Crawford County, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids

Crawford County

U.S. county

The Crawford County Courthouse in Meadville

Flag

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Pennsylvania

Founded

March 12, 1800

Named for

William Crawford

Seat

Meadville

Largest city

Meadville

Area

• Total

1,038 sq mi (2,690 km²)

• Land

1,012 sq mi (2,620 km²)

• Water

25 sq mi (60 km²) 2.4%%

Population

(2020)

• Total

83,938

• Density

80.87/sq mi (31.222/km²)

Time zone

UTC−5 (Eastern)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−4 (EDT)

Congressional district

16th

Pennsylvania Historical Marker

Designated:

May 12, 1982

Crawford County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 83,938. Its county seat is Meadville. The county was created on March 12, 1800, from part of Allegheny County and named for Colonel William Crawford. The county is part of the Northwest Pennsylvania region of the state.

Crawford County comprises the Meadville, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Erie-Meadville, PA Combined Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,038 square miles (2,690 km²), of which 1,012 square miles (2,620 km²) is land and 25 square miles (65 km²) (2.4%) is water. It has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb) and average monthly temperatures in Meadville range from 24.9 °F in January to 69.5 °F in July, while in Titusville they range from 24.2 °F in January to 68.8 °F in July.

Major highways

I-79
US 6
US 19
US 322
PA 8
PA 8 Truck
PA 18
PA 27
PA 27 Truck
PA 77
PA 86
PA 89
PA 98
PA 99
PA 102
PA 173
PA 198
PA 285
PA 408
PA 428

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1800	2,346	—
1810	6,178	163.3%
1820	9,397	52.1%
1830	16,030	70.6%
1840	31,724	97.9%
1850	37,849	19.3%
1860	48,755	28.8%
1870	63,832	30.9%
1880	68,607	7.5%
1890	65,324	−4.8%
1900	63,643	−2.6%
1910	61,565	−3.3%
1920	60,667	−1.5%
1930	62,980	3.8%
1940	71,644	13.8%
1950	78,948	10.2%
1960	77,956	−1.3%
1970	81,342	4.3%
1980	88,869	9.3%
1990	86,169	−3.0%
2000	90,367	4.9%
2010	88,765	−1.8%
2020	83,938	−5.4%

As of the 2000 census, there were 90,366 people, 34,678 households, and 23,858 families residing in the county. The population density was 89 people per square mile (34 people/km²). There were 42,416 housing units at an average density of 42 units per square mile (16/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.00% White, 1.59% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 0.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 45.1% English or Welsh, 10.9% American, 10.3% were of German, 8.2% Irish, 7.8% Scotch-Irish or Scottish, 3.8% Italian 2.6% Dutch, and 2.3% French ancestry.

There were 34,678 households, out of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.60% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 26.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.70% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 26.60% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.80 males.

2020 census

Crawford County Racial Composition
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	77,347	92.14%
Black or African American (NH)	1,496	1.8%
Native American (NH)	109	0.13%
Asian (NH)	365	0.43%
Pacific Islander (NH)	26	0.03%
Other/Mixed (NH)	3,354	4%
Hispanic or Latino	1,241	1.48%

Micropolitan Statistical Area

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Crawford County as the Meadville, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA). As of the 2010 census the micropolitan area ranked 5th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 52nd most populous in the United States with a population of 88,765. Crawford County is also a part of the Erie-Meadville, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which combines the population of both Crawford County and the Erie County areas. The Combined Statistical Area ranked 7th in the State of Pennsylvania and 102nd most populous in the United States with a population of 369,331.

Map of the Erie-Meadville, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), composed of the following parts: Erie, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area Meadville, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area

Education

Colleges and universities

Allegheny College, located in Meadville
University of Pittsburgh at Titusville, a branch campus of the University of Pittsburgh, located in Titusville

Map of Crawford County, Pennsylvania School Districts

Community, junior, and technical colleges

Precision Manufacturing Institute (PMI)

Laurel Technical Institute (LTI)

Public school districts

Conneaut School District
Corry Area School District
Crawford Central School District
Jamestown Area School District
Penncrest School District
Titusville Area School District
Union City Area School District

Communities

Map of Crawford 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 Crawford County:

Cities

Meadville (county seat)
Titusville

Boroughs

Townships

Athens
Beaver
Bloomfield
Cambridge
Conneaut
Cussewago
East Fairfield
East Fallowfield
East Mead
Fairfield
Greenwood
Hayfield
North Shenango
Oil Creek
Pine
Randolph
Richmond
Rockdale
Rome
Sadsbury
South Shenango
Sparta
Spring
Steuben
Summerhill
Summit
Troy
Union
Venango
Vernon
Wayne
West Fallowfield
West Mead
West Shenango
Woodcock

Census-designated places

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law.

Unincorporated communities

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Crawford County.

† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2010 Census)
1	† Meadville	City	13,388
2	Titusville	City	5,601
3	Cambridge Springs	Borough	2,595
4	Conneaut Lakeshore	CDP	2,395
5	Pymatuning Central	CDP	2,269
6	Cochranton	Borough	1,136
7	Linesville	Borough	1,040
8	Saegertown	Borough	997
9	Conneautville	Borough	774
10	Fredericksburg	CDP	733
11	Conneaut Lake	Borough	653
12	Hydetown	Borough	526
13	Canadohta Lake	CDP	516
14	Pymatuning South	CDP	479
15	Springboro	Borough	477
16	Harmonsburg	CDP	401
17	Blooming Valley	Borough	337
18	Townville	Borough	323
19	Pymatuning North	CDP	311
T-20	Spartansburg	Borough	305
T-20	Kerrtown	CDP	305
21	Venango	Borough	239
22	Centerville	Borough	218
23	Hartstown	CDP	201
24	Woodcock	Borough	157
25	Guys Mills	CDP	124
26	Geneva	CDP	109
27	Lincolnville	CDP	96
28	Atlantic	CDP	77
29	Riceville	CDP	68
30	Adamsville	CDP	67

Notable people

The abolitionist John Brown lived in Crawford County for 11 years, more than he lived anywhere else. He was the first postmaster of Randolph Township, a position he held from 1828 to 1836, and he carried the mail from Meadville. In 1825 he started the county's first industry, a tannery, today the John Brown Farm, Tannery & Museum. In his barn, an Underground Railroad station, he had a secret, well-ventilated room in which to hide fugitive slaves. One reason he relocated to Crawford County, he said, was that it was a good location for helping them.
Robert F. Kent (1911–1982) was born in Meadville and represented Crawford County in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1947 to 1956. He was elected Pennsylvania State Treasurer in 1956 and held this office from January 1957 to January 1961.