Juniata County, Pennsylvania

Juniata County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. At the 2010 census, the population was 24,636.[1] Its county seat is Mifflintown.[2] The county was created on March 2, 1831, from part of Mifflin County and named for the Juniata River.

Juniata County
U.S. county
Juniata County Courthouse in Mifflintown
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°32′N 77°24′W
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
FoundedMarch 2, 1831
Named forJuniata River
SeatMifflintown
Largest boroughPort Royal
Area
 • Total394 sq mi (1,020 km2)
 • Land391 sq mi (1,010 km2)
 • Water2.2 sq mi (6 km2)  0.6%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
24,704
 • Density64/sq mi (25/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district12th
Websitewww.co.juniata.pa.us

Mountains in Juniata County include Tuscarora Mountain and Shade Mountain. Agricultural land and forested land make up most of the county's area. Major rivers and creeks in the county include the Susquehanna River, the Juniata River, Tuscarora Creek, and West Branch Mahantango Creek. It borders seven other counties. The county lies over 16 different rock formations (which are from the Ordovician, Silurian, and Devonian) and 51 different soils.

Juniata County has a relatively low population density. The most population-dense parts of the county are the boroughs of Mifflintown and Mifflin. The most common races in the county are white (96.8% of all residents) and black (0.6% of all residents). Between 1940 and 2005, Juniata County's population grew faster than all but two other counties in Pennsylvania. Susquehanna Township had the fastest-growing population of any borough or township in the county during this time period. Livestock farming is the largest industry in the county, although there are other industries as well, including crop farming and tourism. Manufacturing jobs are the most common jobs in the county. The county's median household income is $34,698 per year and its median family income is $39,757 per year. The poverty rate is 9.5% and the unemployment rate is 5.4%. The median house value in the county was $87,000 in 2000. The main roads in Juniata County are Pennsylvania Route 235, Pennsylvania Route 35, Pennsylvania Route 104, U.S. Route 11/U.S. Route 15, U.S. Route 22/U.S. Route 322, Pennsylvania Route 74, Pennsylvania Route 850, and Pennsylvania Route 333.

There are four boroughs and thirteen townships in Juniata County. The county is served by two school districts: the Juniata County School District and the Greenwood School District. There are five areas in Juniata County that are protected by the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy and 59 natural heritage sites in the county.

The first European settlers arrived in Juniata County in the 1750s. The county has historically been part of Mifflin County and before that, part of Cumberland County.

History

Juniata County was historically a part of Cumberland County and later Mifflin County.[3] Juniata County was formed on March 2, 1831, from parts of Mifflin County. It is named after the Juniata River. The word "juniata" itself is a Seneca word that means either "people of the standing stone" or "blue waters". The first boroughs in the county to be settled were Mifflintown and Thompsontown, which were settled in 1790. Port Royal and Mifflin were settled in 1812 and 1848, respectively. The first of these borough to be incorporated was Mifflintown, on March 6, 1833. The last one to be incorporated was Thompsontown, on February 7, 1868.[4] However, squatters arrived in the county and were removed from it considerably earlier, by 1750 and one of the first warrants for land in the county was issued in 1755.[3][4] Many of the earliest landowners in Delaware Township were speculators as opposed to settlers.[3] There was an Indian raid in the county in 1755 and 1756, although Fort Bingham and Fort Peterson had been constructed.[4] The Beale family was one of the earliest families to inhabit the county. More settlers arrived in the 1750s and 1760s and the first gristmill on the western side of the Juniata River was built in the county in 1767. A public road was built in the county between Tuscarora Creek and a location near Shade Mountain in 1768. John Hamilton constructed a sawmill and gristmill on Cocalamus Creek in Delaware Township in 1776. The first known physician in the county, Dr. Ezra Doty, settled in Mifflintown in 1791.[3]

The first four townships in what would become Juniata County were formed on October 23, 1754. They were Lack Township, Aire Township, Fannett Township, and Tyrone Township. These early townships had no formal boundaries. By 1913, the original townships had been divided into a total of 13 townships.[3]

The Pennsylvania Canal began serving Juniata County in 1826 and closed in 1900. The Pennsylvania Railroad reached the county in the late 1840s. The Tuscarora Valley Railroad was also in the county until it closed in 1934.[4]

During Hurricane Agnes in 1972, a total of 6374 acres of Juniata County were flooded. 57 families were displaced during this flooding.[5]

Juniata County was the last county in Pennsylvania to develop a modern comprehensive plan.[5] It did, however, construct a comprehensive plan in 1974.[5]

In a 1997 survey, 66.8% of respondents found Juniata County a "very desirable" living place. In a similar survey in 2007, however, only 56.9% of respondents found the county a "very desirable" living place.[5]

Historic places
The Academia Pomeroy Covered Bridge
Main article: National Register of Historic Places listings in Juniata County, Pennsylvania

