Bradford County, Pennsylvania


Bradford County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, its population was 59,967. Its county seat is Towanda. The county was created on February 21, 1810, from parts of Lycoming and Luzerne Counties. Originally called Ontario County, it was reorganized and separated from Lycoming County on October 13, 1812, and renamed Bradford County for William Bradford, who had been a chief justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and United States Attorney General. The county is part of the Northeast region of the commonwealth.
Bradford County comprises the Sayre, Pennsylvania micropolitan statistical area.
The county is not to be confused with the city of Bradford, which is in McKean County, 141 miles to the west via U.S. Route 6.
WWW bradfordcountypa.org𝕏 bradfordcounty

History

As noted above, Bradford County was originally named Ontario County. The county was reorganized and renamed in 1812, but a section of north Philadelphia in which major east–west streets are named after Pennsylvania counties retains an Ontario Street, between Westmoreland and Tioga Streets. Two short Bradford Streets are in northeast Philadelphia, about 4 miles from Ontario Street.
Bradford County is the ancestral home of the Tehotitachsae indigenous people of North America. Their principal village, Gohontoto, was on the site of the present Borough of Wyalusing.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which are land and are covered by water. It is the second-largest county in Pennsylvania by land area and third-largest by total area.

Climate

Bradford has a warm-summer humid continental climate and average monthly temperatures in Towanda range from 24.5 °F in January to 70.6 °F in July.

Adjacent counties

Bradford County is one of the few counties in the US to border two counties of the same name in different states.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 59,967. The median age was 44.1 years. 21.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.6 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 93.4% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.5% of the population.
27.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 73.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 24,789 households in the county, of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.8% were married-couple households, 19.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 29,363 housing units, of which 15.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.9% were owner-occupied and 28.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.1%.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2000Pop 2010% 2000% 2010
White alone 61,21960,58455,71797.54%96.74%92.91%
Black or African American alone 2492693940.39%0.42%0.65%
Native American or Alaska Native alone 1871271170.29%0.20%0.19%
Asian alone 2833304600.45%0.52%0.76%
Pacific Islander alone 25130.00%0.00%0.02%
Other race alone 29271330.04%0.04%0.22%
Mixed race or Multiracial 3945782,2600.62%0.92%3.76%
Hispanic or Latino 3987028730.63%1.12%1.45%
Total62,76162,62259,967100.00%100.00%100.00%

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 62,761 people, 24,453 households, and 17,312 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 28,664 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 97.94% White, 0.40% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 0.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.4% were of English, 19% German, 12.6% Irish and 6.4% Italian ancestry.
There were 24,453 households, out of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.40% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.50% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.

Micropolitan Statistical Area

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Bradford County as the Sayre, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2010 U.S. census the micropolitan area ranked 8th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 131st most populous in the United States with a population of 62,622.

Law and government

Bradford County is a Republican Party stronghold in presidential elections. The only two instances Republican presidential candidates have failed to win the county from 1880 to the present were when Theodore Roosevelt won it in 1912 by splitting the Republican vote & in 1964 when Lyndon B. Johnson won statewide & nationally in a landslide. Johnson is also the only Democrat to ever manage over forty percent of the county's vote. Even so, he won Bradford County only narrowly, by just over one percent.

Voter registration

As of February 7, 2024, there are 37,159 registered voters in the county. There are 23,988 registered Republicans, 8,258 registered Democrats, 3,264 voters registered non-affiliated voters, and 1,649 voters registered to other parties.

County commissioners

  • Daryl Miller, Chairman, Republican
  • Doug McLinko, Vice-chairman, Republican
  • Zachary Gates, Democrat

Other county officials

  • Auditors, Roxanne Gilbert-Wells, Todd Grater, Charlotte Parks
  • Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary, Tammy Hart
  • Coroner, James Bowen
  • District Attorney, Richard Wilson
  • Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds, Sheila Johnson
  • Sheriff, Clinton J. Walters
  • Treasurer, Matthew Allen

State senate

State House of Representatives

United States House of Representatives

United States Senate

Economy

Major employers are the natural gas industry, farming, logging, DuPont, Global-Tungsten and Powders, Jeld-Wen, and Cargill Regional Beef, Wyalusing.

Education

Public school districts

Other public school entities

  • Towanda
  • Adult Ed Linkage Services – Troy
  • Lackawanna College Towanda Center

Private schools

  • Canton Country School – Canton
  • Children's Place – Sayre
  • Epiphany School Pre-K–6 – Sayre accepting OSTCP students
  • Freedom Lane Academy – Milan
  • G&G Learning Center – Rome
  • Maranatha Mission Learning Community Branch 19 – Canton
  • North Rome Christian School
  • South Hill Amish School – Wyalusing
  • St. Agnes Elementary School – Towanda accepting OSTCP students
  • Union Valley Christian School – Ulster
  • Valley View Amish School – Pike Township
  • Wyalusing Valley Children's Center INC – Wyalusing
Data from EdNA database maintained by Pennsylvania Department of Education 2012

Libraries

  • Allen F. Pierce Free Library – Troy
  • Bradford County Library – Troy
  • Bradford County Library System – Troy
  • Green Free Library – Canton
  • Mather Memorial Library – Ulster
  • Monroeton Public Library – Monroeton
  • New Albany Community Library Inc.
  • Sayre Public Library
  • Spalding Memorial Library – Athens
  • Wyalusing Public Library

Transportation

Public transportation is provided by BeST Transit.

Major highways

*

Recreation

There is one Pennsylvania state park in Bradford County.

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 only one case, towns. The following boroughs and townships are located in Bradford County:

Boroughs

Townships

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Bradford County.
† county seat
RankCity/Town/etc.Population Municipal typeIncorporated
1Sayre5,587Borough1891
2Athens3,367Borough1831
3† Towanda2,919Borough1828
4Canton1,976Borough1864
5Troy1,354Borough1845
6South Waverly1,027Borough1878
7Greens Landing894CDP—
8Wyalusing596Borough1887
9Monroe554Borough1855
10Rome441Borough1860
11New Albany356Borough1879
12Le Raysville290Borough1863
13Sylvania219Borough1853
14Alba157Borough1864
15Burlington156Borough1854