Elk County, Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|
 Elk County Courthouse inRidgway, Pennsylvania | |
 Flag  Logo | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofPennsylvania | |
 Pennsylvania's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:41°25′N78°39′W / 41.42°N 78.65°W /41.42; -78.65 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Pennsylvania |
| Founded | April 18, 1843 |
| Named after | Eastern elk |
| Seat | Ridgway |
| Largest city | St. Marys |
| Area | |
• Total | 832 sq mi (2,150 km2) |
| • Land | 827 sq mi (2,140 km2) |
| • Water | 4.9 sq mi (13 km2) 0.6% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 30,990[1] |
| • Density | 37.5/sq mi (14.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 15th |
| Website | www |
Elk County is acounty in theCommonwealth ofPennsylvania. As of the2020 United States census, the population was 30,990.[2] Itscounty seat isRidgway.[3] The county was created on April 18, 1843, from parts ofJefferson,Clearfield, andMcKean Counties. Elk County is named for the now-extincteastern elk (Cervus canadensis) that historically inhabited the region. The county is part of theNorth Central region of the commonwealth.[a]
The county is notable for having one of the highest concentrations ofCatholics in the United States, with 69% of the county's residents identifying as Catholic.
Elk County consists of low rolling hills, carved by frequent drainages and heavily wooded.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 832 square miles (2,150 km2), of which 827 square miles (2,140 km2) is land and 4.9 square miles (13 km2) (0.6%) is water.[4] Elk has a warm-summerhumid continental climate (Dfb) and average monthly temperatures in Ridgway range from 23.2 °F in January to 67.4 °F in July, while in Saint Marys they range from 22.6 °F in January to 66.8 °F in July.[5]
As of the2020 United States census,[6] there were 30,990 people and 14,215 households. Thepopulation density was 38 people per square mile (15 people/km2). There were 16,855 housing units at an average density of 20 units per square mile (7.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.9%White, 0.5%Black orAfrican American, 0.2%Native American, 0.4%Asian, and 1.0% from two or more races. 0.8% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 42.9% were ofGerman, 17.7%Italian, 13.1%Irish, 6.4%English, 5.8%Polish, and 5.2%Swedish.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 3,531 | — | |
| 1860 | 5,915 | 67.5% | |
| 1870 | 8,488 | 43.5% | |
| 1880 | 12,800 | 50.8% | |
| 1890 | 22,239 | 73.7% | |
| 1900 | 32,903 | 48.0% | |
| 1910 | 35,871 | 9.0% | |
| 1920 | 34,981 | −2.5% | |
| 1930 | 33,431 | −4.4% | |
| 1940 | 34,443 | 3.0% | |
| 1950 | 34,503 | 0.2% | |
| 1960 | 37,328 | 8.2% | |
| 1970 | 37,770 | 1.2% | |
| 1980 | 38,338 | 1.5% | |
| 1990 | 34,878 | −9.0% | |
| 2000 | 35,111 | 0.7% | |
| 2010 | 31,946 | −9.0% | |
| 2020 | 30,990 | −3.0% | |
| [7] | |||
There were 14,124 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% weremarried couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.00% were non-families. 27.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.99.
The county population contained 24.00% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.
Elk County has one of the highest concentrations ofRoman Catholics in the United States. As of 2010, nearly 70% of the county's residents identified as Catholic.