Eight locations in Juniata County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They were listed between 1972 and 1986. They include the Academia Pomeroy Covered Bridge, the Tuscarora Academy, and the Book Site in Beale Township; the Lehmans-Port Royal Bridge in Milford Township; and the East Oriental and North Oriental covered bridges. The Dimmsville Covered Bridge in Greenwood Township had been designated as a historic place, but fell into disrepair and collapsed in April 2017.[6] Eight additional places are eligible for a listing on the National Register of Historic Places. There are five Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission historical markers in Juniata County. They commemorate the Tuscarora Path, the Tuscarora Academy, Patterson's Fort, Fort Bingham, and Juniata County itself.[4]

The Academia Pomeroy Covered Bridge (also known as the Pomeroy Academia Covered Bridge) was built in 1901. It is 18 feet (5.5 m) wide and 278 feet (85 m) long, making it one of the longest remaining covered bridges in Pennsylvania.[7]

Geography
Fields near Tuscarora Creek in Beale Township, with Limestone Ridge in the background

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 394 square miles (1,020 km2), of which 391 square miles (1,010 km2) is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) (0.6%) is water.[8]

Juniata County is located between two major metropolitan areas. One is State College, which is northwest of the county. The other is Harrisburg, which is to the southeast of the county.[5] U.S. Route 22/U.S. Route 322, which is a four-lane highway, leads from the county to these metropolitan areas.[5][9]

Parts of Juniata County are fairly flat, but there are areas in the county with slopes of 25% or greater. However, most development in the county is confined to areas with slopes of 15% or less. Many of the county's steepest slopes, with grades of 25% of more, are located on the edges of the county. These slopes are generally found on mountainous ridges. However, there are some similarly steep slopes in the middle of the county. All four boroughs in the county have slopes with a grade of 25% or more near them. Slopes of 15% to 25% can be found throughout the county.[4]

Much of Juniata County is hilly. Mountains occupy many of the county's borders. Tuscarora Mountain forms the county's border with Perry County. Shade Mountain runs from Snyder County through Juniata County and into Huntingdon County.[3]

There are two locations in Juniata County that the Juniata County Comprehensive Plan describes as "outstanding and unique scenic features". These are Hawstone Overlook and the Concord Narrows. Hawstone Overlook is an overlook in Milford Township on Pennsylvania Route 333, from which the Juniata River between Shade Mountain and Blue Mountain can be seen, as well as the Lewistown Narrows. The Concord Narrows are a narrow water gap where the Juniata River flows past Tuscarora Mountain. Quartizite from the Silurian Period can be found in this water gap.[4]

Rivers and watersheds

There are several major streams and rivers in Juniata County. These include the Susquehanna River, the Juniata River, Tuscarora Creek, Cocolamus Creek, West Branch Mahantango Creek, Licking Creek, and Lost Creek.[4]

112,000 acres, or 45% of Juniata County's area is in the Tuscarora Creek watershed, including the borough of Port Royal. 59,000 acres (24% of the county's area) is in the Juniata River watershed. This area includes parts of all four of the boroughs in the county. 26,000 acres of Juniata County are in the Cocolamus Creek watershed and a similar amount of the county is in the watershed of Lost Creek. 20,000 acres (8% of the counties area) are in the West Branch Mahantango Creek watershed.[4]

Land use

Residential land makes up more than 50,000 acres, or one fifth, of Juniata County's area. The bulk of residential land is single-family dwellings, but seasonal homes and mobile homes also make up significant portions of it. The county's residential land is concentrated along in its boroughs, but occurs along roads and in villages throughout the county. Multi-family residential land is comparatively rare. Less than 1% of the county's land (430 acres) is used for manufacturing purposes. Only approximately 370 acres are used for transportation and utilities. Roughly 300 acres are used for transportation and communication and 70 acres are used for other utilities. Businesses make up 0.21% of the county's land, or 525 acres. 490 acres are devoted to retail businesses, while 35 acres are devoted to wholesale businesses. Services occupy 0.67% of the county's area.[10]

Land devoted to recreation in Juniata County makes up 0.5%, or 1000 acres, of its area. Agricultural land comprises 41% (101,000 acres) of the county.[10] A total of 167,500 acres, or approximately two thirds of the county's area, is forested land.[4] Large portions of the southwestern part of the county are forested.[11] 34% of the county's land is undeveloped, most of which (60,000 acres) is unused land.[10]

The vast majority of Juniata County is rural land. However, there are a few rural hamlets and villages (which have one to four housing units per acre) scattered throughout the county. There is also an area termed a "high growth area" by the Juniata County Comprehensive Plan near the boroughs of Mifflin and Mifflintown. It has between 8 and 17 housing units per acre. The Juniata County Comprehensive Plan also designates areas near Thompsontown and Port Royal as "rural growth area[s]". These areas have three to six housing units per acre.[10]

Climate

Juniata has a humid continental climate which is hot-summer (Dfa) except in higher areas where it is warm-summer (Dfb). Average temperatures in the Mifflin-Mifflintown vicinity range from 28.1 °F in January to 73.2 °F in July.

