# McKean County, Pennsylvania

McKean County is a rural county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,432. Its county seat is Smethport. The county was created in 1804 and organized in 1826. It was named in honor of former Pennsylvania Governor and Declaration of Independence signer Thomas McKean. The county is part of the North Central Pennsylvania region of the state.
McKean County comprises the Bradford, Pennsylvania micropolitan statistical area. It includes the Allegheny National Forest and borders New York. The Allegheny River flows through much of the eastern portion of the county, and the Allegheny Reservoir is accessible on the county’s western border. McKean County boasts of being "The Black Cherry Capital of the World."
McKean County was settled because of its natural resources of oil and timber, both of which continue to provide significant input to the local economy. Today, a university, rural medical center, federal prison and numerous manufacturing companies balance the area's economy.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 984 square miles (2,550 km$^2$), of which 979 square miles (2,540 km$^2$) is land and 5.0 square miles (13 km$^2$) (0.5%) is water. It has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb) and average monthly temperatures in downtown Bradford range from 23.0 °F in January to 67.6 °F in July, while in Mount Jewett they range from 21.2 °F in January to 65.1 °F in July.

### Adjacent counties

* Cattaraugus County, New York (north)
* Allegany County, New York (northeast)
* Potter County (east)
* Cameron County (southeast)
* Elk County (south)
* Forest County (southwest)
* Warren County (west)

### Major highways

* US 6
* US 219
* PA 44
* PA 46
* PA 59
* PA 146
* PA 155
* PA 321
* PA 346
* PA 446
* PA 546
* PA 646
* PA 770

### National protected area

* Allegheny National Forest (part)
* Allegheny National Recreation Area (part)

## Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there were 45,936 people, 18,024 households, and 12,094 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile (18 people/km$^2$). There were 21,644 housing units at an average density of 22 units per square mile (8.5/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 96.46% White, 1.87% Black, 0.32% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. 1.06% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 35.0% German, 22.2% Irish, 14.6% Italian, 12.3% English, 10.0% Swedish, 8.6% American, 5.8% Polish, and 3.7% French ancestry.
There were 18,024 households, out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.50% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 28.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the county, the age distribution of the population shows 23.70% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 100.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.70 males.

### 2020 census

McKean County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 36,991 | 91.5% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 849 | 2.1% |
| Native American (NH) | 102 | 0.3% |
| Asian (NH) | 193 | 0.47% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 2 | 0.01% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 1,653 | 4.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 642 | 1.6% |

## Micropolitan Statistical Area

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated McKean County as the Bradford, PA micropolitan statistical area (USA). As of the 2010 U.S. Census the micropolitan area ranked 13th most populous in Pennsylvania and the 277th most populous in the United States with a population of 43,450.

## Law and government

United States presidential election results for McKean County, Pennsylvania :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 14,401 | 72.92% | 5,115 | 25.90% | 234 | 1.18% |
| 2020 | 14,083 | 72.18% | 5,098 | 26.13% | 329 | 1.69% |
| 2016 | 11,635 | 70.67% | 4,025 | 24.45% | 804 | 4.88% |
| 2012 | 9,545 | 62.99% | 5,297 | 34.95% | 312 | 2.06% |
| 2008 | 9,224 | 57.61% | 6,465 | 40.38% | 321 | 2.00% |
| 2004 | 10,941 | 62.79% | 6,294 | 36.12% | 191 | 1.10% |
| 2000 | 9,661 | 61.12% | 5,510 | 34.86% | 635 | 4.02% |
| 1996 | 6,838 | 45.99% | 5,509 | 37.05% | 2,522 | 16.96% |
| 1992 | 6,965 | 42.47% | 5,331 | 32.51% | 4,104 | 25.02% |
| 1988 | 9,323 | 63.22% | 5,300 | 35.94% | 124 | 0.84% |
| 1984 | 10,963 | 69.22% | 4,818 | 30.42% | 58 | 0.37% |
| 1980 | 9,229 | 60.85% | 5,064 | 33.39% | 873 | 5.76% |
| 1976 | 10,305 | 60.88% | 6,424 | 37.95% | 197 | 1.16% |
| 1972 | 11,958 | 71.72% | 4,513 | 27.07% | 202 | 1.21% |
| 1968 | 10,506 | 59.67% | 6,326 | 35.93% | 775 | 4.40% |
| 1964 | 7,948 | 41.82% | 10,950 | 57.61% | 109 | 0.57% |
| 1960 | 13,699 | 63.62% | 7,767 | 36.07% | 66 | 0.31% |
| 1956 | 14,725 | 73.81% | 5,152 | 25.82% | 73 | 0.37% |
| 1952 | 15,256 | 73.43% | 5,373 | 25.86% | 147 | 0.71% |
| 1948 | 10,218 | 66.91% | 4,785 | 31.33% | 269 | 1.76% |
| 1944 | 11,988 | 64.45% | 6,492 | 34.90% | 121 | 0.65% |
| 1940 | 14,822 | 67.58% | 6,991 | 31.88% | 119 | 0.54% |
| 1936 | 11,837 | 53.37% | 9,733 | 43.88% | 611 | 2.75% |
| 1932 | 9,970 | 65.01% | 4,661 | 30.39% | 704 | 4.59% |
| 1928 | 14,012 | 73.49% | 4,964 | 26.04% | 90 | 0.47% |
| 1924 | 9,072 | 68.99% | 2,376 | 18.07% | 1,701 | 12.94% |
| 1920 | 7,830 | 68.65% | 2,505 | 21.96% | 1,071 | 9.39% |
| 1916 | 4,300 | 51.81% | 3,161 | 38.09% | 838 | 10.10% |
| 1912 | 1,345 | 16.81% | 2,362 | 29.52% | 4,294 | 53.67% |
| 1908 | 5,073 | 58.01% | 2,867 | 32.78% | 805 | 9.21% |
| 1904 | 5,719 | 67.48% | 1,636 | 19.30% | 1,120 | 13.22% |
| 1900 | 6,319 | 61.39% | 3,427 | 33.29% | 547 | 5.31% |
| 1896 | 5,077 | 59.59% | 3,074 | 36.08% | 369 | 4.33% |
| 1892 | 3,594 | 50.01% | 2,843 | 39.56% | 750 | 10.44% |
| 1888 | 4,066 | 52.74% | 2,922 | 37.90% | 721 | 9.35% |

