Clearfield County, Pennsylvania

Clearfield County is a sixth-class county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 81,642.[2] The county seat is Clearfield,[3] and the largest city is DuBois. The county was created in 1804 and later organized in 1822.[4]

Clearfield County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°00′N 78°28′W
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
FoundedJanuary 29, 1822
SeatClearfield
Largest cityDuBois
Area
 • Total1,154 sq mi (2,990 km2)
 • Land1,145 sq mi (2,970 km2)
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
79,388
 • Density71/sq mi (27/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district15th
Websitewww.clearfieldco.org
DesignatedSeptember 17, 1982[1]

Clearfield County comprises the DuBois, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the State College-DuBois, PA Combined Statistical Area.

History

Clearfield County was formed by the Act of Assembly by the second Governor of Pennsylvania at the time, Thomas McKean on March 26, 1804. The county was created from parts of the already created counties of Huntingdon and Lycoming. The name for the county was most likely derived from the many cleared fields of the valleys surrounding Clearfield Creek and West Branch of the Susquehanna River, formed by the bison herds and also by old corn fields of prior Native Americans tribes.

Location of county government

The first board of county commissioners to the county were Roland Curtin, James Fleming and James Smith, all appointed by Governor McKean in 1805. The first act the commissioners did was to create a local government or seat of the newly created county. They came upon land owned at the time by Abraham Witmer at a village known as Chincleclamousche, named after the Native American chief of the Cornplanter's tribe of Senecas. Clearfield became the new name of the old village.

Early industry

The two major industries of the county in the mid-1800s until the early 1900s was lumber and coal. Lumber was still being floated down the West Branch of the Susquehanna up until 1917. Coal remains the main industry of the county to this day.

Clearfield County Conspiracy Trials

No case tried in the county has caused as much comment as the union conspiracy trials. In all there were fifty-six persons, primarily miners in the Houtzdale region, who were charged with conspiracy as organized strikers. The first case against John Maloney and fifty three others was tried in 1875, before a jury with Judge Orvis presiding. All were found guilty, although they seem to have been solely peacefully picketing.[5] Four were sentenced to one year's imprisonment, eight for six months, and sentences suspended as to the others. As every organized labor society in the USA was interested in the result, the events of the trial and verdict were telegraphed throughout the country[6] This proceeding was followed by the trial of the remaining two offenders who were union representatives, John Siney, and Xingo Parks. Siney was then the President of the Miners’ National Association (MNA). He came to Houtzdale and delivered an address of support for the union strike, for which he was arrested. Parks was an able organizer for the MNA. They were defended by US Senator Matthew H. Carpenter of Wisconsin. At trial Siney was acquitted, but Parks was found guilty of inciting unlawful assembly. He was sentenced to one year's imprisonment, but pardoned within a month from the time sentence was pronounced.[7] These cases led in the next year to a liberalization of the Pennsylvania conspiracy law, through amendment providing that only "force, threat, or menace of harm to person or property" should be considered illegal.[8]

Clearfield the county seat of Clearfield County

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,154 square miles (2,990 km2), of which 1,145 square miles (2,970 km2) is land and 9.2 square miles (24 km2) (0.8%) is water.[9] It is the third-largest county in Pennsylvania by land area and fourth-largest by total area. The West Branch Susquehanna River flows through the county bisecting the county seat along the way.

The mountainous terrain of the county made traffic difficult for early settlers. Various Native American paths and trails crossing the area were used intermittently by settlers, invading armies, and escaped slaves travelling north along the Underground Railroad. A major feature located in Bloom Township, Pennsylvania within the county is known as Bilger's rocks and exhibits fine examples of exposed sandstone bedrock that was created during the formation of the Appalachian Mountains.

The shape of Clearfield County bears an amazing resemblance to that of the state of Arkansas.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Climate

The county has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb). Average monthly temperatures in DuBois range from 24.6 °F in January to 68.6 °F in July, while in Clearfield borough they range from 23.8 °F in January to 69.3 °F in July and in Osceola Mills they range from 24.4 °F in January to 69.1 °F in July.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1810875—
18202,342167.7%
18304,803105.1%
18407,83463.1%
185012,58660.7%
186018,75949.0%
187025,74137.2%
188043,40868.6%
189069,56560.3%
190080,61415.9%
191093,76816.3%
1920103,23610.1%
193086,727−16.0%
194092,0946.2%
195085,957−6.7%
196081,534−5.1%
197074,619−8.5%
198083,57812.0%
199078,097−6.6%
200083,3806.8%
201081,642−2.1%
Est. 201879,388[10]−2.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2017[2]

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 83,382 people, 32,785 households, and 22,916 families residing in the county. The population density was 73 people per square mile (28/km2). There were 37,855 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile (13/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.40% White, 1.49% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. 0.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.9% were of German, 13.6% American, 10.2% English, 9.9% Irish, 9.1% Italian and 6.0% Polish ancestry.