Adjacent counties

Geology

Juniata County lies over 16 different rock formations, some of which contain limestone. These rock formations come from the Ordovician Period, the Silurian Period, and the Devonian Period. The northernmost part of the county contains rocks of the Juniata Formation, the Bald Eagle Formation, and undivided Juniata and Bald Eagle formations. All of these formations primarily consist of sandstone. South of these formations lie the Bloomsburg and Mifflintown Formation undivided, the Clinton Group, and the Tuscarora Formation. The first two of these consist mainly of shale, while the third is composed of quartzite. The rock formations in the southwestern part of the county include the Brallier and Harrell Formations undivided, the Hamilton Group, the Irish Valley member of the Catskill Formation, and others. The eastern part of the county lies almost entirely over the Hamilton Group, the Tuscarora Formation, and the Irish Valley member of the Cataskill Formation.[4]

Other rock formations found in Juniata County include the Keyser through Mifflintown Formation undivided, the Keyser and Tonoloway Formation undivided, the Onondaga and Old Port Formations undivided, the Reedsville Formation, the Trimmers Rock Formation, the Wills Creek Formation, and the Wills Creek Formation through Mifflintown Formation undivided.[4]

Four of the rock formations found in Juniata County come from the Ordovician Period, seven come from the Silurian Period, and seven come from the Devonian Period.[4]

There are seven soil associations in Juniata County. One of these is the Hazelton-Laidig-Buchanan Association. It is a deep and fairly well-drained soil that is found in 24% of the county. It is mostly found in the county's forested areas. The Berks-Weikert-Bedington Association is also found in the county. It is found in 33% of the county's area and is not as deep as the Hazelton-Laidig-Buchanan Association, but is well-drained. The soil is mostly found in agricultural lands and some forested areas. Another soil association in the county is the Edon-Opequon-Weikert Association, which is a well-drained soil that occupies 17% of the county. The Elliber-Kreamer-Mertz Association is a deep and well-drained soil that makes up 12% of the county. The Chenango-Pope-Holly Association and the Morrison-Hazelton-Clymer Association make up 7% and 6% of the county, respectively. They are both deep and occur on gentle slopes. However, the former is poorly drained, while the latter is well-drained. The Hazelton-Laidig-Buchanan Association is well-drained and makes up 1% of the county's area.[4]

There are 51 different soil types in Juniata County, of which 18 are considered prime farmland. There are few agricultural soils on the northern and southern edges of the county.[4]

The main rock formations in the boroughs of Mifflin and Mifflintown are the undivided Keyser and Tonoloway Formations and the Irish Valley Member of the Catskill Formation. The same rock formations are found in the borough of Port Royal, along with the Clinton Group and the Hamilton Group to the northwest and southeast of the borough, respectively. The Hamilton Group, the Keyser and Tonoloway Formations, and the Irish Valley Member of the Catskill Formation are found in or near the borough of Thompsontown.[4]

Climate

Juniata County is in the Humid Continental climatic region. In the summer, highs are generally in between 80 °F (27 °C) and 90 °F (32 °C), but on occasion exceed 90 °F (32 °C). The lows in the summer are typically slightly below 60 °F (16 °C). High temperatures in the winter are usually between 30 °F (−1 °C) and 40 °F (4 °C).[4]

On average, Juniata County receives 38 inches (97 cm) of precipitation per year. An average of 28 inches (71 cm) of snow fall on the county each winter. The county rarely experiences long-term droughts, but does experience short-term droughts often.[4]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
184011,080—
185013,02917.6%
186016,98630.4%
187017,3902.4%
188018,2274.8%
189016,655−8.6%
190016,054−3.6%
191015,013−6.5%
192014,464−3.7%
193014,325−1.0%
194015,3737.3%
195015,243−0.8%
196015,8744.1%
197016,7125.3%
198019,18814.8%
199020,6257.5%
200022,82110.6%
201024,6368.0%
Est. 201824,704[13]0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
1790-1960[15] 1900-1990[16]
1990-2000[17] 2010-2017[1]

At the 2010 census, there were 24,636 people, 9,476 households, and 6,839 families residing in Juniata County.[18] The projected population of the county for 2020 is 26,071.[11] The population density was 63 people per square mile (24/km²).[19] There were 10,978 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.8% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.3% Asian (0.1% Indian, 0.1% Chinese, and 0.1% Korean), 1.1% from other races, and 1% from two or more races.[18]

There are eight Filipino people, five Vietnamese people, and two Samoans in Juniata County.[18]

