Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania

Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania

The Susquehanna County courthouse in Montrose
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Susquehanna County
Location in the state of Pennsylvania
Map of the United States highlighting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location in the U.S.
Founded October 13, 1812
Named for Susquehanna River
Seat Montrose
Largest borough Forest City
Area
 • Total 832 sq mi (2,155 km2)
 • Land 823 sq mi (2,132 km2)
 • Water 8.7 sq mi (23 km2), 1.0%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 41,666
 • Density 51/sq mi (20/km²)
Congressional district 10th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.susqco.com

Susquehanna County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 43,356.[1] Its county seat is Montrose.[2] The county was created on February 21, 1810, from part of Luzerne County[3] and later organized in 1812.[4] It is named for the Susquehanna River.

History

Settlement and conflict

The first settlers began to move into the area from Philadelphia and Connecticut in the mid 1700s. At the time, the area was part of Luzerne County. As more and more people from Connecticut moved in, there began to be some conflict. Under Connecticut's land grant, they owned everything from present day Connecticut to the Pacific Ocean. This meant their land grant overlapped with Pennsylvania's land grant. Soon fighting began. In the end, the Connecticut government was asked to surrender their claim on the area, which they did.

Formation

In 1810, Susquehanna County was formed out of Luzerne County and later in 1812, Montrose was made the county seat.

Civil War

Susquehanna County was one of the main stops on the underground railway. Although this is not completely backed up by fact, there are many pointers saying this is true. These pointers say Montrose was the main hub. Here slaves would take refuge in the homes of citizens.

Coal and early prosperity

After the civil war coal, started to be mined. Following this, railways and roads were built into the county allowing for more people to come. At one point the county had nearly 50,000 people. Coal became, as with neighboring counties, the back bone of the economy. This boom in coal would allow for an age of prosperity in the county.

Great Depression

When the Great Depression hit, the coal industry suffered horribly. Within months the coal industry was struggling. In World War Two the coal industry picked up again, but only for a short time. Soon after the economy in the county failed. Between the 1950s and 1990s many mines were closed up, railways were torn apart, and the economy took a turn for the worse. Unemployment rose and population decline increased.

Modern day

Today, the county is experiencing a new boom. The population is increasing, roads being repaved, the unemployed being employed, and new businesses are coming to the county. This is due to the discovery of natural gas and the subsequent drilling of. While this is a much needed economic change, it is being contested by environmentalists and conservationists.

Susquehanna County was featured in the 2010 documentary Gasland and the 2013 sequel Gasland Part II, which highlight the severe water contamination caused by Cabot Oil & Gas' fracking operations in Dimock.[5]

Geography

Milk Can Corners in Hallstead

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 832 square miles (2,150 km2), of which 823 square miles (2,130 km2) is land and 8.7 square miles (23 km2) (1.0%) is water.[6]

Susquehanna County is very mountainous, with large concentrations of mountains in the east and smaller, more hill-like mountains in the west. The highest mountain in the county is North Knob just west of Union Dale. Most people live in one of the several long and mostly narrow valleys. These valleys are good farming land.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18209,960—
183016,78768.5%
184021,19526.3%
185028,68835.4%
186036,26726.4%
187037,5233.5%
188040,3547.5%
189040,093−0.6%
190040,043−0.1%
191037,746−5.7%
192034,763−7.9%
193033,806−2.8%
194033,8930.3%
195031,970−5.7%
196033,1373.7%
197034,3443.6%
198037,87610.3%
199040,3806.6%
200042,2384.6%
201043,3562.6%
Est. 201541,666[7]−3.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[1]
Susquehanna Depot Main Street

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 42,238 people, 16,529 households, and 11,785 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile (20/km²). There were 21,829 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.54% White, 0.30% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. 0.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 26% were of English, 16.1% were of German, 15.1% Irish, 8.6% Italian and 7.7% Polish ancestry according to the 2012 American Community Survey.

There were 16,529 households out of which 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.50% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.

Susquehanna County's live birth rate was 612 births in 1990. The County's live birth rate in 2000 was 499 births, while in 2011 it had declined to 374 babies.[13]

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 Susquehanna County was 12.8% in 2014.[14] The statewide poverty rate was 13.6% in 2014. The 2012 childhood poverty rate by school district was: Blue Ridge School District - 42.9% living at 185% or below than the Federal Poverty Level; Montrose Area School District - 32%; Elk Lake School District - 45.3%; Forest City Regional School District - 53.7%; Mountain View School District - 48.8% and Susquehanna Community School District - 55.8%.[15]

Politics

As of November 3, 2015, there are 24,854 registered voters in Susquehanna County.

County Commissioners

Row Offices

State Representatives

State Senators

US Representative

Economy

The economy in the county is mainly made up of natural gas drilling, small businesses, education workers, and government officials. Natural gas in the last few years has become the largest industry in the county.

Natural gas

Ever since drilling began for natural gas, the economy has improved. With more jobs the unemployment rate has gone down and the population decline has steadied out. Natural gas has brought a new and reliable industry to the county. With these new workers, small businesses have also prospered.

Tourism

Susquehanna County's natural beauty, great skiing, and quaint villages make it an ever-growing tourist destination.

Education

Map of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania School Districts

Public libraries

Public school districts

Vocational schools

Intermediate Unit

Private schools

Transportation

Road

Susquehanna County is served by an extensive network of rural roads and dirt roads. The only major highway is U.S. Interstate 81 that serves the towns of Lenox, Harford, Gibson, New Milford and Montrose, Hallstead, and Great Bend.

Rail

Susquehanna County's last mainstream passenger train services ended in the late 1970s. Since then mainly freight trains have used the lines.

Air

Although Susquehanna County boasts several airstrips, they are strictly recreational. The closest main airports are in Binghamton, New York and Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Recreation

There is one Pennsylvania state park in Susquehanna County:

Susquehanna County is one of the most rural counties in the state, located in the Endless Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania.

Communities

Political map of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, with townships and boroughs labeled. Townships are colored white and boroughs are colored various shades of orange.
Map of Susquehanna County with municipalities labeled.

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 Susquehanna County:

Boroughs

Townships

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Susquehanna County.[16]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)

1 Forest City Borough 1,911
2 Susquehanna Depot Borough 1,643
3 † Montrose Borough 1,617
4 Hallstead Borough 1,303
5 New Milford Borough 868
6 Great Bend Borough 734
7 Oakland Borough 616
8 Lanesboro Borough 506
9 Hop Bottom Borough 337
10 Thompson Borough 299
11 Little Meadows Borough 273
12 Union Dale Borough 267
13 Friendsville Borough 111

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ "Township Incorporations, 1790 to 1853". Susquehanna County Historical Society. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  4. ↑ "Pennsylvania: Individual County Chronologies". Pennsylvania Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
  5. ↑ http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  10. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  12. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  13. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Health, Birth Age County Reports 1990 and 2011, 2011
  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".
  16. ↑ http://www.census.gov/2010census/

External links

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Coordinates: 41°49′N 75°48′W / 41.82°N 75.80°W / 41.82; -75.80

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