Clinton County is a
county
A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...
in the
Commonwealth
A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the 15th century. Originally a phrase (the common-wealth ...
of
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
. As of the
2020 census, the population was 37,450. Its
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...
is
Lock Haven.
Clinton County comprises the Lock Haven, PA
Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the
Williamsport-Lock Haven, PA
Combined Statistical Area. The county is part of the
Central region of the commonwealth.
History
In the
Treaty of Fort Stanwix
The Treaty of Fort Stanwix was a treaty signed between representatives from the Iroquois and Great Britain (accompanied by negotiators from New Jersey, Virginia and Province of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania) in 1768 at Fort Stanwix. It was negotia ...
of 1768, new lands in Pennsylvania were
purchased from the
Haudenosaunee for colonial settlement, including parts of what is now Clinton County. The land was formally associated with
Northumberland County, but a group of organized settlers near modern
Jersey Shore elected three commissioners each March who were responsible for seeing that everyone was dealt with fairly. This became known as the
Fairplay System. Most of the rulings seem to have dealt with property issues, but they dealt with any legal or criminal cases in their area. They granted permission for new settlers to enter the area, could take away a settler's land claim if they were absent more than six weeks (except for military service), and could expel a person (by setting them adrift in a canoe on the river).
The county was created on June 21, 1839, from parts of
Centre
Center or centre may refer to:
Mathematics
*Center (geometry), the middle of an object
* Center (algebra), used in various contexts
** Center (group theory)
** Center (ring theory)
* Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentricity ...
and
Lycoming Counties.
Etymology
The county name is in honor of the sixth
Governor of New York
The governor of New York is the head of government of the U.S. state of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor ...
,
DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton (March 2, 1769February 11, 1828) was an American politician and Naturalism (philosophy), naturalist. He served as a United States Senate, United States senator, as the mayor of New York City, and as the sixth governor of New York. ...
. Some alternate sources suggest the namesake is
Henry Clinton.
Geography
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The U.S. Census Bureau is part of the U ...
, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.0%) is water.
The county has a
humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers, and cold ...
which is warm-summer (''Dfb'') except in lower areas near the West Branch and the Bald Eagle Creek which are hot-summer (''Dfa''). Average monthly temperatures in Lock Haven range from 26.5 °F in January to 72.2 °F in July, while in Renovo they range from 25.6 °F in January to 71.0 °F in July.
Adjacent counties
*
Potter County (north)
*
Lycoming County (east)
*
Union County (southeast)
*
Centre County (south)
*
Clearfield County (southwest)
*
Cameron County (west)
Landforms
* Bear Mountain - a USGS GNIS registered mountain peak ( at ) on the ''"Mill Hall"'' topographic map
Major highways
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Demographics
As of the
census
A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
of 2000, there were 37,914 people, 14,773 households, and 9,927 families residing in the county. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...
was . There were 18,166 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 98.3%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 0.52%
Black
Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...
or
African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.1%
Native American, 0.4%
Asian, <0.1%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 0.2% from
other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. 0.5% of the population were
Hispanic
The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or
Latino of any race. 36.0% were of
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany, the country of the Germans and German things
**Germania (Roman era)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...
, 15.6%
American, 9.6%
Irish, 8.6%
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance languag ...
and 7.4%
English ancestry.
There were 14,773 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.5% under the age of 18, 13.6% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males.
2020 census
Micropolitan Statistical Area
The
United States Office of Management and Budget
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is the largest office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP). The office's most prominent function is to produce the president's budget, while it also examines agency pro ...
has designated Clinton County as the Lock Haven, PA
Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA). As of the
2010 U.S. Census the micropolitan area ranked 16th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the
315th most populous in the United States with a population of 39,238. Clinton County is also a part of the
Williamsport-Lock Haven, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which combines the population of both Clinton County and the
Lycoming County areas. The
Combined Statistical Area ranked 11th in the State of Pennsylvania and
143rd most populous in the United States with a population of 155,349.
Government and politics
Clinton County has historically been Republican like the rest of central Pennsylvania, Democrats captured the registration edge in early 2008. Each of the three row-office statewide winners carried Clinton in 2008. In 2006, Democrat
Bob Casey Jr. received 54% of its vote when he unseated incumbent Republican US Senator
Rick Santorum
Richard John Santorum Sr. ( ; born May 10, 1958) is an American politician, attorney, author, and political commentator who represented Pennsylvania in the United States Senate from 1995 to 2007. He was the Senate's Chairman of the United Sta ...
and
Ed Rendell received 56% of the vote against
Lynn Swann
Lynn Curtis Swann (born March 7, 1952) is an American former professional football player, broadcaster, politician, and athletic director, best known for his association with the University of Southern California and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He ...
. The conservative tendencies of the county were again reestablished in 2008 when then-Senator Obama lost the county vote 48% to John McCain's 51%. This was followed in 2010 with U.S. Senate candidate, Republican Pat Toomey, receiving 59% to 41% for Democrat
Joe Sestak. In 2012, Mitt Romney carried the county 55% to President Obama's 43%, while incumbent Democratic Senator Bob Casey, Jr. received 44% to his Republican challenger, Tom Smith's 53%.