2.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. These include 195 Puerto Ricans, 77 Mexicans, and 2 Cubans.[18] The highest percentage of Hispanic people in any township or borough in the county is 8.71%, in Mifflintown. Between 1990 and 2000, the Hispanic population in the county increased by 653%.[20] In 2000, 45.4% of the population of Juniata County were of German, 20.2% American, 5.7% Irish and 5.0% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 3.95% reported speaking Pennsylvania German, German, or Dutch at home; 1.63% speak Spanish.[21]

The housing density and population density of Juniata County is considerably below average for a Pennsylvania county.[20]

The administrative subdivisions of Juniata County with the highest population density are Mifflintown (with a density of 6,184.9 people per square mile), Mifflin (with a density of 3506.9 people per square mile), and Thompsontown (with a density of 2193.1 people per square mile). The township with the highest population density in the county is Monroe Township, with 104.0 people per square mile. The highest density of housing units in the county is in Mifflintown (2,837.4 per square mile), followed by Mifflin (1,454.2 per square mile) and Thompsontown (1,144.4 per square mile). Greenwood Township has the third lowest population density of any administrative division in Juniata County: 27.9 people per square mile. The second lowest density is in Tuscarora Township (24.5 people per square mile) and the lowest density is in Lack Township (13.2 people per square mile). The lowest density of housing units in the county is in Lack Township (10.0 per square mile), the second-lowest density is in Greenwood Township (11.3 per square mile), and the third-lowest density is in Tuscarora Township (13.7 per square mile).[20]

Between 1940 and 2005, the population of Juniata County was proportionally the third fastest-growing population of any county in Pennsylvania, with only Snyder County's and Perry County's populations growing faster. In this time period, the county's population has increased by 50.69%, or 7,792 people. In the 1980s, the county's rate of population growth was more than 50 times higher than the rate of population growth in Pennsylvania. The county's rate of population growth in the 1970s was even higher.[20]

Susquehanna Township's population was the fastest-growing population of any administrative division in Juniata County between 1990 and 2005, with an increase of 35.42%. Other fast-growing populations in the county include those of Milford Township (22.53%) and Thompsontown 20.1%). The populations of Mifflin and Mifflintown are the only administrative divisions in the county whose populations decreased in that time period (at a rate of -7.42% and -3.7%, respectively). However, between 2000 and 2005, eight administrative divisions experienced decreasing populations. Between 1990 and 2000, every borough and township in the county experienced an increase in population.[20]

At the 2010 census, the average household size in Juniata County was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.01. 23.0% of the county's households were inhabited by a single individual.[18]

In 2000, there were 11,353 males and 11,468 females in Juniata County, or 98.99 males per 100 females. The highest percentage of males in any administrative division in the county was 52.07%, in Beale Township. The highest percentage of females in any township or borough in the county was 52.95%, in Fermanagh Township.[20]

At the 2010 census, the population in Juniata County was spread out with 6.3% under 5 years of age, 6.8% from 5 to 9 years of age, and the same percentage from 10 to 14 years of age. 6.5% of the county's inhabitants were 15 to 19 years of age, 5.4% were 20 to 24 years old, 5.3% were 25 to 29 years old, and 5.5% were 30 to 34 years old. People of 35 to 39 years of age comprised 6.1% of the population, 40- to 44-year-olds comprised 6.6% of the population, and 7.6% of the population consisted of 50- to 54-year-olds. People of 55 to 59 years of age made up 7.6% of the population, people of 60 to 54 years of age comprised 6.0% of it, and 65- to 69-year-olds made up 4.9% of the population. People of 70 to 74 years of age make up 3.9% of the county's population, people of 75 to 79 years of age make up 3.2% of the population, people of 80 to 84 years old make up 2.5% of the population, and people older than 85 years make up 2.3% of the population.[18]

Law and government
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[22]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 78.5% 8,273 17.3% 1,821 4.3% 451
2012 71.5% 6,862 26.6% 2,547 1.9% 186
2008 66.0% 6,484 31.3% 3,068 2.7% 267
2004 71.4% 7,144 28.0% 2,797 0.7% 65
2000 66.9% 5,795 30.6% 2,656 2.5% 216
1996 51.7% 4,128 36.3% 2,896 12.0% 960
1992 47.3% 3,980 30.9% 2,601 21.8% 1,839
1988 62.9% 4,881 36.5% 2,834 0.6% 49
1984 65.7% 5,059 34.1% 2,624 0.3% 22
1980 57.8% 4,139 37.7% 2,696 4.6% 326
1976 55.4% 3,991 43.1% 3,105 1.5% 110
1972 66.3% 4,412 32.4% 2,156 1.3% 85
1968 58.8% 4,039 33.8% 2,321 7.5% 514
1964 42.7% 3,087 57.2% 4,138 0.1% 10
1960 64.7% 4,805 35.2% 2,615 0.2% 11
1956 60.5% 4,258 39.5% 2,779 0.1% 7
1952 58.6% 3,863 41.1% 2,705 0.3% 21
1948 57.2% 3,121 42.1% 2,299 0.7% 39
1944 56.7% 3,512 43.1% 2,666 0.2% 15
1940 49.4% 3,507 50.4% 3,579 0.2% 12
1936 48.3% 3,576 51.1% 3,782 0.7% 49
1932 48.4% 2,752 49.4% 2,805 2.2% 124
1928 82.0% 4,396 17.1% 919 0.9% 46
1924 57.4% 2,177 37.5% 1,420 5.1% 195
1920 58.2% 2,112 39.8% 1,443 2.0% 73
1916 44.7% 1,254 53.3% 1,497 2.0% 57
1912 13.3% 374 40.9% 1,148 45.8% 1,284
1908 54.1% 1,765 43.3% 1,414 2.6% 84
1904 60.3% 1,985 36.5% 1,202 3.2% 106
1900 51.5% 1,805 46.3% 1,621 2.3% 79
1896 52.0% 2,059 46.0% 1,819 2.0% 79
1892 47.6% 1,621 49.8% 1,695 2.7% 91
1888 47.6% 1,760 49.8% 1,842 2.6% 97

