| Wayne County, Pennsylvania | |
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Wayne 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 | March 21, 1798 |
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| Seat | Honesdale |
| Largest city | Honesdale |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
751 sq mi (1,945 km²) 729 sq mi (1,888 km²) 21 sq mi (54 km²), 2.84% |
| Population - (2010) - Density |
52,822 72/sq mi (27.9/km²) |
| Website | www.co.wayne.pa.us |
Wayne County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 52,822. Its county seat is Honesdale[1]. The county was named for the Revolutionary War General Anthony Wayne.[2]
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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 751 square miles (1,944 km²), of which 729 square miles (1,889 km²) is land and 21 square miles (55 km²) (2.84%) is water.
The terrain of the county is varied. In the wider northern half, it is rugged along its borders; with higher hills found along the western border, lower ones in the east near the river and a wide plain in the middle. The southern portion tends to be swampier.
The highest elevation in the county, 2,656 feet (809.5 m), is the summit of Mount Ararat in Preston Township, near Orson. Two other summits at the north end of the same ridge also exceed 2,640 feet (804.6 m) elevation. The lowest point is along the Delaware River at the Pike County line, approximately 680 feet (207.2 m).
Most of the county is drained by the Delaware River (which separates it from New York,) except for small western areas drained by the Starrucca Creek and the Lackawanna River into the Susquehanna River.
| Historical populations | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1800 | 2,562 |
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| 1810 | 4,125 | 61.0% | |
| 1820 | 4,127 | 0% | |
| 1830 | 7,663 | 85.7% | |
| 1840 | 11,848 | 54.6% | |
| 1850 | 21,890 | 84.8% | |
| 1860 | 32,239 | 47.3% | |
| 1870 | 33,188 | 2.9% | |
| 1880 | 33,513 | 1.0% | |
| 1890 | 31,010 | −7.5% | |
| 1900 | 30,171 | −2.7% | |
| 1910 | 29,236 | −3.1% | |
| 1920 | 27,435 | −6.2% | |
| 1930 | 28,420 | 3.6% | |
| 1940 | 29,934 | 5.3% | |
| 1950 | 28,478 | −4.9% | |
| 1960 | 28,237 | −0.8% | |
| 1970 | 29,581 | 4.8% | |
| 1980 | 35,237 | 19.1% | |
| 1990 | 39,944 | 13.4% | |
| 2000 | 47,722 | 19.5% | |
| 2010 | 52,822 | 10.7% | |
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As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 47,722 people, 18,350 households, and 12,936 families residing in the county. The population density was 65 people per square mile (25/km²). There were 30,593 housing units at an average density of 42 per square mile (16/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.73% White, 1.59% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.52% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. 1.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.2% were of German, 16.4% Irish, 11.4% Italian, 10.9% English, 8.5% Polish and 6.2% American ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 18,350 households out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.20% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.00% under the age of 18, 6.10% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 17.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 100.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.50 males.
As of November 2010, there are 31,506 registered voters in Wayne County [1].
The Republican Party has been historically dominant in county-level politics. On the statewide and national levels Wayne County leans heavily toward the Republican Party. In 2000 Republican George W. Bush won 59% to Democrat Al Gore 37%. In 2004 Republican George W. Bush won 62% to Democrat John Kerry 37%. In 2008 Republican John McCain won 55% to Democrat Barack Obama 43%.
Wayne County was one of the only counties that Barry Goldwater won in Pennsylvania.[6]
Wayne County is served by the Wayne Memorial Health System. The Health System consists of Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale and several other subsidiaries and/or affiliates. In addition, the community has a number of physicians and other professionals providing needed care.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons United States Penitentiary, Canaan is in Canaan Township, near Waymart.[7][8]
Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and towns. The following boroughs and townships are located in Wayne County:
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