Potter County, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Potter County
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Potter County Courthouse
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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 | September 1, 1826 | ||
| Named for | James Potter | ||
| Seat | Coudersport | ||
| Largest borough | Coudersport | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 1,082 sq mi (2,800 km2) | ||
| • Land | 1,081 sq mi (2,800 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2) 0.02%% | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 16,396  |
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| • Density | 15/sq mi (6/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| Congressional district | 15th | ||
Potter County is a special area in Pennsylvania. It's called a county. In 2020, about 16,396 people lived here. This makes it one of the least populated counties in Pennsylvania.
The main town, or county seat, is Coudersport. Potter County was officially created in 1804. It was named after James Potter. He was a brave general during the American Revolution. Because of its beautiful nature and quiet feel, people often call it “God's Country.”
Contents
History of Potter County
Early Settlers and Founders
One of the first people to settle in Potter County was Major Isaac Lyman. He was a veteran from the American Revolutionary War. Many people see Major Lyman as the founder of Potter County.
He was even paid $10 for each new settler he convinced to move there! In 1809, Major Lyman built his home. It was in a place called Lymansville, which is now Ladona. This area is just east of Coudersport.
Building Roads and Mills
Major Lyman also helped build the first road that crossed Potter County. This made it easier for people to travel. He also built the county's first sawmill and gristmill. A sawmill cuts wood, and a gristmill grinds grain. These were very important for the early community.
Major Lyman had an interesting family life. After his first wife passed away, he remarried. Later, he started a third family in Potter County. His second wife traveled from New York to find him. She came with their 18-year-old son, Burrell.
Historical stories say that Major Lyman lived with both families in Potter County. Some say they lived in the same house. Others say they had two separate log homes on the same land. Today, many people in Potter County are descendants of Major Lyman's families.
Geography of Potter County
Potter County covers a large area. It is about 1,082 square miles. Most of this land is dry, with only a tiny bit covered by water.
Where Rivers Begin
Potter County is a very special place for rivers. Three major watersheds meet here. A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into one main river or lake. These three watersheds lead to the Chesapeake Bay, the St. Lawrence River, and the Mississippi River.
The Allegheny River actually starts in central Potter County. This river is a very important part of the entire Mississippi River system. You can find its source near Cobb Hill.
Climate and Temperatures
Potter County has a climate with warm summers. In January, the average temperature in Coudersport is around 22 degrees Fahrenheit. In July, it warms up to about 66 degrees Fahrenheit.
Neighboring Counties
Potter County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Allegany County, New York (north)
- Steuben County, New York (northeast)
- Tioga County (east)
- Lycoming County (southeast)
- Clinton County (south)
- Cameron County (southwest)
- McKean County (west)
Main Roads and Highways
Many important roads run through Potter County. These highways help people travel around the area.
US 6
PA 44
PA 49
PA 144
PA 155
PA 244
PA 449
PA 607
PA 872
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 29 | — | |
| 1820 | 186 | 541.4% | |
| 1830 | 1,265 | 580.1% | |
| 1840 | 3,371 | 166.5% | |
| 1850 | 6,048 | 79.4% | |
| 1860 | 11,470 | 89.6% | |
| 1870 | 11,265 | −1.8% | |
| 1880 | 13,797 | 22.5% | |
| 1890 | 22,778 | 65.1% | |
| 1900 | 30,621 | 34.4% | |
| 1910 | 29,729 | −2.9% | |
| 1920 | 21,089 | −29.1% | |
| 1930 | 17,489 | −17.1% | |
| 1940 | 18,201 | 4.1% | |
| 1950 | 16,810 | −7.6% | |
| 1960 | 16,483 | −1.9% | |
| 1970 | 16,395 | −0.5% | |
| 1980 | 17,726 | 8.1% | |
| 1990 | 16,717 | −5.7% | |
| 2000 | 18,080 | 8.2% | |
| 2010 | 17,457 | −3.4% | |
| 2020 | 16,396 | −6.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2017 2010-2020 |
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In 2000, about 18,080 people lived in Potter County. There were 7,005 households, which are groups of people living together. Most people in the county were White (98.06%). Other groups included African American, Native American, and Asian people. About 0.57% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Many families lived in the county. About 31.5% of households had children under 18. Most households (59.5%) were married couples. The average age of people in Potter County was 39 years old.