State Senate[23]

State House of Representatives[23]

United States House of Representatives

United States Senate

Infrastructure, industry, and economy

In 2000, the agricultural, hunting/fishing, forestry, and mining industries made up 5.46% of the industry in Juniata County. Livestock farming was more popular in the county than crop cultivation. In 2002, the egg and poultry industry in the county generated $32 million in sales (the 7th highest of the Pennsylvania counties) and the dairy industry generated $17 million in sales (the 23rd highest of the Pennsylvania counties). The hog and pig industry generated $7 million and the cattle industry generated $4 million in sales (the 10th and 27th highest of Pennsylvania counties, respectively). The county's grain industry generated $1 million (the 35th highest of Pennsylvania counties). The county is the fourth most prolific poultry-producing county in Pennsylvania.[4] In addition to the aforementioned industries, there are also small-scale clothing manufacturing businesses in the county.[4]

There were 801 farms in Juniata County in 1997, occupying a total of 96,312 acres of farmland. By 2002, there were only 644 farms and 86,203 acres of farmland.[4]

There is one public library in Juniata County: the Juniata County Library in Mifflintown. It has approximately 64,000 materials and an annual circulation of 131,940 materials.[24] It celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2016.

There are no hospitals in Juniata County. The county is served by a hospital in Lewistown, which was established in 1905. The county has six emergency medical services units and eight fire companies, all of which are volunteer fire departments. As the county does not have its own police force, it is served by the Pennsylvania State Police.[24]

There are more than 100 cemeteries in Juniata County.[4]

Economic and employment statistics

In 2000, the most common occupation in Juniata County was manufacturing. 23.6% of employed people over 16 years old in the county performed manufacturing jobs. 10.5% of employed people older than 16 worked in health services, 9.5% worked in other services, 9.3% each work in construction and retail, 6.2% worked in public administration, and 6.1% worked in transportation. 5.6% had an occupation in the field of education, and a similar number worked in finance, insurance, and real estate. 5.5% worked in agriculture, fishing, forestry, or mining, 3.5% worked in wholesale trade, 1.7% worked in communications, utilities, and related fields.[9]

In 2000, a total of 1,955 households in Juniata County made less than $20,000 per year and 3036 households made $20,000 to $39,999 per year. 1,940 households made $40,000 to $59,999 per year, 1,308 households made $60,000 to $99,999 per year, and 216 households made $100,000 to $149,999 per year. 125 households made more than $150,000 per year. In 1999, the median household income for the county was $34,698 per year and the median family income was $39,757 per year. Both of these figures are lower than the average for Pennsylvania.[20] The per capita income in the county was $16,142 per year in 1999 and $14,539 in 1989. The county's poverty rate, 9.5%, is below the average poverty rate for Pennsylvania, which is 11%. In 1999, Mifflin had the highest poverty rate of any township or borough in the county, 17.54%. Greenwood Township had the lowest poverty rate, 6.99%. The county's unemployment rate was 5.3% in 1999 and 5.4% in 2008. According to the Juniata County Comprehensive Plan, the economic situation in the county "suggests a fairly healthy county economy".[9]

Of the boroughs and townships in Juniata County, Beale Township had the highest household and family income in 1999: $41,458 and $43,625, respectively. The borough of Mifflin had the lowest household and family income in 1999: $26,438 and $28,750, respectively.[20]

94.32% of the houses in Juniata County have full plumbing facilities. This is below Pennsylvania's average (98.51%), which may be due to the presence of cabins and other houses that are not permanently inhabited. Mifflin has the highest percentage of houses with full plumbing facilities of any township or borough in the county (100%). Lack Township has the lowest percentage of houses with full plumbing facilities (72.31%).[11] There are six public sewer companies in the county, the largest of which, the Twin Boroughs Sanitary Authority, is used at a rate of 450,000 gallons per day. The county also has five public water companies, including the Port Royal Municipal Authority and the Mifflintown Municipal Authority. The Mifflintown Municipal Authority is the most-used water company in the county, serving 465,000 gallons of water per day.[24]