There were 32,785 households out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out with 22.70% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 16.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.50 males.

Micropolitan Statistical Area
Map of the State College-DuBois, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), composed of the following parts:
  State College, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area
  DuBois, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area

The United States Office of Management and Budget[16] has designated Clearfield County as the DuBois, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area (µSA). As of the 2010 census[17] the micropolitan area ranked 6th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 65th most populous in the United States with a population of 81,642. Clearfield County is also a part of the State College-DuBois, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which combines the populations of both Clearfield and Centre County areas, as well as the State College area. The Combined Statistical Area ranked 9th in the State of Pennsylvania and 125th most populous in the United States with a population of 235,632.

Politics and government

As of October 2014, there were 50,846 registered voters in Clearfield County.[18]

While the county registration tends to be evenly matched between Democrats and Republicans, the county trends Republican in statewide and federal elections. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, while Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton winning pluralities in the county, with the former by 88 votes. In 2006, Democrat Bob Casey Jr. received 55% of its vote when he unseated incumbent Republican US Senator Rick Santorum and Ed Rendell received 50.2% of the vote against Lynn Swann. Each of the three row-office statewide winners carried Clearfield in 2008.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 72.2% 24,932 23.7% 8,200 4.1% 1,418
2012 63.3% 20,347 34.6% 11,121 2.0% 654
2008 54.9% 18,662 42.8% 14,555 2.4% 805
2004 60.0% 20,533 39.5% 13,518 0.5% 182
2000 58.8% 18,019 38.3% 11,718 2.9% 896
1996 44.9% 12,987 41.4% 11,991 13.7% 3,977
1992 37.5% 11,553 39.7% 12,247 22.9% 7,047
1988 53.5% 14,296 45.8% 12,235 0.7% 182
1984 60.6% 18,653 38.9% 11,963 0.5% 153
1980 54.3% 15,299 41.3% 11,647 4.4% 1,246
1976 49.2% 13,626 49.5% 13,714 1.3% 345
1972 63.5% 16,780 35.0% 9,246 1.5% 383
1968 49.6% 14,471 42.4% 12,369 8.0% 2,323
1964 37.0% 11,338 62.7% 19,211 0.3% 103
1960 57.0% 18,911 42.8% 14,212 0.2% 72
1956 57.5% 17,519 42.2% 12,852 0.3% 89
1952 54.3% 16,045 45.2% 13,376 0.5% 156
1948 50.0% 11,810 48.0% 11,347 2.1% 487
1944 50.2% 13,986 48.9% 13,617 0.8% 233
1940 46.3% 15,407 53.2% 17,705 0.5% 163
1936 40.3% 14,531 57.7% 20,799 2.0% 720
1932 46.5% 10,500 49.6% 11,209 3.9% 888
1928 67.3% 16,719 31.7% 7,870 1.1% 270
1924 60.3% 13,745 22.1% 5,027 17.6% 4,015
1920 52.3% 9,615 32.6% 5,987 15.2% 2,791
1916 42.7% 5,676 46.5% 6,180 10.9% 1,443
1912 11.8% 1,523 36.2% 4,670 52.0% 6,707
1908 51.7% 7,726 39.8% 5,954 8.5% 1,271
1904 64.1% 9,541 28.8% 4,291 7.0% 1,047
1900 53.6% 7,955 40.8% 6,066 5.6% 833
1896 51.0% 7,395 44.5% 6,460 4.5% 653
1892 40.7% 4,765 52.2% 6,108 7.1% 829
1888 44.5% 5,297 52.7% 6,266 2.8% 337

County commissioners
CommissionersPartyFirst Elected
David GlassDemocratic2019
Antonio ScottoRepublican2015
John SobelRepublican2007

