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Tioga County, Pennsylvania facts for kids

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Tioga County
Tioga County Courthouse
Tioga County Courthouse
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Tioga 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 October 13, 1812
Named for Tioga River
Seat Wellsboro
Largest borough Mansfield
Area
 • Total 1,137 sq mi (2,940 km2)
 • Land 1,134 sq mi (2,940 km2)
 • Water 3.2 sq mi (8 km2)  0.3%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
40,763
 • Density 37/sq mi (14/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 12th

Tioga County is a county located on the central northern border of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 41,981. Its county seat is Wellsboro. The county was created on March 26, 1804, from part of Lycoming County and later organized in 1812. It is named for the Tioga River.

History

The county was originally settled by immigrants of "Yankee" stock (immigrants from New England and the western part of New York descended from the English Puritans whose ancestors settled New England in the colonial era). With the opening of a rough wagon road to the source of the Tioga River, New England settlers poured over the Allegheny Mountains. Tioga County resembled upstate New York more than it did Pennsylvania with its population primarily consisting of settlers from New England. Roads were laid out, post routes established, public buildings erected and people were invited to move there. The original settlers were entirely of New England origins or were Yankees from upstate New York whose families had moved to that place from New England only one generation earlier, in the aftermath of the Revolutionary War. This resulted in Tioga County being culturally contiguous with early New England culture.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,137 square miles (2,940 km2), of which 1,134 square miles (2,940 km2) is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km2) (0.3%) is water. It is the fourth-largest county in Pennsylvania by land area and fifth-largest by total area.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1810 1,687
1820 4,021 138.4%
1830 8,978 123.3%
1840 15,498 72.6%
1850 23,987 54.8%
1860 31,044 29.4%
1870 35,097 13.1%
1880 45,814 30.5%
1890 52,313 14.2%
1900 49,086 −6.2%
1910 42,829 −12.7%
1920 37,118 −13.3%
1930 31,871 −14.1%
1940 35,004 9.8%
1950 35,474 1.3%
1960 36,614 3.2%
1970 39,691 8.4%
1980 40,973 3.2%
1990 41,126 0.4%
2000 41,372 0.6%
2010 41,981 1.5%
2020 41,045 −2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2017 2010-2020

As of the census of 2000, there were 41,373 people, 15,925 households, and 11,195 families residing in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile (14/km2). There were 19,893 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.11% White, 0.60% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. 0.52% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Residents of Tioga County were of 31.9% English, 23.1% German, 10.1% Irish, 6.0% Polish and 5.3% Italian ancestry.

There were 15,925 households, out of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.80% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 24.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 10.60% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

Marcellus shale impact fee

In March 2012, the Tioga County Commissioners approved a marcellus shale impact fee ordinance. The Commissioners anticipated $5.5 million to $6 million in annual impact fee revenue. In 2012, under Governor Corbett, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed a bill that authorizes an impact fee be collected on marcellus shale wells. Regulations and processes for distribution of the money are governed by the Pennsylvania Utility Commission (PUC). Annual reports on the number of wells and revenues taken in are made public on the PUC website.

In 2016, the Pennsylvania Utility Commission lowered the Impact fee on shale gas wells.

The use of the impact shale fee funds is limited by state law to:

  • Emergency preparedness and public safety.
  • Road, bridge and infrastructure projects.
  • Water, storm water and sewer systems and other environmental projects.
  • Records management, IT.
  • Tax reductions.
  • Preservation and reclamation of surface and subsurface waters and water supplies.
  • Projects that increase the availability of affordable housing.
  • Delivery of social services.
  • Judicial services.
  • Career and technical centers for training of workers.
  • Career and technological centers for training of workers in the oil and gas industry.
  • Local or regional planning initiatives under the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Code.

In 2014 Tioga County received an impact fee disbursement of $3,593,564.21 which was among the top seven Pennsylvania counties receiving impact funds. In 2014, there were 839 marcellus shale wells in Tioga County. Statewide the top county recipient was Washington County which received $6,512,570.65 in 2014.

  • 2013 - 672 shale wells, impact fee revenues to Tioga County - $4,363,837.90
  • 2012, Tioga County had 811 natural gas wells, or 13% of the state total number of wells About only half of the wells (445) were actually producing gas.

Transportation

Public transportation is provided by BeST Transit.

Major highways

  • Future I‑99
  • US 6
  • US 15

  • US 15 Bus.
  • PA 14
  • PA 49
  • PA 249
  • PA 287
  • PA 328
  • PA 349
  • PA 362
  • PA 414
  • PA 549
  • PA 660

Recreation

There are three Pennsylvania state parks in Tioga County.

Communities

Map of Tioga County Pennsylvania With Municipal and Township Labels
Map of Tioga County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Boroughs (red) and Townships (white).

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

Boroughs

Townships

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.

Ghost town

Population ranking

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

county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 Mansfield Borough 3,625
2 Wellsboro Borough 3,263
3 Elkland Borough 1,821
4 Blossburg Borough 1,538
5 Westfield Borough 1,064
6 Tioga Borough 666
7 Knoxville Borough 629
8 Lawrenceville Borough 581
9 Arnot CDP 332
10 Millerton CDP 316
11 Liberty Borough 249
12 Roseville Borough 189

Education

Map of Tioga County Pennsylvania School Districts
Map of Tioga County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

Colleges and universities

Public school districts

  • Canton Area School District (also in Bradford County and Lycoming County)
  • Galeton Area School District (also in Potter County)
  • Northern Tioga School District
  • Southern Tioga School District (also in Lycoming County)
  • Wellsboro Area School District

Private schools

As reported by EdNA, Pennsylvania Department of Education, June 2010.

  • Covington Community DCC, Covington
  • Irvin Comstock Seventh-Day Adventist School, Wellsboro
  • Laurel Youth Services, Blossburg
  • Lauries Bright Beginnings CCC, Millerton
  • Mansfield Area Nursery School, Mansfield
  • Maranatha Mission Learning Community Branch 20, Trout Run
  • New Covenant Academy, Mansfield
  • Presbyterian Child Development Center, Wellsboro
  • Stony Fork Mennonite School, Wellsboro
  • Trinity Lutheran School, Wellsboro
  • Toddler University, Blossburg
  • Toddler University, Trinity
  • Wellsboro Montessori Children's Center, Wellsboro
  • Wesley Academy, Elkland

Public libraries

  • Blossburg Memorial Library
  • Elkland Area Community Library
  • Green Free Library – Wellsboro
  • Knoxville Public Library
  • Mansfield Free Public Library
  • Potter-Tioga County Lib System
  • Westfield Public Library

See also

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

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