On average, Juniata County generates 32 tons of solid waste per day.[24]

Nine townships and all four boroughs in Juniata County receive electricity from Pennsylvania Power and Light. The remaining townships are given electricity by First Energy and Valley Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.. Nittany Media Inc. and Dish and Direct TV provide cable services to the county.[24]

Housing

In 2000, 28.70% of the houses in Juniata County were built before 1939, 6.51% were built in the 1940s, and 8.26% were built in the 1950s. 8.53% of the county's houses were built in the 1960s, 17.99% were built in the 1970s, and 14.18% were built in the 1980s. 15.82% of the houses were built in the 1990s or in 2000. The majority of the houses in Mifflin and Mifflintown were built before 1939.[11]

In 2000, 14.43% of the houses in Juniata County were vacant. 9.42% of the county's houses were vacant for seasonal or recreational reasons. The county's vacancy rate is higher than average for Pennsylvania. Mifflintown had the lowest vacancy rate of any township or borough in the county (5.18%). Lack Township had the highest vacancy rate (48.77%). 66.49% of the county's houses are occupied by their owner and 19.08% are occupied by a renter. Many of the houses in the southwestern part of the county are seasonally occupied.[11]

13.11% of the houses in Juniata County cost less than $50,000 and 51.07% cost $50,000 to $99,999. 17.51% of the county's houses cost $100,000 to $124,999 and 9.74% cost from $125,000 to $149,999. 4.62% of the houses cost between $150,000 and $174,999 and 1.21% cost between $175,000 and $199,999. 1.92% of the houses in the county cost between $200,000 and $249,999, 0.39% cost between $250,000 and $299,999, and 0.43% cost more than $300,000. Of the administrative divisions in the county, Fermanagh Township has the highest percentage of houses costing over $300,000 (1.34%) and numerous townships and boroughs in the county do not have any houses costing over $300,000. Mifflin has the highest percentage of houses costing less than $50,000 (56.48%) and Delaware Township has the lowest percentage of such houses (4.73%).[11]

In 1990, the median house value in Juniata County was $51,500. This rose to $87,000 by 2000.[11]

Crime

The most common crimes committed in Juniata County between 2005 and November 2007 were property crimes, with 996 recorded offenses. Other common crimes in the county are assaults, with 383 offenses between 2005 and 2007 and alcohol-related crimes, with 306 offenses between 2005 and 2007. Rarer crimes in the county include drug violations (71 offenses between 2005 and 2007), sex offenses (64 offenses between 2005 and 2007) and arson, with only 12 offenses between 2005 and 2007. There were no homicides in the county in these years.[24]

Recreation

There are municipal parks in all four boroughs of Juniata County. There are also five boat launches in the county, all of which are on or near the Juniata River. There are two golf courses in the central part of the county and one campground in the southern part of the county.[24]

Transportation

Roads

The main roads in the eastern part of Juniata County are Pennsylvania Route 235, Pennsylvania Route 35, Pennsylvania Route 104, and U.S. Route 11/U.S. Route 15. The main roads in western Juniata County are U.S. Route 22/U.S. Route 322, Pennsylvania Route 74, Pennsylvania Route 850, and Pennsylvania Route 333.[4] U.S. Route 22/U.S. Route 322 experiences the most traffic.[25] It and U.S. Route 11/U.S. Route 15 are considered major arterial roads. Pennsylvania Route 75 and Pennsylvania Route 35 northeast of U.S. Route 22/U.S. Route 322 are minor arterial roads. Major rural collector roads in the county include Pennsylvania Route 850 Pennsylvania Route 74, Pennsylvania Route 235, and Pennsylvania Route 35 southwest of U.S. Route 22/U.S. Route 322. Minor rural collector roads include Pennsylvania Route 333 and numerous less prominent roads. There are also many local roads throughout the county, most of which are in its northeastern and central parts.[25]

There are approximately 735 miles (1,183 km) of roads in Juniata County's road system. 372.6 miles (599.6 km) of the roads are locally owned, 354.9 miles (571.2 km) are owned by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and 8.0 miles (12.9 km) are owned by Pennsylvania or the United States. 508.3 miles (818.0 km) are local roads, 89.7 miles (144.4 km) are minor collector roads, 68.7 miles (110.6 km) are major collector roads, 46.8 miles (75.3 km) are minor arterial roads, and 21.4 miles (34.4 km) are major arterial roads.[25]