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 30,339 | 97.9% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 155 | 0.5% |
| Native American (NH) | 62 | 0.2% |
| Asian (NH) | 124 | 0.4% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 310 | 1.0% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 279 | 0.9% |
As of the2021 ACS 5-Year Estimates, Elk County's largest industry and source of employment ismanufacturing, with the second largest being educational services, healthcare, and social services.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 12,543 | 72.87% | 4,483 | 26.04% | 187 | 1.09% |
| 2020 | 12,140 | 71.64% | 4,522 | 26.68% | 284 | 1.68% |
| 2016 | 10,025 | 68.91% | 3,853 | 26.49% | 669 | 4.60% |
| 2012 | 7,579 | 57.08% | 5,463 | 41.14% | 237 | 1.78% |
| 2008 | 6,676 | 46.48% | 7,290 | 50.76% | 396 | 2.76% |
| 2004 | 7,872 | 54.10% | 6,602 | 45.37% | 76 | 0.52% |
| 2000 | 7,347 | 54.10% | 5,754 | 42.37% | 479 | 3.53% |
| 1996 | 4,889 | 37.57% | 5,749 | 44.18% | 2,375 | 18.25% |
| 1992 | 4,908 | 35.48% | 5,016 | 36.26% | 3,908 | 28.25% |
| 1988 | 6,737 | 52.86% | 5,879 | 46.13% | 128 | 1.00% |
| 1984 | 8,470 | 60.47% | 5,486 | 39.17% | 51 | 0.36% |
| 1980 | 7,175 | 52.49% | 5,898 | 43.15% | 596 | 4.36% |
| 1976 | 6,159 | 46.98% | 6,713 | 51.21% | 237 | 1.81% |
| 1972 | 7,900 | 61.20% | 4,710 | 36.49% | 298 | 2.31% |
| 1968 | 6,193 | 44.09% | 6,886 | 49.02% | 967 | 6.88% |
| 1964 | 4,354 | 29.36% | 10,455 | 70.51% | 19 | 0.13% |
| 1960 | 7,155 | 45.96% | 8,398 | 53.95% | 14 | 0.09% |
| 1956 | 8,947 | 61.84% | 5,498 | 38.00% | 23 | 0.16% |
| 1952 | 7,702 | 54.26% | 6,448 | 45.42% | 45 | 0.32% |
| 1948 | 5,148 | 48.98% | 5,363 | 51.02% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 5,645 | 47.80% | 6,097 | 51.63% | 67 | 0.57% |
| 1940 | 6,949 | 49.99% | 6,920 | 49.78% | 31 | 0.22% |
| 1936 | 5,489 | 35.12% | 9,035 | 57.80% | 1,107 | 7.08% |
| 1932 | 5,797 | 46.39% | 6,461 | 51.70% | 239 | 1.91% |
| 1928 | 5,234 | 40.23% | 7,705 | 59.23% | 70 | 0.54% |
| 1924 | 6,626 | 70.85% | 1,370 | 14.65% | 1,356 | 14.50% |
| 1920 | 5,267 | 66.14% | 2,093 | 26.28% | 604 | 7.58% |
| 1916 | 2,829 | 52.34% | 2,186 | 40.44% | 390 | 7.22% |
| 1912 | 603 | 10.50% | 2,057 | 35.82% | 3,082 | 53.67% |
| 1908 | 2,991 | 51.52% | 2,531 | 43.60% | 283 | 4.88% |
| 1904 | 3,820 | 55.25% | 2,857 | 41.32% | 237 | 3.43% |
| 1900 | 3,254 | 50.06% | 3,105 | 47.77% | 141 | 2.17% |
| 1896 | 2,807 | 49.57% | 2,717 | 47.98% | 139 | 2.45% |
| 1892 | 1,438 | 38.94% | 2,126 | 57.57% | 129 | 3.49% |
| 1888 | 1,321 | 41.09% | 1,824 | 56.73% | 70 | 2.18% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 11,939 | 69.75% | 4,679 | 27.34% | 499 | 2.92% |
As of November 4, 2024, there are 20,837 registered voters in Elk County.[11]
Elk County used to be competitive in statewide and national elections. The county frequently voted with the eventual winner of national elections, from1920 to2008, except for1928,1940, and1968. In the 21st century, its Catholic identity has been replaced by its rural identity in defining how it votes; its longtime Democratic voter registration advantage was taken over by Republicans in 2018.[12] The county voted forMitt Romney by 16 points in2012, then swung over 25 points to the right and voted forDonald Trump by 42 points in2016, before swinging further right in2020 and voting for Trump by 45 points.
TheCommunity Education Center of Elk and Cameron Counties (or CEC) provides credit, non-credit, and enrichment programs.
School districts include:[14]
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 Elk 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.
The population ranking of the following table is based on the2010 census of Elk County.[16]
†county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2010 Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Marys | City | 13,070 |
| 2 | †Ridgway | Borough | 4,078 |
| 3 | Johnsonburg | Borough | 2,483 |
| 4 | Kersey | CDP | 937 |
| 5 | Weedville | CDP | 542 |
| 6 | Byrnedale | CDP | 427 |
| 7 | Wilcox | CDP | 383 |
| 8 | James City | CDP | 287 |
| 9 | Force | CDP | 253 |
Municipalities and communities ofElk County, Pennsylvania,United States | ||
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| City |  | |
| Boroughs | ||
| Townships | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
