# Cameron County, Pennsylvania

Cameron County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,547, making it Pennsylvania's least populous county. Its county seat is Emporium. The county was created on March 29, 1860, from parts of Clinton, Elk, McKean, and Potter Counties. It is named for Senator Simon Cameron. The county is part of the North Central Pennsylvania region of the state.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 398.4 square miles (1,032 km$^2$), of which 396.2 square miles (1,026 km$^2$) is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km$^2$) (0.5%) is water. It has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb) and average monthly temperatures in Emporium range from 24.2 °F in January to 69.3 °F in July, while in Driftwood they range from 24.9 °F in January to 69.9 °F in July.

### Adjacent counties

* McKean County (north)
* Potter County (northeast)
* Clinton County (east)
* Clearfield County (south)
* Elk County (west)

### Major roads

Cameron County is the only county in the state of Pennsylvania to not be crossed by either an interstate or U.S. Route.
* PA 46
* PA 120
* PA 155
* PA 555
* PA 872

## Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there were 5,974 people, 2,465 households, and 1,624 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (5.8 people/km$^2$). There were 4,592 housing units at an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 98.83% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.5% were of German, 15.7% Irish, 14.5% American, 13.1% Italian, 9.2% English and 5.7% Polish ancestry.
There were 2,465 households, out of which 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 30.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 24.90% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 19.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.60 males.

### 2020 census

Cameron County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 4,271 | 94% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1 | 0.04% |
| Native American (NH) | 8 | 0.17% |
| Asian (NH) | 29 | 0.64% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 0 | 0% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 141 | 3.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 86 | 1.9% |

## Law and government

United States presidential election results for Cameron County, Pennsylvania :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 1,654 | 74.27% | 538 | 24.16% | 35 | 1.57% |
| 2020 | 1,771 | 72.58% | 634 | 25.98% | 35 | 1.43% |
| 2016 | 1,589 | 71.90% | 531 | 24.03% | 90 | 4.07% |
| 2012 | 1,359 | 63.95% | 724 | 34.07% | 42 | 1.98% |
| 2008 | 1,323 | 58.62% | 879 | 38.95% | 55 | 2.44% |
| 2004 | 1,599 | 66.46% | 794 | 33.00% | 13 | 0.54% |
| 2000 | 1,383 | 61.58% | 779 | 34.68% | 84 | 3.74% |
| 1996 | 1,113 | 49.89% | 822 | 36.84% | 296 | 13.27% |
| 1992 | 1,173 | 43.80% | 824 | 30.77% | 681 | 25.43% |
| 1988 | 1,731 | 65.20% | 901 | 33.94% | 23 | 0.87% |
| 1984 | 2,031 | 67.05% | 990 | 32.68% | 8 | 0.26% |
| 1980 | 1,795 | 59.24% | 1,112 | 36.70% | 123 | 4.06% |
| 1976 | 1,616 | 54.28% | 1,319 | 44.31% | 42 | 1.41% |
| 1972 | 1,935 | 68.45% | 828 | 29.29% | 64 | 2.26% |
| 1968 | 1,822 | 58.96% | 1,104 | 35.73% | 164 | 5.31% |
| 1964 | 1,376 | 41.89% | 1,904 | 57.96% | 5 | 0.15% |
| 1960 | 2,129 | 61.06% | 1,353 | 38.80% | 5 | 0.14% |
| 1956 | 2,462 | 74.52% | 841 | 25.45% | 1 | 0.03% |
| 1952 | 2,307 | 69.05% | 1,020 | 30.53% | 14 | 0.42% |
| 1948 | 1,596 | 64.75% | 858 | 34.81% | 11 | 0.45% |
| 1944 | 1,729 | 60.60% | 1,115 | 39.08% | 9 | 0.32% |
| 1940 | 1,793 | 55.15% | 1,450 | 44.60% | 8 | 0.25% |
| 1936 | 1,801 | 53.21% | 1,538 | 45.44% | 46 | 1.36% |
| 1932 | 1,438 | 64.31% | 748 | 33.45% | 50 | 2.24% |
| 1928 | 1,564 | 75.52% | 501 | 24.19% | 6 | 0.29% |
| 1924 | 1,366 | 77.18% | 260 | 14.69% | 144 | 8.14% |
| 1920 | 1,364 | 68.06% | 497 | 24.80% | 143 | 7.14% |
| 1916 | 713 | 59.17% | 452 | 37.51% | 40 | 3.32% |
| 1912 | 388 | 30.10% | 291 | 22.58% | 610 | 47.32% |
| 1908 | 1,110 | 65.72% | 533 | 31.56% | 46 | 2.72% |
| 1904 | 1,228 | 73.75% | 404 | 24.26% | 33 | 1.98% |
| 1900 | 971 | 63.59% | 514 | 33.66% | 42 | 2.75% |
| 1896 | 925 | 59.60% | 575 | 37.05% | 52 | 3.35% |
| 1892 | 829 | 52.37% | 701 | 44.28% | 53 | 3.35% |
| 1888 | 782 | 58.14% | 551 | 40.97% | 12 | 0.89% |

### Voter registration

As of February 7, 2024, there are 2,931 registered voters in Cameron County.
Chart of Voter Registration
* Republican: 1,823 (62.20%)
* Democratic: 745 (25.42%)
* Independent: 226 (7.71%)
* Third Party: 137 (4.67%)

### Law enforcement

As of 2016 all areas in the county use the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) in a law enforcement capacity, either with part-time police departments or with no other police departments.

### County-row offices

* County Commissioners: Jessica Herzing (R); James D. Moate (R); Josh Zucal (D)
* Sheriff: Doug Homan (R)
* Prothonotary/Clerk/Register/Recorder: Mary Grace Olay (R)
* Treasurer: Tara Newton (R)
* District Attorney: Paul J. Malizia (R)

### State senate

* Cris Dush, Republican, Pennsylvania's 25th Senatorial District

### State House of Representatives

* Martin T. Causer, Republican, Pennsylvania's 67th Representative District

### United States House of Representatives

* Glenn "G.T." Thompson, Republican, Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district

### United States Senate

* Dave McCormick, Republican
* John Fetterman, Democrat

## Education

There is a single K-12 school district, Cameron County School District.

## Recreation

There are three Pennsylvania state parks that are partly in Cameron County.
* Bucktail State Park Natural Area is a 75-mile (121-km) scenic route along Pennsylvania Route 120 stretching from Lock Haven in Clinton County to Emporium the county seat of Cameron County.
* Sinnemahoning State Park
* Sizerville State Park
** both of these state parks straddle the Cameron and Potter County line.
The West Creek Rail Trail has been built on the abandoned rail corridor between Emporium and St. Mary's in Elk County. It provides a paved surface with guard rails and is suitable for hiking or biking in the warm seasons or snowmobiling in winter.
The Fred Woods Trail offers a 4.57 mile loop of blazed trail with scenic valley views and a challenging section running through unique rock formations. The trailhead is accessed off Mason Hill Road above Driftwood, PA.

## Communities

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following boroughs and townships are located in Cameron County:

### Boroughs

* Driftwood
* Emporium (county seat)

### Townships

* Gibson
* Grove
* Lumber
* Portage
* Shippen

### Census-designated place

* Prospect Park

### Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Cameron County.
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Population (2010 Census) | Municipal type | Incorporated |
| 1 | † Emporium | 2,073 | Borough | 1864 |
| 2 | Prospect Park | 327 | CDP | |
| 3 | Driftwood | 67 | Borough | 1872 |

## Notable people

* Tom Mix
* Joseph T. McNarney
* Nate Sestina