Centre County, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Centre County
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The Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte
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Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Pennsylvania |
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| Founded | February 13, 1800 | ||||
| Named for | Centre Furnace, the first industrial facility in the area | ||||
| Seat | Bellefonte | ||||
| Largest borough | State College | ||||
| Area | |||||
| • Total | 1,113 sq mi (2,880 km2) | ||||
| • Land | 1,110 sq mi (2,900 km2) | ||||
| • Water | 3.0 sq mi (8 km2) 0.3% | ||||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 158,172  |
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| • Density | 147/sq mi (57/km2) | ||||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||||
| Congressional district | 15th | ||||
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Pennsylvania Historical Marker
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| Designated: | May 10, 1982 | ||||
Centre County is a county in the state of Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in the central part of the state. In 2020, about 158,172 people lived there. The main town, or county seat, is Bellefonte. Centre County is also part of the larger State College, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area. This area includes the city of State College.
Contents
History of Centre County
The land that is now Centre County was first explored by James Potter in 1764. He was amazed by the wide-open spaces and forests he saw from Nittany Mountain. Centre County was officially created on February 13, 1800. It was formed from parts of four other counties: Huntingdon, Lycoming, Mifflin, and Northumberland.
People living in these areas found it hard to travel to the main offices and courts of their counties. So, the Pennsylvania government decided to create a new county closer to them. When it was first formed, Centre County had 4,112 people. The county was named "Centre" because it was located in the middle of the state.
Geography and Climate
Centre County covers about 1,113 square miles. Most of this area is land, with only a small part being water. It is the fifth-largest county in Pennsylvania by size. The county is known for its beautiful valleys and mountains. You can find places like Bald Eagle Valley, Nittany Valley, and Penns Valley here. Important mountains include Bald Eagle Mountain, Mount Nittany, and Tussey Mountain.
The climate in Centre County is called a humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold winters. The county's area code for phones is 814.
Neighboring Counties
Centre County shares borders with several other counties:
- Clinton County (north)
- Union County (east)
- Mifflin County (southeast)
- Huntingdon County (south)
- Blair County (south)
- Clearfield County (west)
Population and People
Centre County has grown a lot since it was founded. In 1810, there were about 10,681 people. By 2020, the population had grown to 158,172.
In 2010, there were about 153,990 people living in the county. The population density was about 139 people per square mile. Most people in Centre County are White (89.4%). There are also Black or African American (3.0%), Asian (5.2%), and Hispanic or Latino (2.4%) residents.
The average age in Centre County in 2010 was 29 years old. About 15.9% of the population was under 18. Many young adults aged 18 to 24 (28.9%) live here, often because of the universities.
2020 Census Information
The 2020 census showed the following racial makeup for Centre County:
| Race | Count | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-hispanic) | 129,668 | 82% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 5,306 | 3.35% |
| Native American (non-Hispanic) | 120 | 0.08% |
| Asian (non-Hispanic) | 11,373 | 7.2% |
| Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic) | 39 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed (non-Hispanic) | 6,015 | 3.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 5,651 | 3.6% |
Metropolitan Area
Centre County is part of the State College, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). This is a region where many people live and work together. In 2010, this area was the 13th most populated in Pennsylvania.
Centre County is also part of an even larger area called the State College–DuBois, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA). This area includes Centre County and Clearfield County. It had a population of 236,577 in 2010.
Education in Centre County
Centre County has many options for learning, from colleges to public schools.
Colleges and Universities
- Pennsylvania State University is a very large university located here. Its main campus is in University Park.
Other Colleges
- South Hills School of Business & Technology
- Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology (a public technical school)
Public School Districts
Centre County has several public school districts:
- Bald Eagle Area School District
- Bellefonte Area School District
- Keystone Central School District (also in Clinton County)
- Penns Valley Area School District
- Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District (also in Clearfield County)
- State College Area School District
- Tyrone Area School District (also in Blair and Huntingdon Counties)
Public Charter Schools
- Young Scholars of Central PA Charter School
- Centre Learning Community Charter School
- Nittany Valley Charter School
Libraries
Centre County has a good library system, including:
- Centre County Library & Historical Museum in Bellefonte
- Centre Hall Area Branch Library
- Holt Memorial Library in Philipsburg
- The Centre County Bookmobile, which brings books to different areas.
Pennsylvania State University also has many libraries, like Pattee Library and Paterno Library.
Transportation
The State College Regional Airport offers daily flights for travel and general aviation.
Major Roads
Many important highways run through Centre County, making it easy to travel around. Some of these include:
Fun and Recreation
Centre County is a great place for outdoor activities! There are six Pennsylvania state parks here:
- Bald Eagle State Park is the biggest state park in the county. It has 5,900 acres and is great for boating and fishing.
- Black Moshannon State Park is west of State College. It has a unique bog with interesting plants, including some that eat insects!
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- McCalls Dam State Park is a smaller park in the eastern part of the county.
- Penn-Roosevelt State Park was once a camp for African American men who worked on conservation projects.
- Poe Paddy State Park is where Big Poe Creek and Penns Creek meet, a popular spot for fishing.
- Poe Valley State Park is in a quiet valley with a 25-acre lake, perfect for a peaceful visit.
Local News and Media
Centre County has several ways to stay informed:
- The main daily newspaper is the Centre Daily Times.
- Other local papers include the Centre County Gazette.
- Pennsylvania State University has its own student newspaper, Daily Collegian.
You can also find many magazines, like Town & Gown and State College Magazine. For radio, popular stations include WPSU and WZWW. Centre County is part of a larger TV market, with local stations like WPSU (PBS) and WHVL-LD (MyNetworkTV).
Communities in Centre County
Centre County has different types of towns and areas. These include boroughs, townships, and census-designated places.
Main Towns (Boroughs)
- Bellefonte (the county seat)
- Centre Hall
- Howard
- Milesburg
- Millheim
- Philipsburg
- Port Matilda
- Snow Shoe
- Unionville
Townships (Larger Areas)
Townships are larger areas that often include smaller villages or rural areas. Some townships in Centre County are:
- Benner
- College
- Ferguson
- Harris
- Patton
- Spring
Census-Designated Places (CDPs)
These are areas that the U.S. Census Bureau defines for collecting population data. They are not official towns but are important communities:
- Aaronsburg
- Boalsburg
- Lemont
- Park Forest Village
- Pine Grove Mills
- Pleasant Gap
- Stormstown
- Toftrees
- Zion
Population Ranking of Communities (2010 Census)
Here are some of the most populated communities in Centre County:
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2010 Census) |
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| 1 | State College | Borough | 42,034 |
| 2 | Park Forest Village | CDP | 9,660 |
| 3 | † Bellefonte | Borough | 6,187 |
| 4 | Boalsburg | CDP | 3,722 |
| 5 | Pleasant Gap | CDP | 2,879 |
| 6 | Philipsburg | Borough | 2,770 |
| 7 | Stormstown | CDP | 2,366 |
| 8 | Lemont | CDP | 2,270 |
| 9 | Toftrees | CDP | 2,053 |
| 10 | Zion | CDP | 2,030 |
Images for kids
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The official coat of arms for Centre County.
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The logo of Centre County, Pennsylvania.
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The flag of Centre County, Pennsylvania.
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The Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, the county seat.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Centre para niños
