County in Pennsylvania, United States
County in Pennsylvania
Blair County is acounty in theCommonwealth ofPennsylvania . As of the2020 census , the population was 122,822.[ 3] county seat isHollidaysburg , and its largest city isAltoona .[ 4] Huntingdon andBedford counties. The county is part of the Southwest region of the commonwealth.[ a]
Blair County comprises the Altoona, PAmetropolitan statistical area . It is also part of the Altoona-Huntingdon , PA Combined Statistical Area, which includes Blair and Huntingdon counties.[ 5]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 527 square miles (1,360 km2 ), of which 526 square miles (1,360 km2 ) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2 ) (0.2%) is water.[ 6] Appalachian Regional Commission ,[ 7] American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America [ 8]
National protected area [ edit ] Blair has a warm-summerhumid continental climate (Dfb ).
Climate data for Altoona Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °F (°C) 78 76 85 91 94 97 103 102 96 90 82 12 103 Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 31.9 34.6 44.7 57.8 67.6 77.1 81.4 80.3 72.3 61.3 49.4 37.1 57.9 Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 15.6 17.7 25.5 36.6 46.8 54.9 60.2 58.4 51.3 41.4 32.1 21.9 38.5 Record low °F (°C) −29 −25 −7 8 20 32 38 34 26 15 0 −13 −29 Averageprecipitation inches (mm) 2.64 2.43 3.48 3.63 4.30 4.08 4.14 3.50 3.85 3.43 3.71 3.11 42.64 Average snowfall inches (cm) 11.2 14.3 16.9 2.5 0.1 0 0 0 0 0.2 3.3 12.1 60.6 Source: Pennsylvania State Climatologist[ 9]
Historical population Census Pop. Note %± 1850 21,777 — 1860 27,829 27.8% 1870 38,051 36.7% 1880 52,740 38.6% 1890 70,866 34.4% 1900 85,099 20.1% 1910 108,858 27.9% 1920 128,334 17.9% 1930 139,840 9.0% 1940 140,358 0.4% 1950 139,519 −0.6% 1960 137,270 −1.6% 1970 135,356 −1.4% 1980 136,621 0.9% 1990 130,542 −4.4% 2000 129,144 −1.1% 2010 127,089 −1.6% 2020 122,822 −3.4% [ 10]
As of the2020 census , the county had a population of 122,822. The median age was 44.3 years, with 19.8% of residents under the age of 18 and 22.3% of residents 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.9 males age 18 and over.[ 11]
The racial makeup of the county was 92.5%White , 2.1%Black or African American , 0.1%American Indian and Alaska Native , 0.7%Asian , <0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander , 0.6% from some other race, and 3.9% fromtwo or more races .Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.4% of the population.[ 12]
74.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 25.7% lived in rural areas.[ 13]
There were 51,227 households in the county, of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.9% were married-couple households, 18.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[ 11]
There were 55,700 housing units, of which 8.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 69.7% were owner-occupied and 30.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.9%.[ 11]
Blair County, Pennsylvania – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic ) Pop 2000[ 14] Pop 2010[ 15] Pop 2020[ 16] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020 White alone (NH)125,641 121,495 113,016 97.28% 95.59% 92.01% Black or African American alone (NH)1,495 2,051 2,463 1.15% 1.61% 2.00% Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH)103 125 134 0.07% 0.09% 0.10% Asian alone (NH)461 689 868 0.35% 0.54% 0.70% Pacific Islander alone (NH)15 26 12 0.01% 0.02% 0.00% Other race alone (NH)53 52 367 0.04% 0.04% 0.29% Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)714 1,421 4,254 0.55% 1.11% 3.46% Hispanic or Latino (any race)662 1,230 1,708 0.51% 0.96% 1.39% Total 129,144 127,089 122,822 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%
As of the2000 census , there were 127,089 people and 52,159 households within the county. Thepopulation density was 246 people per square mile (95 people/km2 ). There were 55,061 housing units at an average density of 105 units per square mile (41/km2 ). The racial makeup of the county was 96.18%White , 1.68%Black orAfrican American , 0.11%Native American , 0.56%Asian , 0.02%Pacific Islander , 0.23% fromother races , and 1.22% from two or more races. 0.97% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 40.0% were ofGerman , 12.2%Irish , 10.7%Italian , 9.9%American , and 6.0%English ancestry.[ 17]
There were 52,159 households, out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.60% weremarried couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.1% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 19, 5.9% from 20 to 24, 11.1% from 25 to 34, 19.3% from 35 to 49, 21.4% from 50 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. The population was 48.55% male and 51.45% female.