2020 Census Information
The 2020 census showed that 16,396 people lived in Potter County.
| Race | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| White (not Hispanic) | 15,494 | 94.5% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 43 | 0.26% |
| Native American (not Hispanic) | 25 | 0.15% |
| Asian (not Hispanic) | 69 | 0.42% |
| Other/mixed (not Hispanic) | 518 | 3.16% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 247 | 1.5% |
Education in Potter County
Potter County has many schools and libraries for students.
Public School Districts
Here are the public school districts in the county:
- Austin Area School District
- Coudersport Area School District
- Galeton Area School District (also in Tioga County)
- Keystone Central School District (also in Clinton County)
- Northern Potter School District
- Oswayo Valley School District (also in McKean County)
- Port Allegany School District (also in McKean County)
Private Schools
There are also several private schools:
- Chestnut Ridge School, Genesee (grades 1–8)
- Hebron Center Christian School, Coudersport (prekindergarten – grade 12)
- Meadow View School, Genesee (grades 1–8)
- Musto Hollow Amish School, Genesee (grades 1–8)
- Penn-York Camp and Retreat Center, Ulysses
- Ulysses Amish School, Ulysses (grades 1–8)
Libraries for Learning
Potter County has several public libraries where you can find books and learn new things:
- Coudersport Public Library
- Galeton Public Library
- Genesee Area Library
- Oswayo Valley Memorial Library, Shinglehouse
- Ulysses Library Association
- Potter-Tioga County Library System, Coudersport
Recreation and Fun
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Potter County is a great place for outdoor activities! It has 8 state parks. It also has many acres of state forest and lands for hunting and other outdoor fun.
State Parks in Potter County
- Cherry Springs State Park
- Denton Hill State Park
- Lyman Run State Park
- Ole Bull State Park
- Patterson State Park
- Prouty Place State Park
- Sinnemahoning State Park (parts are in Cameron County)
- Sizerville State Park (parts are in Cameron County)
The county also hosts an annual race called the "God's Country Marathon." This race takes place between the towns of Galeton and Coudersport.
Communities in Potter County
In Pennsylvania, there are different types of towns and areas. These include boroughs and townships. Potter County has several of these communities.
Boroughs (Towns)
These are smaller, often more populated towns:
- Austin
- Coudersport (This is the county seat, the main town for county government)
- Galeton
- Oswayo
- Shinglehouse
- Ulysses
Townships (Rural Areas)
These are larger, more rural areas that often include smaller villages:
- Abbott
- Allegany
- Bingham
- Clara
- Eulalia
- Genesee
- Harrison
- Hebron
- Hector
- Homer
- Keating
- Oswayo
- Pike
- Pleasant Valley
- Portage
- Roulette
- Sharon
- Stewardson
- Summit
- Sweden
- Sylvania
- Ulysses
- West Branch
- Wharton
Census-Designated Places
These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated:
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller places that are not officially part of a borough or township:
- Cross Fork
- East Fork Road
- Elmer
- Mills
- Oleona
Former Road District
East Fork Road used to be its own small district. It had only one road and 14 residents. Most of its land was part of the Susquehannock State Forest. This district was dissolved on January 1, 2004. Its territory is now part of Wharton Township.
Community Population Ranking (2010 Census)
This table shows the population of the main communities in Potter County based on the 2010 census. † county seat
| Rank | City/town/etc. | Type | Population (2010 Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | † Coudersport | Borough | 2,546 |
| 2 | Galeton | Borough | 1,149 |
| 3 | Shinglehouse | Borough | 1,127 |
| 4 | Roulette | CDP | 779 |
| 5 | Ulysses | Borough | 621 |
| 6 | Austin | Borough | 562 |
| 7 | Sweden Valley | CDP | 223 |
| 8 | Oswayo | Borough | 139 |
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Potter (Pensilvania) para niños
