Blair County, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Blair County
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Blair County Courthouse, Hollidaysburg
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Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Pennsylvania |
| Founded | February 26, 1846 |
| Seat | Hollidaysburg |
| Largest city | Altoona |
| Area | |
| • Total | 527 sq mi (1,360 km2) |
| • Land | 526 sq mi (1,360 km2) |
| • Water | 1.3 sq mi (3 km2) 0.2% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 122,822 |
| • Density | 234/sq mi (90/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 13th |
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Pennsylvania Historical Marker
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| Designated: | April 13, 1982 |
Blair County is a county located in the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 122,822. Its county seat is Hollidaysburg. The county was created on February 26, 1846, from parts of Huntingdon and Bedford counties.
Blair County comprises the Altoona, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is also part of the Altoona-Huntingdon, PA Combined Statistical Area, which includes Blair and Huntingdon counties.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 527 square miles (1,360 km2), of which 526 square miles (1,360 km2) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2) (0.2%) is water.
Features
- Brush Mountain
- Logan Valley
- Morrison Cove
- Tussey Mountain
Adjacent counties
- Centre County (north)
- Huntingdon County (east)
- Bedford County (south)
- Cambria County (west)
- Clearfield County (northwest)
National protected area
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 21,777 | — | |
| 1860 | 27,829 | 27.8% | |
| 1870 | 38,051 | 36.7% | |
| 1880 | 52,740 | 38.6% | |
| 1890 | 70,866 | 34.4% | |
| 1900 | 85,099 | 20.1% | |
| 1910 | 108,858 | 27.9% | |
| 1920 | 128,334 | 17.9% | |
| 1930 | 139,840 | 9.0% | |
| 1940 | 140,358 | 0.4% | |
| 1950 | 139,519 | −0.6% | |
| 1960 | 137,270 | −1.6% | |
| 1970 | 135,356 | −1.4% | |
| 1980 | 136,621 | 0.9% | |
| 1990 | 130,542 | −4.4% | |
| 2000 | 129,144 | −1.1% | |
| 2010 | 127,089 | −1.6% | |
| 2020 | 122,822 | −3.4% | |
As of the census of 2000, there were 127,089 people and 52,159 households within the county. The population density was 246 people per square mile (95/km2). There were 55,061 housing units at an average density of 105 per square mile (40/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.18% White, 1.68% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. 0.97% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 40.0% were of German, 12.2% Irish, 10.7% Italian, 9.9% American and 6.0% English ancestry.
There were 52,159 households, out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.60% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 27.80% 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 2.43 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.1% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 19, 5.9% from 20 to 24, 11.1% from 25 to 34, 19.3% from 35 to 49, 21.4% from 50 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. The population was 48.55% male, and 51.45% female.
Recreation
There is one Pennsylvania state park in Blair County.
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 Blair County:
City
Boroughs
- Bellwood
- Duncansville
- Hollidaysburg (county seat)
- Martinsburg
- Newry
- Roaring Spring
- Tunnelhill (mostly in Cambria County)
- Tyrone
- Williamsburg
Townships
- Allegheny
- Antis
- Blair
- Catharine
- Frankstown
- Freedom
- Greenfield
- Huston
- Juniata
- Logan
- North Woodbury
- Snyder
- Taylor
- Tyrone
- Woodbury
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.
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Blair County.
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Population (2010 Census) | Municipal type | Incorporated |
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| 1 | Altoona | 46,320 | City | 1854 (borough) 1868 (city) |
| 2 | † Hollidaysburg | 5,791 | Borough | 1836 |
| 3 | Tyrone | 5,477 | Borough | 1857 |
| 4 | Bellwood | 3,564 | Borough | 1898 |
| 5 | Roaring Spring | 2,585 | Borough | 1888 |
| 6 | Greenwood | 2,458 | CDP | |
| 7 | Martinsburg | 1,958 | Borough | 1832 |
| 8 | Lakemont | 1,868 | CDP | |
| 9 | Claysburg | 1,625 | CDP | |
| 10 | Williamsburg | 1,254 | Borough | 1827 |
| 11 | Duncansville | 1,233 | Borough | 1891 |
| 12 | Tipton | 1,083 | CDP | |
| 13 | East Freedom | 972 | CDP | |
| 14 | Foot of Ten | 672 | CDP | |
| 15 | Grazierville | 665 | CDP | |
| 16 | Tunnelhill (mostly in Cambria County) | 363 | Borough | 1876 |
| 17 | Northwood | 296 | CDP | |
| 18 | Newry | 270 | Borough | 1876 |
Education
Colleges and universities
- Penn State Altoona
Community, junior and technical colleges
- South Hills School of Business and Technology
- YTI Career Institute
- Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
Public school districts
- Altoona Area School District
- Bellwood-Antis School District
- Claysburg-Kimmel School District (also in Bedford County)
- Hollidaysburg Area School District
- Penn Cambria School District (also in Cambria County)
- Spring Cove School District
- Tyrone Area School District (also in Centre and Huntingdon Counties)
- Williamsburg Community School District
Charter schools
- Agora Cyber Charter School
- Central Pennsylvania Digital Learning Foundation Charter School (K-12). Altoona.
Technology school
- Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center - Altoona
Private schools
- Alternative Education Program - Hollidaysburg
- Holy Trinity Middle School - Altoona
- Holy Trinity Elementary School - Altoona Campus
- Holy Trinity Elementary School - Hollidaysburg Campus
- Altoona Hospital School of Nursing
- Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School - Altoona
- Blair County Christian School - Duncansville
- Champion Life Christian Academy - Altoona
- Cove Lane Parochial School - Martinsburg
- Crawford Elementary at Adelphoi Village
- Emmanuel Baptist Christian School - Claysburg
- Faith Tabernacle School - Altoona
- Great Commission Schools - Altoona
- Harbor House Center Early Academy - Altoona
- Heritage Christian School - Martinsburg
- Hollidaysburg Catholic School - Hollidaysburg
- Living Water Christian Academy - Williamsburg
- Northwestern Human Services Autism School
- Penn Mont Academy - Hollidaysburg
- Penn Mont at Penn State Altoona
- Piney Creek Parochial School - New Enterprise
- Shady Grove School - Martinsburg
- Shady Pond School - Altoona
- St John Evangelist School - Altoona
- St Matthew School - Tyrone
- St Patrick School - Newry
- Sylvan Learning Center - Hollidaysburg
- Tender Love for Children - Altoona
- The Nehemiah Project - Altoona
- Training & Development Tech - Hollidaysburg
- White Oak School - Tyrone
Data taken from Pennsylvania EdNA - PDE database of public private schools 2012
Libraries
Blair County hosts a system of nine libraries that can be accessed with one library card. Resource sharing exists between the eight libraries. Books from any of the eight system libraries can be placed on hold and delivered to a patron's home library and then returned to any of the eight libraries in the system.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Blair para niños