### Voter Registration

As of February 21, 2022, there are 24,893 registered voters in McKean County.
* Republican (61.69%)
* Democratic (24.25%)
* Independent (9.22%)
* Third Party (4.83%)
* Democratic: 6,037 (24.25%)
* Republican: 15,357 (61.69%)
* Independent: 2,296 (9.22%)
* Third Party: 1,203 (4.83%)

### 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 Thompson, Republican, Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district

### United States Senate

* John Fetterman, Democrat
* Dave McCormick, Republican

## Education
### Public school districts

* Bradford Area School District
* Kane Area School District (also covers part of Elk County)
* Oswayo Valley School District (majority of which is in Potter County, covers small portion in McKean County)
* Otto-Eldred School District
* Port Allegany School District (also covers part of Potter County)
* Smethport Area School District

### Private schools

As reported by EdNA, Pennsylvania Department of Education, June 2010.
* Bradford Area Christian Academy, Bradford
* Chestnut Street Christian School, Bradford
* Custer City Private School
* St. Bernard School, Bradford
* Learning Center Inc, Bradford
* United Christian Academy, Smethport

### Libraries

* Bradford Area Public Library
* Friends Memorial Public Library - Kane
* Hamlin Memorial Library - Smethport
* Mount Jewett Memorial Library
* Samuel W Smith Memorial Public Library - Port Allegany

### Other education entities

* Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems - Custer City
* McKean County Historical Society's Museum at the Old Jail - Smethport
* Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center - Port Allegany
* Seneca Highlands IU 9 - Smethport
* University of Pittsburgh at Bradford

## Recreation

There is one Pennsylvania state park in McKean County. Kinzua Bridge State Park is between U.S. Route 6 and Pennsylvania Route 59, just east of the Allegheny National Forest near Mount Jewett. When it was built, it was the highest and longest railroad bridge in the world. It was chosen by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and its Bureau of Parks as one of "Twenty Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks" and is a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. A tornado destroyed much of the bridge in 2003, and a skywalk and viewing platform have since been installed on its remnants.

## Communities

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 McKean County:

### City

* Bradford

### Boroughs

* Eldred
* Kane
* Lewis Run
* Mount Jewett
* Port Allegany
* Smethport (county seat)

### Townships

* Annin
* Bradford
* Ceres
* Corydon
* Eldred
* Foster
* Hamilton
* Hamlin
* Keating
* Lafayette
* Liberty
* Norwich
* Otto
* Sergeant
* Wetmore

### Census-designated places

* Foster Brook
* Rew
* University of Pittsburgh Bradford

### Unincorporated communities

* Burning Well
* Coryville
* Cyclone
* Derrick City
* Farmers Valley
* Gifford
* Ludlow

### Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of McKean County.
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2010 Census) |
| 1 | Bradford | City | 8,770 |
| 2 | Kane | Borough | 3,730 |
| 3 | Port Allegany | Borough | 2,157 |
| 4 | † Smethport | Borough | 1,655 |
| 5 | Foster Brook | CDP | 1,251 |
| 6 | Mount Jewett | Borough | 919 |
| 7 | Eldred | Borough | 875 |
| 8 | Lewis Run | Borough | 617 |
| 9 | Rew | CDP | 199 |