Cumberland County was first settled by a majority ofScots-Irish immigrants who arrived in approximately 1730.English andGerman settlers constituted about ten percent of the early population. The settlers originally mostly devoted the area to farming and later developed other trades.[4] These settlers built theMiddle Spring Presbyterian Church, among the oldest houses of worship in central Pennsylvania, in 1738 near present-dayShippensburg, Pennsylvania.
TheUnited States Army War College is aUnited States Army school located inCarlisle, Pennsylvania, on the 500 acres (2.0 km2) campus of the historicCarlisle Barracks, a military post dating back to the 1770s. It caters to high-level military personnel and civilians and prepares them for strategic leadership responsibilities. It is the U. S. Army's most senior military educational institution.
In the 20th century, the suburbs ofHarrisburg, the state capital, expanded extensively into eastern Cumberland County. Carlisle also developed suburbs in adjoining townships.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 550 square miles (1,400 km2), of which 545 square miles (1,410 km2) is land and 4.8 square miles (12 km2) (0.9%) is water.[5] The area code is717 with an overlay of 223.Blue Mountain forms Cumberland's northern natural boundary andYellow Breeches Creek forms part of its SE natural boundary. TheSusquehanna River drains the county and forms its eastern natural boundary. A large portion of Cumberland is drained by theConodoguinet Creek, which winds its way west-to-east across the county into the Susquehanna.
Almost all of Cumberland has a hot-summerhumid continental climate (Dfa) and itshardiness zone is 7a, except in small higher areas near the NW and SW boundaries, where it is 6b. Average monthly temperatures in Lemoyne range from 29.9 °F in January to 74.9 °F in July, in Carlisle they range from 29.8 °F in January to 75.2 °F in July, and in Shippensburg they range from 29.6 °F in January to 74.6 °F in July.[6] The latest temperature averages show some low-lying eastern areas of the county to have ahumid subtropical climate (Cfa.)
Climate data for Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (HarrisburgCapital City Airport) 1991-2020 normals (Records 1939-2021)
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 259,469. The median age was 40.8 years. 20.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.5 males age 18 and over.[14]
79.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 20.9% lived in rural areas.[16]
There were 103,405 households in the county, of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.0% were married-couple households, 17.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]
There were 109,125 housing units, of which 5.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 69.5% were owner-occupied and 30.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.0%.[14]
Cumberland 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.
At thecensus of 2000, there were 213,674 people, 83,015 households, and 56,118 families residing in the county.[20] The population density was 388 inhabitants per square mile (150/km2). There were 86,951 housing units at an average density of 158 units per square mile (61/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.40%White, 2.36%Black orAfrican American, 0.13%Native American, 1.67%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 0.43% fromother races, and 0.97% from two or more races. 1.35% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 35.3% were ofGerman, 10.6%American, 10.1%Irish, 7.5%English and 6.8%Italian ancestry. 94.7% spokeEnglish and 1.4%Spanish as their first language.
There were 83,015 households, out of which 29.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% weremarried couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.00% under the age of 18, 10.60% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males.
Its per capita income is $31,627, making it the wealthiest Pennsylvania county outside greater Philadelphia, and fifth wealthiest overall.
Cumberland County has been a Republican Party stronghold in presidential contests since McKinley's election in 1896, with only five Democratic Party candidates winning the county. The most recent Democrat to win the county in a presidential election wasLyndon B. Johnson in1964 who won in a landslide statewide & nationally. In 2024,Kamala Harris won 44.45% of the vote in the county, the highest percentage since 1964, despite losing Pennsylvania and the2024 presidential election.
The Republican Party has been dominant in Cumberland County politics since the 1890s,[26] with the victories ofRobert P. Casey for governor in1990,Bob Casey Jr. for state treasurer in 2004,Tom Wolf for governor in2018, andJosh Shapiro for governor in2022 being among the few times where a statewide Democrat carried the county. All row offices and all legislative seats serving Cumberland are held by Republicans except for one State Representative.
Map of Cumberland 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. The following boroughs and townships are located in Cumberland County:
Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by theU.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.
^Includes Lancaster, York, Berks, Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Lebanon, Adams and Perry Counties
^"PHMC Historical Markers Search".Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Archived fromthe original(Searchable database) on March 21, 2016. RetrievedJanuary 25, 2014.
^Palleschi, Amanda. Enrollment in cyber charter schools booming in Pennsylvania despite friction with school districts,The Patriot News, November 30, 2009
^Pennsylvania Department of Education - Operating Charter Schools in Pennsylvania Report. September 2009.
^ies, National Center for Education Statistics, US Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, Private School Universe Survey 2008
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