Blair County has been aRepublican Party stronghold since the party was founded.Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936 andLyndon B. Johnson in 1964 are the only Democratic presidential candidates to date to win the county (with neither taking more than 52% of the county's vote), althoughTheodore Roosevelt won it as the candidate of theProgressive Party in 1912. In 2016 and 2024, it played a crucial role in helpingDonald Trump carry Pennsylvania.
United States presidential election results for Blair County, Pennsylvania[ 18] Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies) No. % No. % No. % 1880 5,808 53.95% 4,728 43.92% 230 2.14% 1884 6,396 55.96% 4,649 40.67% 385 3.37% 1888 7,311 56.95% 5,175 40.31% 351 2.73% 1892 7,407 56.75% 5,265 40.34% 380 2.91% 1896 10,382 65.50% 4,840 30.53% 629 3.97% 1900 9,749 65.81% 4,528 30.57% 537 3.62% 1904 12,482 73.46% 3,675 21.63% 835 4.91% 1908 10,583 63.01% 4,981 29.66% 1,232 7.34% 1912 3,138 18.16% 4,108 23.78% 10,030 58.06% 1916 9,893 55.16% 7,002 39.04% 1,040 5.80% 1920 15,035 56.97% 5,668 21.48% 5,689 21.56% 1924 20,313 65.93% 4,244 13.78% 6,251 20.29% 1928 34,356 73.53% 12,104 25.90% 266 0.57% 1932 19,553 56.95% 13,709 39.93% 1,073 3.13% 1936 24,711 46.98% 27,038 51.41% 848 1.61% 1940 26,639 55.11% 21,573 44.63% 125 0.26% 1944 24,925 57.82% 18,003 41.76% 178 0.41% 1948 22,382 60.68% 14,050 38.09% 454 1.23% 1952 32,113 65.44% 16,851 34.34% 106 0.22% 1956 33,623 65.68% 17,503 34.19% 65 0.13% 1960 35,297 64.40% 19,445 35.48% 67 0.12% 1964 24,301 48.09% 26,157 51.76% 73 0.14% 1968 28,780 59.59% 15,803 32.72% 3,713 7.69% 1972 33,126 75.10% 10,023 22.72% 961 2.18% 1976 28,290 59.73% 18,397 38.84% 679 1.43% 1980 28,931 62.41% 15,014 32.39% 2,414 5.21% 1984 30,104 65.52% 15,651 34.06% 190 0.41% 1988 25,623 61.50% 15,588 37.42% 451 1.08% 1992 21,447 47.92% 14,857 33.19% 8,454 18.89% 1996 21,282 52.30% 15,036 36.95% 4,373 10.75% 2000 28,376 62.86% 15,774 34.94% 990 2.19% 2004 35,751 65.99% 18,105 33.42% 322 0.59% 2008 32,708 61.37% 19,813 37.17% 777 1.46% 2012 33,319 66.16% 16,276 32.32% 770 1.53% 2016 39,135 70.72% 13,958 25.22% 2,248 4.06% 2020 45,306 71.07% 17,636 27.67% 806 1.26% 2024 46,352 71.16% 18,127 27.83% 661 1.01%
County commissioners [ edit ] David Kessling, chair, Republican Laura Burke, Vice-chair, Democrat Amy Webster, Secretary, Republican Other county offices [ edit ] Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary, Robin Patton, Republican Controller, A.C. Stickel, Republican Coroner, Ray Benton, Republican District Attorney, Pete Weeks, Republican Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds, Anita Terchanik, Republican Sheriff, James Ott, Republican Treasurer, James Carothers, Republican State House of Representatives [ edit ] United States House of Representatives [ edit ] United States Senate [ edit ] As of April 23, 2025 there are 81,144 registered voters in Blair County.[ 20]
Map of Blair County, Pennsylvania School Districts Colleges and universities [ edit ] [ edit ] Public school districts [ edit ] School districts include:[ 21]
Alternative Education Program - Hollidaysburg Holy Trinity Middle School - Altoona Holy Trinity Elementary School - Altoona Campus Holy Trinity Elementary School - Hollidaysburg Campus Altoona Hospital School of Nursing Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School - AltoonaBlair County Christian School - Duncansville Champion Life Christian Academy - Altoona Cove Lane Parochial School - Martinsburg Crawford Elementary at Adelphoi Village Emmanuel Baptist Christian School - Claysburg Faith Tabernacle School - Altoona Great Commission Schools - Altoona Harbor House Center Early Academy - Altoona Heritage Christian School - Martinsburg Hollidaysburg Catholic School - Hollidaysburg Living Water Christian Academy - Williamsburg Northwestern Human Services Autism School Penn Mont Academy - Hollidaysburg Penn Mont at Penn State Altoona Piney Creek Parochial School - New Enterprise Shady Grove School - Martinsburg Shady Pond School - Altoona St John Evangelist School - Altoona St Matthew School - Tyrone St Patrick School - Newry Sylvan Learning Center - Hollidaysburg Tender Love for Children - Altoona The Nehemiah Project - Altoona Training & Development Tech - Hollidaysburg White Oak School - Tyrone Data taken from Pennsylvania EdNA - PDE database of public private schools 2012
Blair County hosts a system of nine libraries that can be accessed with one library card. Resource sharing exists between the eight libraries. Books from any of the eight system libraries can be placed on hold and delivered to a patron's home library and then returned to any of the eight libraries in the system.