Other county offices
OfficeOfficialPartyFirst Elected
Clerk of Courts and ProthonotaryBrian K. SpencerRepublican2013
ControllerCharles AdamsonRepublican2015 (appointed)
CoronerKim Shaffer SnyderRepublican2017 (appointed)
District AttorneyRyan P. SayersRepublican2019
Recorder of Deeds and Register of WillsMaurene InlowRepublican2007
SheriffMichael ChurnerRepublican2017
TreasurerCarol FoxDemocratic1998 (appointed)

State Senate
DistrictSenatorParty
25Joseph B. ScarnatiRepublican
35Wayne Langerholc Jr.Republican
41Donald C. WhiteRepublican

State House of Representatives
DistrictRepresentativeParty
73Tommy SankeyRepublican
75Matt GablerRepublican

United States House of Representatives
DistrictRepresentativeParty
15Glenn "G.T." ThompsonRepublican

United States Senate
SenatorParty
Pat ToomeyRepublican
Bob CaseyDemocrat

Correctional facilities

Education

Colleges and universities
Map of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

Community, junior and technical colleges

Public school districts

Intermediate unit
  • Central IU 10 - West Decatur

Correctional institution schools
  • Quehanna Boot Camp - Karthaus
  • SCI-Houtzdale - Houtzdale
  • Clearfield County Jail-Clearfield

Private schools
  • Butchers Run Amish School
  • Clearfield Alliance Christian School
  • DuBois Area Catholic Elementary School
  • DuBois Area Catholic High School
  • DuBois Christian Schools
  • Golden Yoke School
  • Milestones Achievement Center
  • Mount Calvary Christian Academy
  • New Story (DuBois)
  • Otterbein Christian Academy
  • Paint & Play School (DuBois)
  • Scenic View School
  • St Francis Grade School
  • Weber Road School

Libraries
  • Clearfield County Public Library - Curwensville
  • Curwensville Public Library
  • DuBois Public Library -
  • Glendale Public Library - Coalport
  • Joseph and Elizabeth Shaw Public Library - Clearfield

Recreation

There are two Pennsylvania state parks in Clearfield County.

Clearfield County is also home to the largest wild area in Pennsylvania, the Quehanna Wild Area. A culturally and historically significant natural formation of massive sandstone megaliths can be found at Bilger's rocks.

Camping

Lodging/Camping[20]

Campground # Name Location Campsites Swimming Fishing Hunting
2515 Woodland Campground Woodland 70 yes yes yes

Hunting/fishing

Hunting[21]

SGL# Location Hunting Area Acreage Species
34 Medix Run Benezette, Covington, Girard, Goshen Townships 8,000 bear, deer, turkey
77 Clear Run Sandy Township 3,038 bear, deer, rabbit, squirrel
78 Bigler Bradford & Graham Townships 721 bear, deer, turkey
87 Irishtown Bell & Penn Townships 10,422 deer, grouse, turkey
90 Goshen Goshen & Lawrence Townships 3,958 bear, deer, turkey
93 Sabula Union & Huston Townships 4,876 bear, deer, turkey
94 Lecontes Mills Goshen & Lawrence Townships 2,108 bear, deer, turkey
98 Blue Ball (West Decatur) Boggs & Decatur Townships 1,172 deer, rabbit, turkey

Fishing

Lake/stream Location Tributary of
Bear Run Reservoir Pike Township West Branch of the Susquehanna River
Chest Creek Chest Township West Branch of the Susquehanna River
Clearfield Reservoir Pike Township West Branch of the Susquehanna River
Curwensville Lake Pike Township West Branch of the Susquehanna River
DuBois Reservoir Union Township near Home Camp
Duck Marshes northern Girard Township near Elk County line
Irvona Reservoir Chest Township Clearfield Creek
Lake Sabula Sandy Township near Sabula
Laurel Run (Bennett Branch Sinnemahoning Creek) Huston Township in Parker Dam State Park Bennett Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek
Moose Creek Reservoir Lawrence Township near Mt. Joy West Branch of the Susquehanna River
Parker Lake Huston Township in Parker Dam State Park Bennett Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek
Penfield Reservoir Huston Township near Hoovertown Bennett Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek
Treasure Lake Sandy Township Treasure Lake
Tyler Reservoir Huston Township near Tyler Bennett Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek
West Branch of the Susquehanna River Most of central & eastern Clearfield County including Mahaffey, Curwensville, and Clearfield Susquehanna River

Sporting

Golf

Course # Name Location Holes Website
3133 Chetremon Golf Course 2 miles north of Cherry Tree in Burnside Township Clearfield County 10 https://web.archive.org/web/20111117163225/http://www.chetremon.com/
3274 Grandview Golf Club 1 mile south of Lumber City 18 http://www.golfnow.com/course-directory/pennsylvania-golf-courses/curwensville-golf-courses/grandview-golf-club

Points of interest

Communities
Map of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels, showing Cities and Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).

