Northumberland County, Pennsylvania

Northumberland County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 91,647. Its county seat is Sunbury. The county is part of the Central Pennsylvania region of the state.

The county was formed in 1772 from parts of Lancaster, Berks, Bedford, Cumberland, and Northampton Counties and named for the county of Northumberland in northern England. Northumberland County is a fifth class county according to the Pennsylvania's County Code. Northumberland County comprises the Sunbury, Pennsylvania Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Bloomsburg-Berwick-Sunbury, PA Combined Statistical Area. Among its notable residents, are Thomas L. Hamer a prior democratic congressman and Joseph Priestley, the Enlightenment chemist and theologian, left England in 1796 due to religious persecution and settled on the Susquehanna River. His former house, originally purchased by chemists from Pennsylvania State University after a colloquium that founded the American Chemical Society, is a historical museum.

History

Before European settlement the area was inhabited by the Akhrakouaeronon or Atrakouaehronon, a subtribe of the Susquehannock. By 1813 the area once comprising the sprawling county of Northumberland had been divided over time and allotted to other counties such that lands once occupied by Old Northumberland at its greatest extent are now found in Centre, Columbia, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mifflin, Union, Clearfield, Clinton, Montour, Bradford, Lackawanna, Susquehanna, Wyoming, Tioga, Potter, McKean, Warren, Venango, Snyder, and Schuylkill Counties.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 478 square miles (1,240 km²), of which 458 square miles (1,190 km²) is land and 19 square miles (49 km²) (4.0%) is water.

The county has a humid continental climate (Dfa/Dfb). Average temperatures in Sunbury range from 27.3 °F in January to 72.7 °F in July, while in Mount Carmel they range from 25.0 °F in January to 70.2 °F in July.

The main river in Northumberland County is the Susquehanna River. The Susquehanna River's tributaries in the county include the West Branch Susquehanna River, Chillisquaque Creek, Shamokin Creek, and Mahanoy Creek. The county has mountains in the south and north, with the rest being mostly rolling hills.

Mountains

Major highways

Adjacent counties

• Lycoming County (north)
• Montour County (northeast)
• Columbia County (east)
• Schuylkill County (southeast)
• Dauphin County (south)
• Perry County (southwest)
• Juniata County (west)
• Snyder County (west)
• Union County (west)

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 94,556 people, 38,835 households, and 25,592 families residing in the county. The population density was 206 people per square mile (80 people/km²). There were 43,164 housing units at an average density of 94 units per square mile (36/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.09% White, 1.52% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 1.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.5% were of German, 12.9% Polish, 9.9% American, 8.2% Italian, 8.1% Irish and 5.8% Dutch ancestry. 95.8% spoke English and 1.5% Spanish as their first language.

There were 38,835 households, out of which 27.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.90% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 19.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

2020 census

Micropolitan Statistical Area

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Northumberland County as the Sunbury, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA). As of the 2010 census the micropolitan area ranked 2nd most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 37th most populous in the United States with a population of 94,528. Northumberland County is also a part of the Bloomsburg–Berwick–Sunbury, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which combines the population of Northumberland County as well as the Columbia, Montour, Snyder and Union County areas. 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.

Politics and government

As of November 7, 2022, there are 58,632 registered voters in Northumberland County.

• Republican: 31,682 (54.04%)
• Democratic: 18,515 (31.58%)
• Independent: 5,547 (9.46%)
• Third Party: 2,888 (4.93%)

While county-level politics tend to be competitive, Northumberland is a Republican county in most statewide elections. The margins of victory in the county for the Republican presidential candidate in 2000, 2004, and 2008 have been 13, 21, and 14 percentage points, respectively. Governor Ed Rendell narrowly carried it against Lynn Swann while Republican Rick Santorum narrowly carried it against Bob Casey in 2006. The only Democratic statewide candidate to carry the county in 2008 was incumbent Auditor General Jack Wagner. In 2011, the election of Stephen Bridy resulted in a three-way split among the county commissioners.

County commissioners

• Kymberley Best, Democrat
• Joseph Klebon, Republican
• Samuel Schiccatano, Republican

Other county offices

• Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary, Jamie Saleski, Republican
• Controller, Christopher L. Grayson, Democrat
• District Attorney, Anthony Matulewicz III, Republican
• Recorder of Deeds and Register of Wills, Christina Mertz, Republican
• Sheriff, Robert J.Wolfe, Republican
• Treasurer, Kevin P. Gilroy, Republican
• Coroner, James F. Kelley, Democrat

State House of Representatives

• Joanne Stehr, Republican, 107th district
• Lynda Schlegel-Culver, Republican, 108th district

State Senator

• John Gordner, Republican, 27th district

United States Representative

• Dan Meuser, Republican, 9th district

United States Senate

• John Fetterman, Democrat
• Bob Casey Jr., Democrat

Education

Public school districts

• Danville Area School District (also in Montour County)
• Line Mountain School District
• Milton Area School District (also in Union County)
• Mount Carmel Area School District (also in Columbia County)
• Shamokin Area School District
• Shikellamy School District
• Southern Columbia Area School District (also in Columbia County)
• Warrior Run School District (also in Montour and Union Counties)

Career Tech school

Northumberland County Career Technology Center located in Coal Township

Intermediate Unit

Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit 16 – The primary service area consists of: Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union counties in central Pennsylvania. Provides a wide variety of education related services to school districts, private and parochial schools and hame schooled students.

Independent schools

• Bethesda Alternative School, Milton 7–12th grade
• Keefertown Parochial School 1–8th grade
• Maranatha Mennonite Christian School K-12th grade
• Meadowbrook Christian Academy PreK-12th grade
• Meadowview Christian Academy PreK-10th grade
• Northumberland Christian School PreK-12th grade
• Northwestern Academy 5–12th grade
• Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School preK–12th grade
• Schwaben Creek School 1–8th grade
• Spring View Parochial School, Watsontown 1–9th grade
• St Louis De Monfort Academy, Herdon 7–12 grade
• Sunbury Christian Academy, Northumberland K-12th grade
• Sunny Slope Amish Parochial School 1–8th grade
• Telos Educational Services Tutoring Center, Montandon
• Transfiguration Elementary School, Shamokin PreK-8th grade
• Watsontown Christian Academy, Watsontown PreK-12th grade

Communities

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in one case, a town. The following cities, boroughs, and townships are located in Northumberland County:

Cities

• Shamokin
• Sunbury (county seat)

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.

Unincorporated communities

Population ranking

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

† county seat

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania

References

External links

• Official website