Altoona Area Public Library - Altoona Bellwood Antis Public Library - Bellwood Blair County Library System - Altoona Claysburg Area Public Library - Claysburg Hollidaysburg Area Public Library - Hollidaysburg Martinsburg Community Library - Martinsburg Roaring Spring Community Library - Roaring Spring Tyrone-Snyder Twnshp Pub Library - Tyrone Williamsburg Public Library - Williamsburg There is onePennsylvania state park in Blair County,Canoe Creek State Park inFrankstown Township .
Map of Blair 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 Blair County:
Census-designated places [ edit ] Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by theU.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They areunincorporated communities and not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law.
The population ranking of the following table is based on the2020 census of Blair County.[ 22]
Rank City/Town/etc. Population (2020 Census) Municipal type Incorporated 1 Altoona 42,989 City 1854 (borough) 1868 (city) 2 †Hollidaysburg 5,632 Borough 1836 3 Tyrone 5,095 Borough 1857 4 Bellwood 1,751 Borough 1898 5 Roaring Spring 2,399 Borough 1888 6 Greenwood 3,597 CDP 7 Martinsburg 1,858 Borough 1832 8 Lakemont 1,803 CDP 9 Claysburg 1,196 CDP 10 Williamsburg 1,167 Borough 1827 11 Duncansville 1,148 Borough 1891 12 Tipton 688 CDP 13 East Freedom 578 CDP 14 Foot of Ten 537 CDP 15 Grazierville 848 CDP 16 Tunnelhill (mostly inCambria County )327 Borough 1876 17 Northwood 124 CDP 18 Newry 307 Borough 1876
^ Includes Westmoreland, Cambria, Fayette, Blair, Indiana, Somerset, Bedford, Huntingdon, Greene and Fulton Counties ^ "Blair County, Pennsylvania" .Census.gov .^ "PHMC Historical Markers Search" .Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission . Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Archived fromthe original (Searchable database) on March 21, 2016. RetrievedJanuary 25, 2014 .^ "Census - Geography Profile: Blair County, Pennsylvania" .United States Census Bureau . RetrievedApril 24, 2022 .^ "Find a County" . National Association of Counties. Archived fromthe original on May 31, 2011. RetrievedJune 7, 2011 .^ "Combined Statistical Areas Map (March 2020)" (PDF) .The United States Census Bureau .Archived (PDF) from the original on October 21, 2020. RetrievedAugust 11, 2021 .^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files" . United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. RetrievedMarch 5, 2015 .^ "About the Appalachian Region" . Appalachian Regional Commission. RetrievedJune 20, 2024 .^ Woodard, Colin (July 30, 2018)."The Maps That Show That City vs. Country Is Not Our Political Fault Line" .New York Times . RetrievedJuly 30, 2018 . ^ "Monthly Averages for Altoona, PA" . psac.met.psu. 2009. Archived fromthe original on September 7, 2008. RetrievedJuly 5, 2009 .^ "Census 2020" .^a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)" .United States Census Bureau . 2021. RetrievedDecember 26, 2025 .^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)" .United States Census Bureau . 2021. RetrievedDecember 26, 2025 .^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)" .United States Census Bureau . 2023. RetrievedDecember 26, 2025 .^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Blair County, Pennsylvania" .United States Census Bureau .^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Blair County, Pennsylvania" .United States Census Bureau ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Blair County, Pennsylvania" .United States Census Bureau ^ "U.S. Census website" .United States Census Bureau . RetrievedJanuary 31, 2008 .^ Leip, David."Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections" .uselectionatlas.org . RetrievedNovember 21, 2018 . ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)" .Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by county . November 5, 2024. RetrievedDecember 5, 2024 .^ Pennsylvania Department of State (February 5, 2024)."Voter registration statistics by county" .dos.pa.gov . RetrievedFebruary 7, 2024 . ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Blair County, PA" (PDF) .U.S. Census Bureau . RetrievedDecember 22, 2024 .Text list ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts" .
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40°28′N 78°21′W / 40.47°N 78.35°W /40.47; -78.35