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 Clearfield County:

City

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

Unincorporated areas are region of land that are not parts of any incorporated boroughs, cities, or towns.

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Clearfield County.[17]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Population (2010 Census) Municipal type
1 DuBois 7,794 City
2 † Clearfield 6,215 Borough
3 Treasure Lake 3,861 CDP
4 Curwensville 2,542 Borough
5 Sandy 1,429 CDP
6 Hyde 1,399 CDP
7 Osceola Mills 1,141 Borough
8 Falls Creek (mostly in Jefferson County) 1,037 Borough
9 Plymptonville 981 CDP
10 Chester Hill 883 Borough
11 Houtzdale 797 Borough
12 Oklahoma 782 CDP
13 Morrisdale 754 CDP
14 Irvona 647 Borough
15 Hawk Run 534 CDP
16 West Decatur 533 CDP
17 Coalport 523 Borough
18 Grassflat 511 CDP
19 Ramey 451 Borough
20 Brisbin 411 Borough
21 Bigler 398 CDP
22 Westover 390 Borough
23 Mahaffey 368 Borough
24 Grampian 356 Borough
25 Kylertown 340 CDP
26 Wallaceton 313 Borough
27 Allport 264 CDP
28 Troutville 243 Borough
29 Burnside 234 Borough
30 Glen Hope 142 Borough
31 Newburg 92 Borough
32 New Washington 59 Borough

Notable people
  • Mary Elizabeth Willson (1842–1906), gospel singer, singer, composer, evangelist
  • Spencer T. Folmar (1989–present), film director and producer, only ‘movies’ made in Clearfield, PA. Inherited financial windfall from parents/family. Frequently cited as “Hollywood’s Worst Filmmaker”.
  • Willie Adams, major league baseball pitcher (1912-1919)
  • Howie Bedell, major league baseball player
  • William Bigler (January 1, 1814 – August 9, 1880), American politician, 12th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1852 to 1855, later U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania from 1856 until 1861.
  • Earl Caldwell, former reporter and columnist for The New York Times; first African-American to have a regular column in a major national newspaper. Central figure in a major Supreme Court case about the protection of journalists' sources. Currently hosts Pacifica's WBAI radio (New York City)
  • Otto Eppers, cartoonist/illustrator who as part of a stunt successfully jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge at 17 years of age
  • Howard Fargo, former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (1981-2000)
  • Anthony A. Mitchell, clarinetist, composer and conductor. Led the United States Navy Band from 1962-1968.
  • Rembrandt Cecil Robinson (1924-1972) was a United States Navy officer (Rear admiral)[17]
  • Edward Scofield, governor of Wisconsin (1897–1901)
  • William Irvin Swoope, Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1923–27)
  • William A. Wallace, Democratic U.S. senator who served from 1875–81
  • Powell Weaver, composer and organist
  • Robert Leon Hall III, Modern Dance choreographer with numerous Broadway/Off-Broadway Credits, 3-time Tony Award nominee.
gollark: Suuuure.
gollark: Basically every bureaucracy ever has ended up slowly decaying into a worse one.
gollark: World governance has advantages, but also means that institutional brokenness affects *everyone*.
gollark: I don't agree.
gollark: It is a cool idea. Quite elegant, apparently liked by economists, and fair.

See also

References
  1. "PHMC Historical Markers Search" (Searchable database). Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. "Pennsylvania: Individual County Chronologies". Pennsylvania Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  5. Witte, Edwin E., Early American Labor Cases, 35 Yale Law Journal 7, 1926, pp. 830
  6. Aldrich, Lewis Cass (ed.), History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Mason:Syracuse, 1887, p.81
  7. Aldrich, Clearfield County, 1887, p. 81
  8. Witte, Labor Cases, p. 831
  9. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  10. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  11. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  13. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  14. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  16. "Office of Management and Budget - The White House". Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  17. "2010 U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  18. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 5, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  19. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  20. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 23, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 31, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. "New Castle Populated Place Profile / Clearfield County, Pennsylvania Data". pennsylvania.hometownlocator.com. Retrieved November 22, 2018.

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