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 now-extinct eastern elk (''Cervus canadensis'') that historically inhabited the region. The county is part of the North Central region of the commonwealth.

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

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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. 42.9% were of German, 17.7% Italian, 13.1% Irish, 6.4% English, 5.8% Polish, 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, 2024, there are 20,837 registered voters in Elk County.

* Republican: 12,152 (58.31%)
* Democratic: 6,206 (29.78%)
* Independent: 1,657 (7.95%)
* Third Party: 822 (3.94%)
Elk County used to be competitive in statewide and national elections. The county frequently voted with the eventual winner of national elections, from 1920 to 2008, except for 1928, 1940, and 1968. In the 21st century, its Catholic identity has been replaced by its rural identity in defining how it votes; its longtime Democratic voter registration advantage was taken over by Republicans in 2018. The county voted for Mitt Romney by 16 points in 2012, then swung over 25 points to the right and voted for Donald Trump by 42 points in 2016, before swinging further right in 2020 and voting for Trump by 45 points.

County commissioners

* M. Fritz Lecker, Republican
* Matthew G. Quesenberry, Democrat
* Gregory J. Gebauer, Republican

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, Matthew Frey, Republican
* Board of 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
* Dave McCormick, Republican

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

School districts include:
* Brockway Area School District
* Forest Area School District
* Johnsonburg Area School District
* Kane 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

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1843 establishments in Pennsylvania
Populated places established in 1843