Mercer County, Pennsylvania

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Mercer County, Pennsylvania
Mercer County Courthouse Pennsylvania 2010.jpg
Mercer County Courthouse (1909)
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Mercer County
Location in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Map of the United States highlighting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location in the U.S.
Founded November 7, 1803
Seat Mercer
Largest city Hermitage
Area
 • Total 683 sq mi (1,769 km2)
 • Land 673 sq mi (1,743 km2)
 • Water 10 sq mi (26 km2), 1.5%
Population (est.)
 • (2014) 114,884
 • Density 171/sq mi (66/km²)
Congressional district 3rd
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.mcc.co.mercer.pa.us

Mercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,638.[1] Its county seat is Mercer,[2] and its largest city is Hermitage. The county was created in 1800 and later organized in 1803.[3]

Mercer County is included in the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 683 square miles (1,770 km2), of which 673 square miles (1,740 km2) is land and 10 square miles (26 km2) (1.5%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1800 3,228 —
1810 8,277 156.4%
1820 11,681 41.1%
1830 19,729 68.9%
1840 32,873 66.6%
1850 33,172 0.9%
1860 36,856 11.1%
1870 49,977 35.6%
1880 56,161 12.4%
1890 55,744 −0.7%
1900 57,387 2.9%
1910 77,699 35.4%
1920 93,788 20.7%
1930 99,246 5.8%
1940 101,039 1.8%
1950 111,954 10.8%
1960 127,519 13.9%
1970 127,175 −0.3%
1980 128,299 0.9%
1990 121,003 −5.7%
2000 120,307 −0.6%
2010 116,638 −3.0%
Est. 2014 114,884 [5] −1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 120,293 people, 46,712 households, and 32,371 families residing in the county. The population density was 179 people per square mile (69/km²). There were 49,859 housing units at an average density of 74 per square mile (29/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.13% White, 5.25% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. 0.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.5% were of German, 12.0% Italian, 10.5% Irish, 9.3% English and 6.8% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 46,712 households out of which 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.80% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 27.00% 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 2.44 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.40% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 18.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.80 males.

Government and politics

As of November 2008, there are 80,917 registered voters in Mercer County.[11]

Political bellwether

Mercer County was previously considered a political bellwether for the state of Pennsylvania since its demographics, urban/rural ratio, and party affiliation once closely mirrored the state as a whole. In 2000 Al Gore carried it against George W. Bush. This trend failed to hold true during 2004 Presidential election and 2008 Presidential election, in which Mercer County voted more conservatively than the rest of the state. In 2004 George W. Bush won Mercer County with 51% of the vote. That year John Kerry won the state as a whole with 51% of the popular vote. In 2008 John McCain won Mercer County by fewer than 200 votes, as he and Barack Obama each received roughly 49% of the popular vote. Barack Obama won the state of Pennsylvania as a whole with 55% of the popular vote. Each of the three statewide office winners also carried Mercer in 2008.

County commissioners

  • Matt McConnell, Republican, Chairmen
  • Scott Boyd, Republican, Vice Chairmen
  • Timothy McGonigle, Democrat

Other county offices

  • District Attorney, Miles Karson, Republican
  • Prothonotary, Ruth A. Bice, Democrat
  • Recorder of Deeds, Deedee Zickar, Republican
  • Sheriff, Gary Hartman, Democrat
  • Treasurer, Virginia Richardson, Republican

State Representative

State Senator

US Representatives

Education

Higher education

Career-based education

Public school districts

Map of Mercer County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

Charter schools

  • Keystone Education Center Charter School,[12] Greenville, PA. 256 pupils grades 7-12 Report Card 2010.[13]

Recreation

There is one Pennsylvania state park in Mercer County. Maurice K. Goddard State Park, named for Maurice K. Goddard, former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, is just off exit 130 of Interstate 79 on Pennsylvania Route 358 near Stoneboro.

The Wendell August Forge, the last remaining working forge in the state, was open to the public for tours, but it burned down on March 6, 2010.[14] It has since reopened in new facilities.

Mercer County Court House built in 1909.

Communities

Map of Mercer County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Cities and Boroughs (red) and Townships (white).

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in one case, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Mercer County:

Cities

Boroughs

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Townships

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Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Former community

  • Hickory Township-became the Municipality of Hermitage in 1976, and then the City of Hermitage in 1984.[15]

See also

References

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  11. ↑ Running for Office. Dos.state.pa.us. Retrieved on 2013-07-23.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ [1][dead link]
  14. ↑ "Landmark metal forge burns in Mercer County." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Online. March 06, 2010.
  15. ↑ http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pamercer/PA/PL/ts/Hickory/hickory.htm

External links

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