The daily traffic of Juniata County's arterial roads ranges from several dozen to several thousand vehicles per day. Pennsylvania Route 75 carries 50 vehicles per day in the southwestern part of the county and 7,000 vehicles per day in the northeastern part of the county. Pennsylvania Route 104 carries 2,900 vehicles per day in the county. The most heavily traveled road there, however, is U.S. Route 22/U.S. Route 322, which carries 11,000 to 18,000 vehicles per day. The least-trafficked major rural connector road is State Route 2026, which is used by 350 vehicles per day and the most-trafficked major rural connector road is Pennsylvania Route 35, which gets up to 7100 vehicles per day. Traffic on minor rural collector roads ranges from 100 vehicles per day on Academia Road to over 1000 vehicles per day on several roads. The volume of vehicle traffic in the county has changed little since the late 1990s.[25]

U.S. Route 11 and U.S. Route 15 allow Juniata County residents to access numerous locations in New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. It receives approximately 12,000 vehicles per day in the county. Pennsylvania Route 35 allows access to Mifflin and Mifflintown from other locations in the county. Pennsylvania Route 75 is used by trucks in the county to access the Pennsylvania Turnpike.[25]

There are 21 road intersections in Juniata County that were the site of five or more crashes between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2006.[25]

Bridges

There are 254 state-owned bridges in Juniata County, of which 77 are considered structurally deficient by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.[25]

The longest bridge in Juniata County is the First Street Bridge over the Juniata River in Port Royal. It is 1,087 feet (331 m) long and was built in 1937. The second-longest bridge in the county crosses the Juniata River at Thompsontown Station and is 808.1 feet (246.3 m) long. It was built in 1994. All other bridges in the county are less than 500 feet (150 m) long.[26]

Other transportation

For air travel, Juniata County is served by the privately owned Mifflintown Airport and the Stottle Memorial Heliport in Tuscarora Township.[25]

The BicyclePA Route J runs through Juniata County on U.S. Route 11 and U.S. Route 15.[25]

Education
Map of Juniata County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts
Map of Greenwood School District

Schools and school districts

There are two public school districts in Juniata County: the Juniata County School District and the Greenwood School District. Both of these are K-12 schools. The Greenwood School District serves Greenwood Township and parts of Perry County and the Juniata County School District serves the rest of Juniata County.[24]

The Juniata County School District has nine elementary schools, one junior high school, and two high schools. In the 2006–2007 school year, there were 3,123 students in the school district. The largest high school in the district is the Juniata High School, with 637 students. The largest elementary school in the district is the Fermanagh-Mifflintown Elementary School, with 238 students and the smallest one is the Susquehanna Township Elementary School, with 63 students.[24]

The Greenwood School District has an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school. They have 449, 137, and 278 students, respectively.[24]

Additionally, there are 12 private schools in Juniata County, most of which are religious schools run by groups such as the Amish or other types of Mennonites. Nearly all are based in Mifflintown, McAlisterville, or Thompsontown, although one is based in Port Royal. In May 2014, the largest private school in the county was the Juniata Mennonite School, which had 220 students, and the smallest private school was the Breezy Hollow Amish School, which had 18 students.[24]

There are no colleges in Juniata County, although there are twelve in the county's general vicinity.[24]

Statistics

In 1990, 16.91% of Juniata County residents over 25 years of age had less than a ninth-grade education. 17.93% of residents over 25 years of age had a ninth-grade education to a twelfth-grade education and 46.35% had graduated from high school. 7.80% of the residents had attended college, but did not have a degree and 3.76% had an associate degree. 4.67% of Juniata County residents aged 25 years or more had a bachelor's degree and 2.59% had a graduate or professional degree.[20]

By 2000, the percentage of people with less than a ninth-grade education had decreased to 5% and the percentage with a ninth-grade to twelfth-grade education had decreased to 13%. The percentage of people who graduated high school decreased to 38%, but the percentage of people who attended college but did not get a degree increased to 16%. The percentage of people with an associate degree increased to 6%, the percentage of people who had a bachelor's degree increased to 14%, and the percentage of people with a graduate or professional degree increased to 8%.[20]

Of the townships and boroughs in Juniata County, Lack Township has the highest percentage of people without a high school diploma (42.43%). Spruce Hill Township has the lowest percentage of people without a high school diploma (18.00%). Mifflintown has the highest percentage of people with a higher education.[20]

Biology

There are five areas in Juniata County that are protected by the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy: the Baker Easement, the Brady Bryner Preserve, the Gregory Alan Grening Preserve, the Grening Preserve Addition, the McLaughlin Easement, and the Port Royal Wetlands. The combined area of these lands is 415 acres. There are State Game Lands in the northwestern part of the county and state forests in the county's northern and southern portions.[4]

Four streams in Juniata County are considered high-quality coldwater fisheries. There are also some Class A Wild Trout Waters in the northern and western parts of the county.[4]

The Juniata County Natural Heritage Inventory lists 59 natural heritage sites in Juniata County. 11 are considered "exceptional significance", 19 are considered "high significance", 12 are considered "notable significance", and 17 are considered "local significance". Sites on the inventory are found in every township in the county except for Greenwood Township.[27]

