Jefferson County, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jefferson County
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Jefferson County Courthouse
|
|||
|
|||
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
|
|||
 Pennsylvania's location within the U.S. |
|||
| Country |  United States |
||
| State |  Pennsylvania |
||
| Founded | October 1, 1830 | ||
| Named for | Thomas Jefferson | ||
| Seat | Brookville | ||
| Largest borough | Punxsutawney | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 657 sq mi (1,700 km2) | ||
| • Land | 652 sq mi (1,690 km2) | ||
| • Water | 4.4 sq mi (11 km2) 0.7%% | ||
| Population
(2020)
|
|||
| • Total | 44,492 | ||
| • Estimate
(2024)
|
43,367  |
||
| • Density | 66.5/sq mi (25.7/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| Congressional district | 15th | ||
Jefferson County is a place in Pennsylvania. It is called a county. In 2020, about 44,492 people lived there. The main town, or county seat, is Brookville.
The county was created on March 26, 1804. It was officially set up in 1830. It is named after Thomas Jefferson, who was a President of the United States. Jefferson County is famous for Punxsutawney Phil. This groundhog predicts when spring will arrive every year on February 2, also known as Groundhog Day. The county is in the North Central part of Pennsylvania.
Contents
Exploring Jefferson County's Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Jefferson County covers about 657 square miles. Most of this area, 652 square miles, is land. Only a small part, about 4.4 square miles, is water.
The weather here is a warm-summer humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold winters. For example, in Brookville, the average temperature in January is about 24.8°F. In July, it's around 68.8°F.
Neighboring Counties
Jefferson County shares its borders with several other counties.
- Forest County (to the northwest)
- Elk County (to the northeast)
- Clearfield County (to the east)
- Indiana County (to the south)
- Armstrong County (to the southwest)
- Clarion County (to the west)
Main Roads and Highways
Many important roads run through Jefferson County. These highways help people travel around the county and to other parts of Pennsylvania.
I-80
US 119
US 219
US 322
PA 28
PA 36
PA 310
PA 410
PA 536
PA 830
PA 899
PA 949
PA 950
Rivers and Streams
Jefferson County has many streams. Most of these streams flow into the Allegheny River. One exception is Bear Run in the southeast, which flows into the Susquehanna River.
Here are some of the main streams and the area they drain within the county:
- Clarion River: 130.50 square miles
- Little Toby Creek: 34.46 square miles
- Redbank Creek: 375.52 square miles
- North Fork Creek: 91.63 square miles
- Sandy Lick Creek: 143.98 square miles
- Mahoning Creek: 149.63 square miles
People and Population in Jefferson County
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 161 | — | |
| 1820 | 561 | 248.4% | |
| 1830 | 2,025 | 261.0% | |
| 1840 | 7,253 | 258.2% | |
| 1850 | 13,518 | 86.4% | |
| 1860 | 18,270 | 35.2% | |
| 1870 | 21,656 | 18.5% | |
| 1880 | 27,935 | 29.0% | |
| 1890 | 44,005 | 57.5% | |
| 1900 | 59,113 | 34.3% | |
| 1910 | 63,090 | 6.7% | |
| 1920 | 62,104 | −1.6% | |
| 1930 | 52,114 | −16.1% | |
| 1940 | 54,090 | 3.8% | |
| 1950 | 49,147 | −9.1% | |
| 1960 | 46,792 | −4.8% | |
| 1970 | 43,695 | −6.6% | |
| 1980 | 48,303 | 10.5% | |
| 1990 | 46,083 | −4.6% | |
| 2000 | 45,932 | −0.3% | |
| 2010 | 45,200 | −1.6% | |
| 2020 | 44,492 | −1.6% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 43,367 | −4.1% | |
| Source: | |||
In 2000, there were 45,932 people living in Jefferson County. The county had about 70 people per square mile. Most people (98.97%) were White. About 0.41% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Many families lived in the county. About 30.30% of households had children under 18. The average family had about 2.96 people. The median age in the county was 40 years old.
Population Makeup in 2020
The 2020 census showed the following racial makeup for Jefferson County:
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 42,317 | 95.1% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 125 | 0.3% |
| Native American (NH) | 45 | 0.1% |
| Asian (NH) | 100 | 0.2% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 8 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 1,500 | 3.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 397 | 1% |
How Jefferson County is Governed
Jefferson County tends to vote for the Republican Party. This party has won almost all presidential elections in the county.
