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 Democratic member of Congress in the 1830s, and Joseph Priestley, the Enlightenment chemist and theologian, who left England in 1796 due to religious and political 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.

WWW northumberlandco.org

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, of which is land and is water.
The county has a humid continental climate. 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.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 91,647. The median age was 44.5 years. 20.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.1 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 90.4% White, 2.8% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.0% from some other race, and 4.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.5% of the population.
64.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 35.3% lived in rural areas.
There were 37,932 households in the county, of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.2% were married-couple households, 19.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 43,300 housing units, of which 12.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 70.6% were owner-occupied and 29.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.3%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 94,556 people, 38,835 households, and 25,592 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 43,164 housing units at an average density of. 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.

Economy

Historically, the main employer of the county were the anthracite coal mines that dotted the landscape, as well as manufacturing factories. However, starting in the 1950s, the coal mines began to gradually close down and the factories started to move out, leading to population decline and economic depression.

Top employers

The top ten employers in Northumberland County are, as of 2023, as follows:

#	Employer
1	Weis Markets
2	Knoebels Amusement Resort
3	State of Pennsylvania
4	Con-Agra Foods
5	Northumberland County
6	Walmart
7	Independent Home Health
8	Geisinger Health System
9	Furman Foods
10	Watsontown Trucking Company

Micropolitan Statistical Area

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Northumberland County as the Sunbury, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area . 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 , 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

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

Source:

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

Education

Public school districts

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: [List of List of cities in Pennsylvania|cities in Pennsylvania|cities], [List of 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 one case, a town. The following cities, boroughs, and townships are located in Northumberland County:

Cities

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

Alaska
Asherton
Augustaville
Bear Gap
Bear Valley
Big Mountain
Boyd
Boydtown
Burnside
Cabel
Caketown
Cameron
Chillisquaque
Chulasky
Coal Run
Colonial Park
Connersville
Deibler
Delaware Run
Diamondtown
Dooleyville
Dornsife
Dunkelbergers
East Lewisburg
Excelsior
Farnsworth
Fisherdale
Fishers Ferry
Five Points
Gowen City
Greenback
Greenbriar
Hamilton
Hebe
Helfenstein
Hickory Corners
Hunter
Kapp
Keefers
Keiser
Kipps Run
Kline Grove
Kneass
Knoebels Grove
Kulps
Lantz
Leck Kill
Line Mountain
Lithia Springs
Locust Gap
Locust Summit
Malta
Mandata
Mayfair
Meadowview
Merrian
Mile Run
Millers Crossroads
Mount Carmel Junction
Mount Pleasant
Natalie
North Hills
Oak Park
Oaklyn
Otto
Overlook
Patricksburg
Paxinos
Point Breeze
Potts Grove
Purdytown
Quitman
Rebuck
Red Cross
Reed
Resler
Rushtown
Sagon
Selinsgrove Junction
Seven Points
Shady Acres
Shamrock
Snufftown
South Danville
Springtown
Stonington
Sunnyside
Union Corner
Urban
Warrior Run
West Cameron
Wolfs Crossroads
Wolverton
Yordy

Population ranking

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

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population
1	† 'Sunbury	City	9,905
2	Shamokin	City	7,374
3	Milton	Borough	7,042
4	Mount Carmel	Borough	5,893
5	Northumberland	Borough	3,804
6	Kulpmont	Borough	2,924
7	Paxinos	CDP	2,467
8	Edgewood	CDP	2,384
9	Watsontown	Borough	2,351
10	Elysburg	CDP	2,194
11	Fairview-Ferndale	CDP	2,139
12	Riverside	Borough	1,932
13	Trevorton	CDP	1,834
14	Dewart	CDP	1,471
15	Marshallton	CDP	1,441
16	Montandon	CDP	903
17	Kapp Heights	CDP	863
18	Atlas	CDP	809
19	Turbotville	Borough	705
20	Marion Heights	Borough	611
21	Ranshaw	CDP	510
22	Tharptown (Uniontown)	CDP	498
23	Dalmatia	CDP	488
24	Snydertown	Borough	339
25	Herndon	Borough	324
26	McEwensville	Borough	279
27	Strong'	CDP	147