The largest remaining intact wetland in Juniata County may be the Cedar Spring Run Wetland, which is in Walker Township. The Juniata County Natural Heritage Inventory considers it to be an "exceptional significance" site. Numerous wetland plants that are rare in the area inhabit this wetland, including Quercus shumardii. The wetland is a red maple-black ash palustrine forest community. Another wetland on the Natural Heritage Inventory's list of exceptional significance sites is the Locust Run Wetlands, which is in Walker Township and Delaware Township. These wetlands consist of two large groups of temporary pools and several permanent ones. The West Branch Mahantango Creek Vernal Pools are also in the county. This system consist of dozens of temporary pools that are inhabited by Leucothoe racemosa. The Slim Valley Wetlands are in Fayette Township and Fermanagh Township. They contain spotted pondweed and serve as a breeding ground for amphibians.[27]

There are four sites on Tuscarora Creek and its tributaries on the "exceptional significance" list in the Juniata County Natural Heritage Inventory. The Doyle Run Floodplain is located on the creek in Beale Township. It contains a silver maple floodplain forest and is home to Ranunculus flabellaris and many species that are rare in Pennsylvania. Barton Hollow, a tributary of Tuscarora Creek in Lack Township, is home to plant species such as Carex careyana and Pinus echinata and animal species such as the Emperor Butterfly and a mussel species known as the Triangle Floater. Tuscarora Creek supports Carex shortiana downstream of Blair Hollow in Lack Township, as well as 350 plant species and 50 animal species. The creek's valley downstream of Pennybaker Island in Lack Township is home to Samolus parviflorus and Quercus shumardii.[27]

A woodland known as the Kurtz Valley Woodland is located in Delaware Township, Juniata County. It is listed as an "exceptional significance" site on the Juniata County Natural Heritage Inventory and contains a red cedar–redbud shrubland community, which is rare in Pennsylvania. The McAlister Limestone Glade is another "exceptional significance" site in the county. It is located in Fayette Township and contains a side-oats grama calcareous grassland, which is described as a "very important" natural feature. The Westfall Prairie is also located in Fayette Township and is home to a number of rare species.[27]

Allegheny Woodrats live on the slopes of the Lewistown Narrows in Milford Township, Juniata County and Northern Myotis bats feed there. The Lewistown Narrows are an "exceptional significance" site according to the Juniata County Natural Heritage Inventory.[27]

Communities
Map of Juniata County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing 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.

Boroughs

Boroughs in Juniata County include:[12]

Townships

Townships in Juniata County include:[12]

Unincorporated community

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. CDPs in Juniata County include:[12]

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Juniata County.[28]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 McAlisterville CDP 971
2 † Mifflintown Borough 936
3 Port Royal Borough 925
4 Thompsontown Borough 697
5 Mifflin Borough 642
6 Richfield (partially in Snyder County) CDP 549
7 Mexico CDP 472
8 East Waterford CDP 196
9 East Salem CDP 196
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See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. John Woolf Jordan, ed. (1913), A History of the Juniata Valley and Its People, Volume 1, retrieved May 18, 2014
  4. Juniata County Comprehensive Plan: Chapter 2 – Natural, Water, and Historic Resources (PDF), retrieved May 12, 2014
  5. Juniata County Comprehensive Plan (PDF), retrieved May 12, 2014
  6. Schalk, Kiernan (April 17, 2017). "Local covered bridge crumbles". Lewistown Sentinel. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
  7. George E. Thomas, ed. (2012), Pomeroy Academia Covered Bridge, retrieved May 13, 2014
  8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  9. Juniata County Comprehensive Plan: Chapter 6 – Economic Analysis (PDF), retrieved May 14, 2014
  10. Juniata County Comprehensive Plan: Chapter 5 – Land Use (PDF), retrieved May 14, 2014
  11. Juniata County Comprehensive Plan: Chapter 4 – Housing (PDF), retrieved May 14, 2014
  12. Appendix F. Maps (PDF), 2000, retrieved May 12, 2014
  13. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  14. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  15. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  16. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  17. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  18. United States Census (2010), American FactFinder, archived from the original on February 12, 2020, retrieved May 13, 2014
  19. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  20. Juniata County Comprehensive Plan: Chapter 3 - Population and Socioeconomic Analysis (PDF), retrieved May 13, 2014
  21. Language Map Data Center. Mla.org (April 3, 2013). Retrieved on July 23, 2013.
  22. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  23. Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Find Your Legislator". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  24. Juniata County Comprehensive Plan: Chapter 7 – Community Facilities (PDF), retrieved May 14, 2014
  25. Juniata County Comprehensive Plan: Chapter 8 – Transportation (PDF), retrieved May 15, 2014
  26. National Bridge Inventory, Juniata County, retrieved May 15, 2014
  27. Juniata county natural heritage inventory (PDF), October 2007, retrieved May 18, 2014
  28. "2010 Census". Census.gov. Retrieved July 10, 2016.

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