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Columbia County, Pennsylvania facts for kids

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Columbia County
County
Columbia County
The Columbia County courthouse in Bloomsburg
The Columbia County courthouse in Bloomsburg
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Columbia County
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Map of the United States highlighting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Pennsylvania
Founded March 22, 1813
Named for Christopher Columbus
Seat Bloomsburg
Largest town Bloomsburg
Area
 • Total 490 sq mi (1,300 km2)
 • Land 483 sq mi (1,250 km2)
 • Water 7.1 sq mi (18 km2)  1.4%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
65,456
 • Density 138/sq mi (53/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 9th
Pennsylvania Historical Marker
Designated: July 11, 1983

Columbia County is a county located in the north-central part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 64,727. Its county seat is Bloomsburg. The county was created on March 22, 1813, from part of Northumberland County. It was named Columbia, alluding to the United States and Christopher Columbus.

Columbia County is part of the Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

View of northern Columbia County, Pennsylvania from Kramer Hill Road 3
View of northern Columbia County, Pennsylvania from Kramer Hill Road in Fishing Creek Township. On the horizon (about 8-10 miles away) is North Mountain. The borough of Benton is in the center of the picture.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 490 square miles (1,300 km2), of which 483 square miles (1,250 km2) is land and 7.1 square miles (18 km2) (1.4%) is water. The southern tip of Columbia County is part of the Coal Region. The area of the county from the Susquehanna River south to several miles south of Numidia is mostly farmland and state game lands. Around the Susquehanna River, there are several communities, such as Bloomsburg and Catawissa. From the Susquehanna River north as far as Waller, the county is mostly farmland with several patches of forest. North of Waller, the county is mostly state game lands and mountains.

The major streams in Columbia County are the Susquehanna River, Fishing Creek, Briar Creek, Catawissa Creek, and Roaring Creek.

Mountains

Note: Only mountains higher than 1,500 feet (460 m) are listed

Name Height Image
Red Rock Mountain 2,365 feet (721 m) Red rock mountain.jpg
Central Mountain 2,247 feet (685 m)
Chimneystack Rock 2,244 feet (684 m)
Buck Mountain 1,942 feet (592 m) Buck Mountain from Buck Mountain Road.JPG
Catawissa Mountain 1,873 feet (571 m) Northwestern edge of Catawissa Mountain.JPG
Big Mountain 1,811 feet (552 m)
Knob Mountain 1,752 feet (534 m) Knob Mountain from the southwest 2.JPG
Nescopeck Mountain 1,604 feet (489 m) Nescopeck Mountain 1.JPG
Lee Mountain 1,594 feet (486 m) Lee Mountain in Briar Creek Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania.JPG
McCauley Mountain 1,571 feet (479 m) McCauley Mountain 2.JPG

Source:

Major highways

Columbia County is served by Pennsylvania Route 93, Pennsylvania Route 118, Pennsylvania Route 42, U.S. Route 11, Interstate 80, and several other state highways.

Adjacent counties

State Park

Part of Ricketts Glen State Park is in the northern portion of Columbia County.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1820 17,621
1830 20,059 13.8%
1840 24,267 21.0%
1850 17,710 −27.0%
1860 25,065 41.5%
1870 28,766 14.8%
1880 32,409 12.7%
1890 36,832 13.6%
1900 39,896 8.3%
1910 48,467 21.5%
1920 48,349 −0.2%
1930 48,803 0.9%
1940 51,413 5.3%
1950 53,460 4.0%
1960 53,489 0.1%
1970 55,114 3.0%
1980 61,967 12.4%
1990 63,202 2.0%
2000 64,148 1.5%
2010 67,295 4.9%
2020 64,727 −3.8%

As of the census of 2000, there were 64,151 people, 24,915 households, and 16,568 families residing in the county. The population density was 132 people per square mile (51/km2). There were 27,733 housing units at an average density of 57 per square mile (22/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.59% White, 0.80% Black or African-American, 0.15% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 0.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.2% were of German, 10.0% American, 9.4% Irish, 8.1% Italian, 6.7% Polish and 6.2% English ancestry.