Voter Registration Details
As of July 22, 2024, there are 27,731 registered voters in Jefferson County.
Chart of Voter Registration Republican (67.86%) Democratic (20.94%) Independent (7.56%) Third Party (3.64%)
- Republican: 18,817 voters (67.86%)
- Democratic: 5,809 voters (20.94%)
- Independent: 2,096 voters (7.56%)
- Third Party: 1,009 voters (3.64%)
Local and State Leaders
The county is led by three county commissioners:
- Mark Humes (Republican)
- Scott E. North (Republican)
- Jeffrey E. Pisarcik (Democrat)
For the state government, Jefferson County is represented by:
- State Senate: Cris Dush (District 25) and Joey Pittman (District 41)
- State House of Representatives: Brian Smith (Republican, 66th Representative District)
For the national government, Jefferson County is represented by:
- United States House of Representatives: G.T. Thompson (Republican, 15th congressional district)
- United States Senate: David McCormick (Republican) and John Fetterman (Democratic)
Learning and Education in Jefferson County
Colleges and Universities
Students in Jefferson County can attend several colleges and universities nearby:
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Clarion University of Pennsylvania
- Butler County Community College (in Brockway)
Public School Districts
Children in Jefferson County attend schools in these public school districts:
- Brockway Area School District
- Brookville Area School District
- Clarion-Limestone Area School District
- DuBois Area School District
- Punxsutawney Area School District
Libraries for Everyone
The county has a library system that helps people find books and information.
- Jefferson County Library System - Brockway
- Mengle Memorial Library - Brockway
- Punxsutawney Memorial Library - Punxsutawney
- Rebecca M Arthurs Memorial Library - Brookville
- Reynoldsville Public Library - Reynoldsville
- Summerville Public Library - Summerville
- Sykesville Public Library - Sykesville
Fun and Recreation
Jefferson County is home to two Pennsylvania state parks. These parks are great places for outdoor activities like hiking and camping.
- Clear Creek State Park
- Cook Forest State Park (partly in neighboring counties)
Every July, the Jefferson County Fair is held. It's a popular event for families and visitors.
Towns and Communities
Pennsylvania has different types of towns. In Jefferson County, you'll find boroughs and townships.
Boroughs (Towns)
- Big Run
- Brockway
- Brookville (the county seat)
- Corsica
- Falls Creek (partly in Clearfield County)
- Punxsutawney
- Reynoldsville
- Summerville
- Sykesville
- Timblin
- Worthville
Townships (Larger Rural Areas)
- Barnett
- Beaver
- Bell
- Clover
- Eldred
- Gaskill
- Heath
- Henderson
- Knox
- McCalmont
- Oliver
- Perry
- Pine Creek
- Polk
- Porter
- Ringgold
- Rose
- Snyder
- Union
- Warsaw
- Washington
- Winslow
- Young
Other Communities
- Crenshaw (a census-designated place)
There are also many smaller, unincorporated communities throughout the county.
Largest Communities by Population (2020 Census)
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Punxsutawney | Borough | 5,769 |
| 2 | † Brookville | Borough | 3,995 |
| 3 | Reynoldsville | Borough | 2,549 |
| 4 | Brockway | Borough | 2,276 |
| 5 | Sykesville | Borough | 1,115 |
| 6 | Falls Creek (partially in Clearfield County) | Borough | 994 |
| 7 | Big Run | Borough | 647 |
| 8 | Summerville | Borough | 504 |
| 9 | Crenshaw | CDP | 468 |
| 10 | Corsica | Borough | 319 |
| 11 | Timblin | Borough | 147 |
| 12 | Worthville | Borough | 80 |
Famous People from Jefferson County
Many notable people have come from Jefferson County, including:
- John T. Morrison, who was the sixth Governor of Idaho.
- Sparky Lyle, a professional baseball player.
- Chuck Daly, a famous American basketball coach.
- George Jenks, a politician.
- Florence Parry Heide, an author.
- Wilbur Good, a professional baseball player.
- Andy Hastings, a professional football player.
- Mal Eason, a professional baseball player.
- John Mizerock, a professional baseball player.
- Devin Mesoraco, a professional baseball player.
- Jim Pittsley, a professional baseball player.
- Britt Baker, a professional wrestler and dentist.
- Laura Temple, a missionary teacher and archaeologist.
More to Explore
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania
- Oil Creek Library District
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Jefferson (Pensilvania) para niños
