In theTreaty of Fort Stanwix of 1768, new lands in Pennsylvania werepurchased from theHaudenosaunee for colonial settlement, including parts of what is now Clinton County. The land was formally associated withNorthumberland County, but a group of organized settlers near modernJersey Shore elected three commissioners each March who were responsible for seeing that everyone was dealt with fairly. This became known as theFairplay System. Most of the rulings seem to have dealt with property issues, but they dealt with any legal or criminal cases in their area. They granted permission for new settlers to enter the area, could take away a settler's land claim if they were absent more than six weeks (except for military service), and could expel a person (by setting them adrift in a canoe on the river).The county was created on June 21, 1839, from parts ofCentre andLycoming Counties.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 897 square miles (2,320 km2), of which 888 square miles (2,300 km2) is land and 8.9 square miles (23 km2) (1.0%) is water.[7] The county has ahumid continental climate which is warm-summer (Dfb) except in lower areas near the West Branch and the Bald Eagle Creek which are hot-summer (Dfa). Average monthly temperatures in Lock Haven range from 26.5 °F in January to 72.2 °F in July, while in Renovo they range from 25.6 °F in January to 71.0 °F in July.[8]
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 37,450, and the median age was 41.5 years; 21.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.5% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.3 males.[11][12]
Clinton 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.
52.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 47.9% lived in rural areas.[16]
There were 15,199 households in the county, of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.4% were married-couple households, 18.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[11]
There were 18,603 housing units, of which 18.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 70.6% were owner-occupied and 29.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.5%.[11]
As of thecensus[17] of 2000, there were 37,914 people, 14,773 households, and 9,927 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 43 people per square mile (17 people/km2). There were 18,166 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile (7.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.3%White, 0.52%Black orAfrican American, 0.1%Native American, 0.4%Asian, <0.1%Pacific Islander, 0.2% fromother races, and 0.5% from two or more races. 0.5% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 36.0% were ofGerman, 15.6%American, 9.6%Irish, 8.6%Italian and 7.4%English ancestry.
There were 14,773 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% weremarried couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.5% under the age of 18, 13.6% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males.
Clinton County has historically been Republican like the rest of central Pennsylvania, Democrats captured the registration edge in early 2008. Each of the three row-office statewide winners carried Clinton in 2008. In 2006, DemocratBob Casey Jr. received 54% of its vote when he unseated incumbent Republican US SenatorRick Santorum andEd Rendell received 56% of the vote againstLynn Swann. The conservative tendencies of the county were again reestablished in 2008 when then-Senator Obama lost the county vote 48% to John McCain's 51%. This was followed in 2010 with U.S. Senate candidate, Republican Pat Toomey, receiving 59% to 41% for DemocratJoe Sestak. In 2012, Mitt Romney carried the county 55% to President Obama's 43%, while incumbent Democratic Senator Bob Casey, Jr. received 44% to his Republican challenger, Tom Smith's 53%.[23]
Map of Clinton 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 Clinton County:
^"PHMC Historical Markers Search".Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Archived fromthe original(Searchable database) on March 21, 2016. RetrievedJanuary 25, 2014.
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