There were 24,915 households, out of which 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.80% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.50% were non-families. 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.80% 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 20.80% under the age of 18, 14.30% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.80 males.

Metropolitan Statistical Area

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Columbia County as the Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of the 2010 U.S. Census the metropolitan area ranked 20th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 368th most populous in the United States with a population of 82,562. Columbia County is also a part of the larger Bloomsburg-Berwick-Sunbury, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which combines the populations of Columbia County as well as Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties in Pennsylvania. The Combined Statistical Area ranked 8th in the State of Pennsylvania and 115th most populous in the United States with a population of 264,739.

Communities

Map of Columbia County Pennsylvania With Municipal and Township Labels
Map of Columbia County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Towns and Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following town, boroughs and townships are located in Columbia County:

Town

Boroughs

Townships

  • Beaver
  • Benton
  • Briar Creek
  • Catawissa
  • Cleveland
  • Conyngham
  • Fishing Creek
  • Franklin
  • Greenwood
  • Hemlock
  • Jackson
  • Locust
  • Madison
  • Main
  • Mifflin
  • Montour
  • Mount Pleasant
  • North Centre
  • Orange
  • Pine
  • Roaring Creek
  • Scott
  • South Centre
  • Sugarloaf

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.

Unincorporated communities

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Columbia County.

county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 Bloomsburg Town 14,855
2 Berwick Borough 10,477
3 Ashland (mostly in Schuylkill County) Borough 2,817
4 Espy CDP 1,642
5 Catawissa Borough 1,552
6 Mifflinville CDP 1,253
7 Lightstreet CDP 1,093
8 Almedia CDP 1,078
9 Millville Borough 948
10 Lime Ridge CDP 890
11 Benton Borough 824
12 Briar Creek Borough 660
13 Fernville CDP 556
14 Orangeville Borough 508
15 Buckhorn CDP 318
16 Aristes CDP 311
17 Foundryville CDP 256
18 Numidia CDP 244
19 Stillwater Borough 209
20 Wilburton Number One CDP 196
21 Jerseytown CDP 184
22 Rupert CDP 183
23 Locustdale (partially in Schuylkill County) CDP 177
24 Slabtown CDP 156
25 Rohrsburg CDP 145
26 Iola CDP 144
27 Jamison City CDP 134
28 Mainville CDP 132
29 Eyers Grove CDP 105
30 Wilburton Number Two CDP 96
31 Jonestown CDP 64
32 Waller CDP 48
33 Centralia Borough 10

Education

Map of Columbia County Pennsylvania School Districts
Map of Columbia County, Pennsylvania School Districts

Colleges and universities

  • Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Public school districts

  • Benton Area School District
  • Berwick Area School District (also in Luzerne County)
  • Bloomsburg Area School District
  • Central Columbia School District
  • Millville Area School District
  • Mount Carmel Area School District (also in Northumberland County)
  • North Schuylkill School District (also in Schuylkill County)
  • Southern Columbia Area School District (also in Northumberland County)

Technical school

  • Columbia-Montour Area Vocational-Technical School

Charter school

  • SusQ Cyber Charter School - Bloomsburg

Private schools

  • Bald Hill School - Millville
  • Bloomsburg Christian School - Bloomsburg
  • Bloomsburg University Special Education Institute
  • Columbia Co Christian School - Bloomsburg
  • Greenwood Friends School - Millville
  • Heritage Christian Academy - Berwick
  • Holy Family Consolidate - Berwick
  • Keystone National High School - Bloomsburg
  • New Story - Berwick
  • Pennsylvania Institute For Conservation Education - Bloomsburg
  • Rainbow Hill School - Benton
  • St Columba School - Bloomsburg
  • Saint Matthews - Bloomsburg
  • Turkey Ridge School - Bloomsburg

Libraries

  • Bloomsburg Public Library
  • Columbia County Traveling Library
  • McBride Memorial Library
  • Orangeville Public Library

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Columbia (Pensilvania) para niños

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