Blair County, Pennsylvania

Blair County is a county located in the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 127,089.[2] Its county seat is Hollidaysburg.[3] The county was created on February 26, 1846, from parts of Huntingdon and Bedford Counties.

Blair County
U.S. county
Blair County Courthouse, Hollidaysburg
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°28′N 78°21′W
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
FoundedFebruary 26, 1846
SeatHollidaysburg
Largest cityAltoona
Area
 • Total527 sq mi (1,360 km2)
 • Land526 sq mi (1,360 km2)
 • Water1.3 sq mi (3 km2)  0.2%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
121,829
 • Density233/sq mi (90/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district13th
Websitewww.blairco.org
DesignatedApril 13, 1982[1]

Blair County comprises the Altoona, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 527 square miles (1,360 km2), of which 526 square miles (1,360 km2) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2) (0.2%) is water.[4]

Features

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Major highways

Climate

Blair has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb).

Climate data for Altoona
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 78
(26)		 76
(24)		 85
(29)		 91
(33)		 94
(34)		 97
(36)		 103
(39)		 102
(39)		 96
(36)		 90
(32)		 82
(28)		 74
(23)		 103
(39)
Average high °F (°C) 31.9
(−0.1)		 34.6
(1.4)		 44.7
(7.1)		 57.8
(14.3)		 67.6
(19.8)		 77.1
(25.1)		 81.4
(27.4)		 80.3
(26.8)		 72.3
(22.4)		 61.3
(16.3)		 49.4
(9.7)		 37.1
(2.8)		 57.9
(14.4)
Average low °F (°C) 15.6
(−9.1)		 17.7
(−7.9)		 25.5
(−3.6)		 36.6
(2.6)		 46.8
(8.2)		 54.9
(12.7)		 60.2
(15.7)		 58.4
(14.7)		 51.3
(10.7)		 41.4
(5.2)		 32.1
(0.1)		 21.9
(−5.6)		 38.5
(3.6)
Record low °F (°C) −29
(−34)		 −25
(−32)		 −7
(−22)		 8
(−13)		 20
(−7)		 32
(0)		 38
(3)		 34
(1)		 26
(−3)		 15
(−9)		 0
(−18)		 −13
(−25)		 −29
(−34)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.64
(67)		 2.43
(62)		 3.48
(88)		 3.63
(92)		 4.30
(109)		 4.08
(104)		 4.14
(105)		 3.50
(89)		 3.85
(98)		 3.43
(87)		 3.71
(94)		 3.11
(79)		 42.64
(1,083)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 11.2
(28)		 14.3
(36)		 16.9
(43)		 2.5
(6.4)		 0.1
(0.25)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0.2
(0.51)		 3.3
(8.4)		 12.1
(31)		 60.6
(154)
Source: Pennsylvania State Climatologist[5]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
185021,777—
186027,82927.8%
187038,05136.7%
188052,74038.6%
189070,86634.4%
190085,09920.1%
1910108,85827.9%
1920128,33417.9%
1930139,8409.0%
1940140,3580.4%
1950139,519−0.6%
1960137,270−1.6%
1970135,356−1.4%
1980136,6210.9%
1990130,542−4.4%
2000129,144−1.1%
2010127,089−1.6%
2019 (est.)121,829[6]−4.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2019[2]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 127,089 people and 52,159 households within the county. The population density was 246 people per square mile (95/km2). There were 55,061 housing units at an average density of 105 per square mile (40/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.18% White, 1.68% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. 0.97% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 40.0% were of German, 12.2% Irish, 10.7% Italian, 9.9% American and 6.0% English ancestry.

There were 52,159 households, out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.60% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.1% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 19, 5.9% from 20 to 24, 11.1% from 25 to 34, 19.3% from 35 to 49, 21.4% from 50 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. The population was 48.55% male, and 51.45% female.

