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Cumberland County, Pennsylvania

 
Wikipedia: Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
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Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
Seal of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
Map
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Cumberland County
Location in the state of Pennsylvania
Map of the U.S. highlighting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded January 27, 1750
Seat Carlisle
Largest city Carlisle
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water
551 sq mi (1,427 km²)
550 sq mi (1,424 km²)
1 sq mi (3 km²), 0.18%
Population
 - (2000)
 - Density
213,674
388/sq mi (150/km²)
Website: www.ccpa.net

Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2004, the population was estimated at 221,397.

Contents

History

Cumberland County was created on January 27, 1750, and named after Cumberland, England. Its county seat is Carlisle[1]. The county also lies within the Cumberland Valley adjoining the Susquehanna River at its eastern border, stretching approximately 42 miles from the borough of Shippensburg on the west to the Susquehanna River in east Cumberland County.

Plaque at Middle Spring Presbyterian Church

Cumberland County was first settled by a majority of Scotch-Irish immigrants who arrived in this area in about 1730. It has been estimated that English and German settlers constituted about ten percent of the early population. Originally the area was mostly devoted to farming, later developing other trades.[2]

These settlers built the Middle Spring Presbyterian Church in 1738 near present day Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, which is one of the oldest churches in central Pennsylvania.

"Old Main" at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

The oldest towns in the county are Shippensburg and Carlisle, and although both were settled in the 18th century, they each have their own unique history. Shippensburg is home to Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, one of 14 universities of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. The United States Army War College is a United States Army school located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on the 500 acre (2 km²) campus of the historic Carlisle Barracks, a military post dating back to the 1770s. It caters to high-level military personnel and civilians and prepares them for strategic leadership responsibilities. It is the U. S. Army's most senior military educational institution. Carlisle is also home to Dickinson College, established in 1773, as well as the Penn State Dickinson School of Law.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 551 square miles (1,427 km²), of which, 550 square miles (1,425 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (3 km²) of it (0.18%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Recreation

There are three Pennsylvania state parks in Cumberland County.

Demographics

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 213,674 people, 83,015 households, and 56,118 families residing in the county. The population density was 388 people per square mile (150/km²). There were 86,951 housing units at an average density of 158 per square mile (61/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.40% White, 2.36% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.67% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. 1.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 35.3% were of German, 10.6% American, 10.1% Irish, 7.5% English and 6.8% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000. 94.7% spoke English and 1.4% Spanish as their first language.

There were 83,015 households out of which 29.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out with 22.00% under the age of 18, 10.60% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males.

Its per capita income is $31,627, making it the wealthiest Pennsylvania county outside greater Philadelphia, and fifth wealthiest overall.

Government and politics

As of November 2008, there are 152,408 registered voters in Cumberland County [1].

The Republican Party has been dominant in Cumberland County politics since before the American Civil War, with the victories of Robert P. Casey for Governor in 1990 and Bob Casey Jr. for state treasurer in 2004 being among the few times where a statewide Democrat carried the county. The county commissioner majority, all row offices, and all legislative seats serving Cumberland are held by Republicans.

County commissioners

  • Gary Eichelberger, Chairman, Republican
  • Richard Rovegno, Vice-chairman, Democrat
  • Barbara Cross, Secretary, Republican

Other county offices

  • Clerk of Courts, Dennis Lebo, Republican
  • Controller, Alfred Whitcomb, Republican
  • Coroner, Michael Norris, Republican
  • District Attorney, David Freed, Republican
  • Prothonotary, Curtis Long, Republican
  • Recorder of Deeds, Robert Ziegler, Republican
  • Register of Wills, Glenda Farner Strasbaugh, Republican
  • Sheriff, R. Thomas Kline, Republican
  • Treasurer, John Gross, Republican

State Representatives

State Senator

US Representatives

Municipalities

Map of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing 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 boroughs and townships are located in Cumberland County:

Boroughs

Townships

Unincorporated communities and 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.

Education

Colleges and universities

Community, Junior and Technical Colleges

Public School Districts

Map of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania School Districts

Area Vocational Technical School

  • Cumberland-Perry AVTS

Public Libraries

References

  1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm. Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 
  2. ^ Wayland F. Dunaway, The Scotch-Irish of Colonial Pennsylvania; University of North Carolina Press, 1944, p. 60.
  3. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 

External links

v • d • e
Municipalities and communities of
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
County seat: Carlisle
Boroughs
Townships
CDPs
Unincorporated
communities
Footnotes

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Flag of Pennsylvania
v • d • e

 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Harrisburg (capital)
Topics
Metro areas
Cities
Largest
boroughs
Regions
Counties

Coordinates: 40°10′N 77°16′W / 40.17°N 77.27°W / 40.17; -77.27


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