Elk County, Pennsylvania

Elk County, Pennsylvania
Elk County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 30,990. Its county seat is Ridgway. The county was created on April 18, 1843, from parts of Jefferson, Clearfield, and McKean Counties. Elk County is named for the eastern elk (Cervus canadensis) that historically inhabited the region. Elk County is in the sparsely populated Pennsylvania Wilds region.
The county is notable for having one of the highest concentrations of Roman Catholics in the United States, with 69% of the county's residents identifying as Catholic.
Geography
Elk County consists of low rolling hills, carved by frequent drainages and heavily wooded.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.6%) is water. Elk has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb) and average monthly temperatures in Ridgway range from 23.2 °F in January to 67.4 °F in July, while in Saint Marys they range from 22.6 °F in January to 66.8 °F in July.
Adjacent counties
McKean County - north
Cameron County - east
Clearfield County - south
Jefferson County - southwest
Forest County - west
Warren County - northwest
National protected area
Allegheny National Forest (part)
State protected areas
Bendigo State Park
Elk State Park
Major highways
Demographics
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 30,990 people and 14,215 households. The population density was . There were 16,855 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 97.9% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.4% Asian, and 1.0% from two or more races. 0.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 46.6% were of German, 17.6% Italian, 15.2% Irish, 7.3% Polish, 6.7% English, 6.3% American, and 5.2% Swedish.
There were 14,124 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.00% were non-families. 27.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.99.
The county population contained 24.00% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.
Elk County has one of the highest concentrations of Roman Catholics in the United States. As of 2010, nearly 70% of the county's residents identified as Catholic.
2020 census
Economy
As of the 2021 ACS 5-Year Estimates, Elk County's largest industry and source of employment is manufacturing, with the second largest being educational services, healthcare, and social services.
Government and politics
|}
Voter demographics
As of November 4, 2022, there are 20,227 registered voters in Elk County.
Democratic: 6,768 (33.46%)
Republican: 11,123 (54.99%)
Third Party: 2,336 (11.55%)
Elk County has tended to be politically competitive in statewide and national elections. The county has frequently voted with the eventual winner of national elections, from 1920 to 2008, except for 1928 when Al Smith carried the county with nearly 60% of the vote over winner Herbert Hoover in 1940 when Wendell Willkie carried the county with a very slim margin of 29 votes over incumbent Franklin D. Roosevelt and in 1968, when Hubert Humphrey won it over eventual winner Richard Nixon.
County commissioners
Joseph Daghir, Republican
M. Fritz Lecker, Republican
Matthew G. Quesenberry, Democrat
Other county offices
Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary, Susanne Schneider, Republican
Coroner, Michelle Muccio, Republican
District Attorney, Beau Grove, Republican
Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds, Lee Neureiter, Republican
Sheriff, Todd Caltagarone, Republican
Treasurer, Peggy Schneider, Republican
Auditors, Sandra A. Caltagarone, Republican; Jean Zore, Republican; Siobhan Voss, Democrat
State representative
Mike Armanini, Republican, 75th district
State senator
Cris Dush, Republican, 25th district
United States representative
Glenn "G.T." Thompson, Republican, 15th district
United States senators
John Fetterman, Democrat
Bob Casey Jr., Democrat
Education
Community education center
The Community Education Center of Elk and Cameron Counties (or CEC) provides credit, non-credit, and enrichment programs.
Public school districts
Brockway Area School District
Forest Area School District
Kane Area School District
Johnsonburg Area School District
Ridgway Area School District
Saint Marys Area School District
Private schools
Elk County Catholic High School
St Boniface School - Kersey
St Leo School - Ridgway
St Marys Catholic Elementary School = Saint Marys
St Marys Catholic Middle School = Saint Marys
North Central Workforce Investment Board - Ridgway
Anne Forbes Nursery School - Ridgway
Libraries
Elk County Library System - Saint Marys
Johnsonburg Public Library - Johnsonburg
Ridgway Free Public Library - Ridgway
Saint Marys Public Library - Saint Marys
Tri State Coll Library Co-Op - Rosemont
Wilcox Public Library - Wilcox
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 Elk County:
City
St. Marys
Boroughs
Johnsonburg
Ridgway (county seat)
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. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.
Byrnedale
Force
James City
Kersey
Weedville
Wilcox
Unincorporated communities
Arroyo
Dagus Mines
Loleta
Portland Mills
Townships
Benezette
Fox
Highland
Horton
Jay
Jones
Millstone
Ridgway
Spring Creek
Former Townships
Benzinger - consolidated with St. Marys borough in 1992.
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Elk County.
† county seat
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Elk County, Pennsylvania
References
1843 establishments in Pennsylvania
Counties of Appalachia
Populated places established in 1843