Law and government

Blair County is a Republican Party stronghold. In only two elections has the Democrat won the vote of the county, and one other election won by the Progressive Party.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[12][13]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 71.1% 45,306 27.7% 17,636 1.3% 806
2016 70.7% 39,135 25.2% 13,958 4.1% 2,248
2012 66.2% 33,319 32.3% 16,276 1.5% 770
2008 61.4% 32,708 37.2% 19,813 1.5% 777
2004 66.0% 35,751 33.4% 18,105 0.6% 322
2000 62.9% 28,376 34.9% 15,774 2.2% 990
1996 52.3% 21,282 37.0% 15,036 10.7% 4,373
1992 47.9% 21,447 33.2% 14,857 18.9% 8,454
1988 61.5% 25,623 37.4% 15,588 1.1% 451
1984 65.5% 30,104 34.1% 15,651 0.4% 190
1980 62.4% 28,931 32.4% 15,014 5.2% 2,414
1976 59.7% 28,290 38.8% 18,397 1.4% 679
1972 75.1% 33,126 22.7% 10,023 2.2% 961
1968 59.6% 28,780 32.7% 15,803 7.7% 3,713
1964 48.1% 24,301 51.8% 26,157 0.1% 73
1960 64.4% 35,297 35.5% 19,445 0.1% 67
1956 65.7% 33,623 34.2% 17,503 0.1% 65
1952 65.4% 32,113 34.3% 16,851 0.2% 106
1948 60.7% 22,382 38.1% 14,050 1.2% 454
1944 57.8% 24,925 41.8% 18,003 0.4% 178
1940 55.1% 26,639 44.6% 21,573 0.3% 125
1936 47.0% 24,711 51.4% 27,038 1.6% 848
1932 57.0% 19,553 39.9% 13,709 3.1% 1,073
1928 73.5% 34,356 25.9% 12,104 0.6% 266
1924 65.9% 20,313 13.8% 4,244 20.3% 6,251
1920 57.0% 15,035 21.5% 5,668 21.6% 5,689
1916 55.2% 9,893 39.0% 7,002 5.8% 1,040
1912 18.2% 3,138 23.8% 4,108 58.1% 10,030
1908 63.0% 10,583 29.7% 4,981 7.3% 1,232
1904 73.5% 12,482 21.6% 3,675 4.9% 835
1900 65.8% 9,749 30.6% 4,528 3.6% 537
1896 65.5% 10,382 30.5% 4,840 4.0% 629
1892 56.8% 7,407 40.3% 5,265 2.9% 380
1888 57.0% 7,311 40.3% 5,175 2.7% 351
1884 56.0% 6,396 40.7% 4,649 3.4% 385
1880 54.0% 5,808 43.9% 4,728 2.1% 230

County commissioners
  • Bruce Erb, Chair, Republican
  • Laura Burke, Vice-chair, Democrat
  • Amy Webster, Secretary, Republican

Other county offices
  • Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary, Carol Newman, Republican
  • Controller, A.C. Stickel, Republican
  • Coroner, Patricia Ross, Republican
  • District Attorney, Pete Weeks, Republican
  • Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds, Mary Ann Bennis, Republican
  • Sheriff, James Ott, Republican
  • Treasurer, James Carothers, Republican

Police Agencies

State Senate

State House of Representatives

United States House of Representatives

United States Senate

Politics

As of September 2020, there are 77,080 registered voters in Blair County.[14]

Education
Map of Blair County, Pennsylvania School Districts

Colleges and universities

Community, junior and technical colleges

Public school districts

Charter schools
  • Agora Cyber Charter School
  • Central Pennsylvania Digital Learning Foundation Charter School (K-12). Altoona.
  • There are 17 public cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania that are available statewide for free, to children K-12. See: Education in Pennsylvania.[15]

Technology school

Private schools

Data taken from Pennsylvania EdNA - PDE database of public private schools 2012

Libraries

Blair County hosts a system of eight libraries that can be accessed with one library card. Resource sharing exists between the eight libraries. Books from any of the eight system libraries can be placed on hold and delivered to a patron's home library and then returned to any of the eight libraries in the system.

Recreation

There is one Pennsylvania state park in Blair County.

Communities
Map of Blair County, Pennsylvania, with municipal labels showing cities and boroughs (red), townships (white), and census-designated places (blue)

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 Blair County:

City

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.

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Blair County.[16]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Population (2010 Census) Municipal type Incorporated
1 Altoona 46,320 City 1854 (borough) 1868 (city)
2 † Hollidaysburg 5,791 Borough 1836
3 Tyrone 5,477 Borough 1857
4 Bellwood 3,564 Borough 1898
5 Roaring Spring 2,585 Borough 1888
6 Greenwood 2,458 CDP
7 Martinsburg 1,958 Borough 1832
8 Lakemont 1,868 CDP
9 Claysburg 1,625 CDP
10 Williamsburg 1,254 Borough 1827
11 Duncansville 1,233 Borough 1891
12 Tipton 1,083 CDP
13 East Freedom 972 CDP
14 Foot of Ten 672 CDP
15 Grazierville 665 CDP
16 Tunnelhill (mostly in Cambria County) 363 Borough 1876
17 Northwood 296 CDP
18 Newry 270 Borough 1876

See also

References
  1. "PHMC Historical Markers Search" (Searchable database). Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  5. "Monthly Averages for Altoona, PA". psac.met.psu. 2009. Archived from the original on 2008-09-07. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  9. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  13. Burnham, Walter Dean. "Presidential ballots, 1836-1892". archive.org. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  14. [https://www.dos.pa.gov/VotingElections/OtherServicesEvents/VotingElectionStatistics/Pages/VotingElectionStatistics.aspx.
  15. Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Charter Schools in Pennsylvania". Retrieved February 9, 2011.
  16. "2010 U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-02-13.

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