notable for having one of the highest concentrations of Roman Catholics in the United States, with 69% of the county's residents identifying as Catholic.

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 {{convert|832|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|827|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|4.9|sqmi}} (0.6%) is water.{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_42.txt|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=March 5, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}} 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.{{cite web | url=http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/ | title=PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University }}

=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=

{{jct|state=PA|US|219}}
{{jct|state=PA|US-Truck|219}}
{{jct|state=PA|PA|66}}
{{jct|state=PA|PA|120}}
{{jct|state=PA|PA|153}}
{{jct|state=PA|PA|255}}
{{jct|state=PA|PA|321}}
{{jct|state=PA|PA|555}}
{{jct|state=PA|PA|948}}
{{jct|state=PA|PA|949}}

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census,{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=August 31, 2022|title=U.S. Census website}} there were 30,990 people and 14,215 households. The population density was {{convert|38|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 16,855 housing units at an average density of {{convert|20|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units }}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.9% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.4% Asian, and 1.0% from two or more races. 0.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 42.9% were of German, 17.7% Italian, 13.1% Irish, 6.4% English, 5.8% Polish, and 5.2% Swedish.

{{US Census population

|1850= 3531

|1860= 5915

|1870= 8488

|1880= 12800

|1890= 22239

|1900= 32903

|1910= 35871

|1920= 34981

|1930= 33431

|1940= 34443

|1950= 34503

|1960= 37328

|1970= 37770

|1980= 38338

|1990= 34878

|2000= 35111

|2010= 31946

|2020= 30990

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

}}

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 aged 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.

Elk County has one of the highest concentrations of Roman Catholics in the United States. As of 2010, nearly 70% of the county's residents identified as Catholic.

=2020 census=

class="wikitable"

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

!Race

!Num.

!Perc.

White (NH)

|30,339

|97.9%

Black or African American (NH)

|155

|0.5%

Native American (NH)

|62

|0.2%

Asian (NH)

|124

|0.4%

Other/Mixed (NH)

|310

|1.0%

Hispanic or Latino

|279

|0.9%

Economy

As of the 2021 ACS 5-Year Estimates, Elk County's largest industry and source of employment is manufacturing, with the second largest being educational services, healthcare, and social services.

Government and politics

{{PresHead|place=Elk County, Pennsylvania|source={{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=November 25, 2018}}}}

{{U.S. SenHead|place=Elk 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}}}}

= Voter demographics =

{{Pie chart

| thumb = left

| caption = Chart of Voter Registration

| label1 = Republican

| value1 = 58.31

| color1 ={{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}

| label2 = Democratic

| value2 = 29.78

| color2 = {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}

| label4 = Other Parties

| value4 = 3.94

| color4 = {{party color|Green Party (United States)}}

|color3={{party color|Independent (United States)}}|label3=Independent|value3=7.95}}As of November 4, 2024, there are 20,837 registered voters in Elk County.{{Cite web |last=Pennsylvania Department of State |date=April 29, 2024 |title=Voter registration statistics by county |url=https://www.dos.pa.gov/VotingElections/OtherServicesEvents/VotingElectionStatistics/Pages/VotingElectionStatistics.aspx |access-date=May 5, 2024 |website=dos.pa.gov}}

Republican: 12,152 (58.31%)
Democratic: 6,206 (29.78%)
Independent: 1,657 (7.95%)
Third Party: 822 (3.94%)

Elk County used to be competitive in statewide and national elections. The county frequently voted with the eventual winner of national elections, from 1920 to 2008, except for 1928, 1940, and 1968. In the 21st century, its Catholic identity has been replaced by its rural identity in defining how it votes; its longtime Democratic voter registration advantage was taken over by Republicans in 2018.{{Cite web |title=Voting and Election Statistics {{!}} Department of State {{!}} Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |url=https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/dos/resources/voting-and-elections-resources/voting-and-election-statistics.html#accordion-f15260edbb-item-22a4b36426 |access-date=August 1, 2024}} The county voted for Mitt Romney by 16 points in 2012, then swung over 25 points to the right and voted for Donald Trump by 42 points in 2016, before swinging further right in 2020 and voting for Trump by 45 points.

= County commissioners =

M. Fritz Lecker, Republican
Matthew G. Quesenberry, Democrat
Gregory J. Gebauer, Republican

= Other county offices =

Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary, Susanne Schneider, Republican
Coroner, Michelle Muccio, Republican
District Attorney, Beau Grove, Republican
Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds, Lee Neureiter, Republican
Sheriff, Todd Caltagarone, Republican
Treasurer, Matthew Frey, Republican
Board of Auditors, Sandra A. Caltagarone, Republican; Jean Zore, Republican; Siobhan Voss, Democrat

=State representative=

Mike Armanini, Republican, 75th district{{Cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/county_list.cfm?CNTYLIST=Elk|title=Find Your Legislator|last=Center|first=Legislativate Data Processing|website=The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly|access-date=May 11, 2017}}

=State senator=

Cris Dush, Republican, 25th district

=United States representative=

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

= United States senators =

John Fetterman, Democrat
Dave McCormick, Republican

Education

Image:Map of Elk County Pennsylvania School Districts.png

= Community education center =

The Community Education Center of Elk and Cameron Counties (or CEC) provides credit, non-credit, and enrichment programs.

=Public school districts=

School districts include:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42047_elk/DC20SD_C42047.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Elk County, PA|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-07-23}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42047_elk/DC20SD_C42047_SD2MS.txt Text list]

=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

File:Map of Elk County Municipalities shaded in red and blue.jpg

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=

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.{{div col}}

= Unincorporated communities =

Arroyo
Dagus Mines
Loleta
Portland Mills[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Portland+Mills,+PA+15853/@41.374509,-78.8358302,14z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x89cd02aa4bd327a5:0xb165fdab8910941!8m2!3d41.3781171!4d-78.8341976 Portland Mills PA (Google Maps - accessed 11 November 2019)]

=Townships=

=Former Townships=

Benzinger - consolidated with St. Marys borough in 1992.

=Population ranking=

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Elk County.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|title=2010 U.S. Census website|access-date=February 10, 2013}}

† county seat

class="wikitable sortable"
Rank !City/Town/etc. !Municipal type !Population (2010 Census)
style="background-color:#FFFACD;" \| 1 \| St. Marys \| City \| 13,070
style="background-color:#FFF5EE;" \| 2 \| † Ridgway \| Borough \| 4,078
style="background-color:#FFF5EE;" \| 3 \| Johnsonburg \| Borough \| 2,483
style="background-color:#F0FFF0;" \| 4 \| Kersey \| CDP \| 937
style="background-color:#F0FFF0;" \| 5 \| Weedville \| CDP \| 542
style="background-color:#F0FFF0;" \| 6 \| Byrnedale \| CDP \| 427
style="background-color:#F0FFF0;" \| 7 \| Wilcox \| CDP \| 383
style="background-color:#F0FFF0;" \| 8 \| James City \| CDP \| 287
style="background-color:#F0FFF0;" \| 9 \| Force \| CDP \| 253

class="wikitable sortable"

Rank

!City/Town/etc.

!Municipal type

!Population (2010 Census)

style="background-color:#FFFACD;"

| 1

| St. Marys

| City

| 13,070

style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"

| 2

| † Ridgway

| Borough

| 4,078

style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"

| 3

| Johnsonburg

| Borough

| 2,483