Voter registration
As of February 6, 2024, there are 21,710 registered voters in Clinton County.
*
Republican: 12,411 (57.17%)
*
Democratic: 6,497 (29.93%)
*
Independent
Independent or Independents may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups
* Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in Pennsylvania, United States
* Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...
: 2,015 (9.28%)
*
Third Party
Third party may refer to:
Business
* Third-party source, a supplier company not owned by the buyer or seller
* Third-party beneficiary, a person who could sue on a contract, despite not being an active party
* Third-party insurance, such as a veh ...
: 787 (3.63%)
County commissioners
*Jim Russo, chairman, Republican
*Jeffrey Snyder, vice chairman, Republican
*Angela Harding, Democrat
Other county offices
*Chief Clerk, Desiree Meyers
*Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary, Cynthia Love, Republican
*District Attorney, David Strouse, Democrat
*Register of Wills, Jennifer Hoy, Republican
*Treasurer, Michelle Kunes, Republican
*Auditor, Jacqui Anastos, Republican
*Auditor, Michelle Crowell, Democrat
*Auditor, Cathy Gedon, Republican
*Sheriff, Kerry Stover, Democrat
*Coroner Zach Hanna, Democrat
State senate
State House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
United States Senate
Education
Colleges and universities
*
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania
Commonwealth University-Lock Haven (LHU) is a public university in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). The main campus covers and the branch campus in Clearfield, Pe ...
Public school districts
*
Jersey Shore Area School District (also in Lycoming County)
*
Keystone Central School District (also in Centre County)
*
West Branch Area School District (also in Clearfield County)
Recreation
There are five
Pennsylvania state parks in Clinton County.
*
Bucktail State Park Natural Area is a scenic route along
Pennsylvania Route 120 stretching from
Lock Haven to
Emporium in
Cameron County.
*
Hyner Run State Park
*
Hyner View State Park
*
Kettle Creek State Park
Kettle Creek State Park is a List of Pennsylvania state parks, Pennsylvania state park in Leidy Township, Clinton County, Pennsylvania, Leidy Township, Clinton County, Pennsylvania, Clinton County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is ...
*
Ravensburg State Park
Communities
Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities:
cities
A city is a human settlement of a substantial size. The term "city" has different meanings around the world and in some places the settlement can be very small. Even where the term is limited to larger settlements, there is no universally agree ...
,
boroughs
A borough is an administrative division in various English language, English-speaking countries. In principle, the term ''borough'' designates a self-governing walled town, although in practice, official use of the term varies widely.
History
...
,
townships, and, in at most two cases,
towns
A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city.
The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...
. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Clinton County:
City
*
Lock Haven (county seat)
Boroughs
*
Avis
*
Beech Creek
*
Flemington
*
Loganton
*
Mill Hall
*
Renovo
*
South Renovo
Townships
*
Allison
*
Bald Eagle
The bald eagle (''Haliaeetus leucocephalus'') is a bird of prey found in North America. A sea eagle, it has two known subspecies and forms a species pair with the white-tailed eagle (''Haliaeetus albicilla''), which occupies the same niche ...
*
Beech Creek
*
Castanea
*
Chapman
*
Colebrook
*
Crawford
*
Dunnstable
*
Gallagher
*
Greene
*
Grugan
*
Lamar
*
Leidy
*
Logan
*
Noyes
*
Pine Creek
*
Porter
Porter may refer to:
Companies
* Porter Airlines, Canadian airline based in Toronto
* Porter Chemical Company, a defunct U.S. toy manufacturer of chemistry sets
* Porter Motor Company, defunct U.S. car manufacturer
* H.K. Porter, Inc., a locom ...
*
Wayne
*
West Keating
*
Woodward
Former townships
*
East Keating
Census-designated places
Census-designated place
A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only.
CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...
s are
unincorporated communities designated by the
U.S. Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The U.S. Census Bureau is part of the U ...
for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law.
*
Castanea
*
Clintondale
*
Dunnstown
*
Farwell
*
Lamar
*
McElhattan
*
North Bend
*
Rauchtown
*
Rote
*
Salona
Salona (, ) was an ancient city and the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia and near to Split, in Croatia. It was one of the largest cities of the late Roman empire with 60,000 inhabitants. It was the last residence of the final western ...
*
Tylersville
*
Woolrich
Other unincorporated communities
*
Cooks Run
*
Farrandsville
*
Hyner
*
Keating
*
Mackeyville
*
Westport
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the
2020 census of Clinton County.
† ''county seat''
See also
*
National Register of Historic Places listings in Clinton County, Pennsylvania
References
External links
Clinton County Government HomepageOpen Access edition of ''The History of Centre and Clinton counties, Pennsylvania'' (1883) by John Blair Linn at the Penn State University Library website
{{authority control
1839 establishments in Pennsylvania
Populated places established in 1839