| Mifflin County, Pennsylvania | |
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Mifflin County Courthouse
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Location in the state of Pennsylvania |
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Pennsylvania's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | September 19, 1789 |
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| Seat | Lewistown |
| Largest city | Lewistown |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
415 sq mi (1,075 km²) 413 sq mi (1,070 km²) 3 sq mi (8 km²), 0.66% |
| Population - (2010) - Density |
46,682 113/sq mi (43.6/km²) |
| Website | www.co.mifflin.pa.us |
Mifflin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 46,682. Its county seat is Lewistown[1]. It is named after Thomas Mifflin, the first Governor of Pennsylvania.
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Mifflin County is located in, and has its boundaries defined by, the Ridge-and Valley Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania. US Route 322, a major divided highway, connects the county to the rest of the state on its route between Harrisburg and State College. US Route 522 also connects the county to the rest of the state on its route between Selinsgrove and Mount Union.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 415 square miles (1,074 km²), of which 412 square miles (1,067 km²) is land and 3 square miles (7 km²) (0.66%) is water.
| Historical populations | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 7,562 |
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| 1800 | 13,609 | 80.0% | |
| 1810 | 12,132 | −10.9% | |
| 1820 | 16,618 | 37.0% | |
| 1830 | 21,690 | 30.5% | |
| 1840 | 13,092 | −39.6% | |
| 1850 | 14,980 | 14.4% | |
| 1860 | 16,340 | 9.1% | |
| 1870 | 17,508 | 7.1% | |
| 1880 | 19,577 | 11.8% | |
| 1890 | 19,996 | 2.1% | |
| 1900 | 23,160 | 15.8% | |
| 1910 | 27,785 | 20.0% | |
| 1920 | 31,439 | 13.2% | |
| 1930 | 40,335 | 28.3% | |
| 1940 | 42,993 | 6.6% | |
| 1950 | 43,691 | 1.6% | |
| 1960 | 44,348 | 1.5% | |
| 1970 | 45,268 | 2.1% | |
| 1980 | 46,908 | 3.6% | |
| 1990 | 46,197 | −1.5% | |
| 2000 | 46,486 | 0.6% | |
| 2010 | 46,682 | 0.4% | |
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As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 46,486 people, 18,413 households, and 12,907 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile (44/km²). There were 20,745 housing units at an average density of 50 per square mile (19/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.53% White, 0.49% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.18% from other races, and 0.43% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.8% were of German, 19.2% American, 8.0% Irish and 7.5% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 5.7% report speaking Pennsylvania German, Dutch, or German at home.[1]
There were 18,413 households out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.60% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.60% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 17.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.90 males.
The dominant form of speech in Mifflin County is the Central Pennsylvania accent. Almost everyone in Mifflin County speaks English. The Amish and some Mennonites speak Pennsylvania German also known as Pennsylvania Dutch, a West Central German dialect, which is very remote from modern Standard German. The Amish and Mennonites also can speak English. Few non-Amish or Mennonites in Mifflin County today speak Pennsylvania German, but this was not true in the past.
Due to close proximity to State College, PA, the most popular college sports team in Mifflin County is the Penn State football team. In professional football, loyalties are divided between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles. Almost all Steelers and Eagles games are available live on network television, as Mifflin County receives stations from both the Steelers and Eagles broadcasting territories, though Baltimore Ravens games are also available through Harrisburg-based stations. The most popular baseball teams are the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies.
Historically, football has been the most popular high school sport, but over the past decade, the most successful teams have been in boys and girls basketball. In the past, high school wrestling was more popular than basketball. Although basketball is now more popular than wrestling, wrestling remains more popular in Mifflin County and in Central Pennsylvania in general than in most parts of the United States.
In line with the nation, NASCAR also enjoys popularity in Mifflin County. Local dirt track races and drag races are widely attended on weekends.
Mifflin County does not have a local television station but it is provided with local coverage from the following stations outside of the county:
Most of the county is served by the Mifflin County School District, with the exception of Wayne Township and the boroughs of Newton-Hamilton and Kistler, which are part of the Mount Union Area School District.
Head Start is a federally and state funded preschool program for low income children. The program serves 3 and 4 year olds. In order to participate the family income must be below federal poverty guidelines.
Mifflin-Juniata Career and Technology Center located in Lewistown provides post high school degrees in nursing, auto mechanics and electrical services and numerous other technology driven careers.
The Lewistown branch of the South Hills School of Business and Technology offers associates degrees and other certifications in various areas of business, technology, and some health care.
The Penn State Learning Center in Lewistown offers both two-year and four-year degrees. Recently, the Learning Center opened a state-of-the-art science lab to be used by students attending the Lewistown Hospital School of Nursing.
Harrisburg Area Community College now offers some classes at Lewistown Area High School.
Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Mifflin County:
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.
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