Columbia County, Pennsylvania


Columbia County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. 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. The county is part of the Central region of the commonwealth.
Columbia County is part of the Bloomsburg–Berwick metropolitan area.
WWW columbiapa.org

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and 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 consists mostly of farmland and state game lands. Several communities developed along the Susquehanna River, 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.
The county has a humid continental climate and average monthly temperatures in Bloomsburg average from in January to in July.

Mountains

Note: Only mountains higher than are listed
NameHeightImage
Red Rock Mountain
Central Mountain
Chimneystack Rock
Buck Mountain
Catawissa Mountain
Big Mountain
Knob Mountain
Nescopeck Mountain
Lee Mountain
McCauley Mountain

Source:

Adjacent counties

State park

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

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 64,727. The median age was 41.6 years. 18.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.1 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 92.0% White, 1.4% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.3% from some other race, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.3% of the population.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2000Pop 2010% 2000% 2010
White alone 62,26963,50058,83197.06%94.36%90.89%
Black or African American alone 4811,1908670.74%1.76%1.33%
Native American or Alaska Native alone 8557710.13%0.08%0.10%
Asian alone 3325477480.51%0.81%1.15%
Pacific Islander alone 1314170.02%0.02%0.02%
Other race alone 32381590.04%0.05%0.24%
Mixed race or Multiracial 3306001,8940.51%0.89%2.92%
Hispanic or Latino 6091,3492,1400.94%2.00%3.30%
Total64,15167,29564,727100.00%100.00%100.00%

55.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 44.7% lived in rural areas.
There were 26,386 households in the county, of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.7% were married-couple households, 19.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 29,654 housing units, of which 11.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 68.9% were owner-occupied and 31.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.8%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 64,151 people, 24,915 households, and 16,568 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 27,733 housing units at an average density of. 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 . As of the 2010 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 , 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.

Politics and government

Voter registration

As of February 6, 2024, there were 39,054 registered voters in Columbia County.
While the county registration tends to be evenly matched between Democrats and Republicans, the county trends Republican in statewide elections. Donald Trump carried the county by more than 30 points in both 2016 and 2020. While John McCain received 51.6% of its vote to 47.1% for Barack Obama, this was a far-closer margin than the 20 points that George W. Bush carried it by in 2004. Each of the three row-office statewide winners carried Columbia in 2008. In 2006, Democrat Bob Casey Jr. received 51% of its vote when he unseated incumbent Republican US Senator Rick Santorum and Ed Rendell received 50.6% of the vote against Lynn Swann.
For many years Columbia County was represented in the State House by a conservative Democrat in the 109th district until John Gordner changed parties to Republican in 2001. He was elected to the State Senate in 2003 and succeeded by Republican David R. Millard. Columbia is in the 27th Senate district and 11th Congressional district.

Education

Colleges and universities

Public school districts

School districts include:

Technical school

Charter school

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

Communities

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

Town

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 Columbia County.
† county seat
RankCity/Town/etc.Municipal typePopulation
1† BloomsburgTown14,855
2BerwickBorough10,477
3Ashland Borough2,817
4EspyCDP1,642
5CatawissaBorough1,552
6MifflinvilleCDP1,253
7LightstreetCDP1,093
8AlmediaCDP1,078
9MillvilleBorough948
10Lime RidgeCDP890
11BentonBorough824
12Briar CreekBorough660
13FernvilleCDP556
14OrangevilleBorough508
15BuckhornCDP318
16AristesCDP311
17FoundryvilleCDP256
18NumidiaCDP244
19StillwaterBorough209
20Wilburton Number OneCDP196
21JerseytownCDP184
22RupertCDP183
23Locustdale CDP177
24SlabtownCDP156
25RohrsburgCDP145
26IolaCDP144
27Jamison CityCDP134
28MainvilleCDP132
29Eyers GroveCDP105
30Wilburton Number TwoCDP96
31JonestownCDP64
32WallerCDP48
33CentraliaBorough10