Mifflin County, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Mifflin County is a county
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...

 located in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

 of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

. As of 2010, the population was 46,682. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....

 is Lewistown
Lewistown, Pennsylvania
Lewistown is a borough in and the county seat of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. It lies along the Juniata River, northwest of Harrisburg. The number of people living in the borough in 1900 was 4,451; in 1910, 8,166; and in 1940, 13,017. The population was 8,998 at the 2000 census,...

. It is named after Thomas Mifflin
Thomas Mifflin
Thomas Mifflin was an American merchant and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, a member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly, a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania, President of the Continental...

, the first Governor of Pennsylvania.

Geography

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
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...

 and State College
State College, Pennsylvania
State College is the largest borough in Centre County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is the principal city of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Centre County. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 42,034, and roughly double...

. US Route 522 also connects the county to the rest of the state on its route between Selinsgrove
Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania
Selinsgrove is a borough in Snyder County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded in 1787 by Captain Anthony Selin, who fought with Washington in the Revolutionary War....

 and Mount Union
Mount Union, Pennsylvania
Mount Union is a borough in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, 45 miles southeast of Altoona, on the Juniata River. In the vicinity are found bituminous coal, ganister rock, fire clay, and some timber. A major Easter grass factory is located in the northern quadrant of the borough limits; until May...

.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...

, 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.

Adjacent counties

  • Centre County
    Centre County, Pennsylvania
    Centre County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 153,990....

     (north)
  • Union County
    Union County, Pennsylvania
    -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 41,624 people, 13,178 households, and 9,211 families residing in the county. The population density was 131 people per square mile . There were 14,684 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...

     (northeast)
  • Snyder County
    Snyder County, Pennsylvania
    Snyder County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 39,702. Snyder County was formed in 1855 from parts of Union County...

     (east)
  • Juniata County
    Juniata County, Pennsylvania
    Juniata County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 24,636. Juniata County was created on March 2, 1831, from part of Mifflin County and named for the Juniata River. Its county seat is Mifflintown....

     (southeast)
  • Huntingdon County
    Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
    Huntingdon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, its population was 45,913.Huntingdon County was created on September 20, 1787, from part of Bedford County. Its county seat is Huntingdon.-Geography:According to the U.S...

     (west)

Demographics

As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

of 2000, there were 46,486 people, 18,413 households, and 12,907 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...

 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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.49% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

 or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.08% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.29% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.18% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, and 0.43% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

 or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

 of any race. 38.8% were of German, 19.2% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, 8.0% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...

 and 7.5% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...

 ancestry according to Census 2000. 5.7% report speaking Pennsylvania German
Pennsylvania German language
The Pennsylvania German language is a variety of West Central German possibly spoken by more than 250,000 people in North America...

, Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...

, or German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....

 at home.http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=42&county_id=87&mode=geographic&zip=&place_id=&cty_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r

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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...

 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.

Dialect, Accent, and Language

The dominant form of speech in Mifflin County is the Central Pennsylvania accent
Central Pennsylvania accent
Central Pennsylvania speech is closely related to Western Pennsylvania speech, which is generally referred to as Pittsburgh English, although the speech extends beyond just the city of Pittsburgh, and also is closely related to the Southern accent, spoken in the Southeastern United States...

. Almost everyone in Mifflin County speaks English. The Amish
Amish
The Amish , sometimes referred to as Amish Mennonites, are a group of Christian church fellowships that form a subgroup of the Mennonite churches...

 and some Mennonites speak Pennsylvania German also known as Pennsylvania Dutch, a West Central German
West Central German
West Central German belongs to the Central, High German dialect family in the German language. Its dialects are thoroughly Franconian including the following sub-families:* Central Franconian...

 dialect, which is very remote from modern Standard German
Standard German
Standard German is the standard variety of the German language used as a written language, in formal contexts, and for communication between different dialect areas...

. 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.

Sports Allegiances

Due to close proximity to State College, PA, the most popular college sports team in Mifflin County is the Penn State
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...

 football team. In professional football, loyalties are divided between the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...

 and the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...

. 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
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...

 games are also available through Harrisburg-based stations. The most popular baseball teams are the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...

 and Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...

.

Historically, football has been the most popular high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....

 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
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...

. 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
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...

 also enjoys popularity in Mifflin County. Local dirt track races and drag races are widely attended on weekends.

AM Radio Stations

  • WIEZ 670 AM- Lewistown
    Lewistown, Pennsylvania
    Lewistown is a borough in and the county seat of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. It lies along the Juniata River, northwest of Harrisburg. The number of people living in the borough in 1900 was 4,451; in 1910, 8,166; and in 1940, 13,017. The population was 8,998 at the 2000 census,...

  • WKVA 920 AM- Burnham
    Burnham, Pennsylvania
    Burnham is a borough in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,144 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Burnham is located at ....


FM Radio Stations

  • WJRC 90.9- Lewistown
    Lewistown, Pennsylvania
    Lewistown is a borough in and the county seat of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. It lies along the Juniata River, northwest of Harrisburg. The number of people living in the borough in 1900 was 4,451; in 1910, 8,166; and in 1940, 13,017. The population was 8,998 at the 2000 census,...

  • WMRF 95.7- Lewistown
    Lewistown, Pennsylvania
    Lewistown is a borough in and the county seat of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. It lies along the Juniata River, northwest of Harrisburg. The number of people living in the borough in 1900 was 4,451; in 1910, 8,166; and in 1940, 13,017. The population was 8,998 at the 2000 census,...

  • WVNW 96.7- Burnham
    Burnham, Pennsylvania
    Burnham is a borough in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,144 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Burnham is located at ....

  • WCHX 105.5- Burnham
    Burnham, Pennsylvania
    Burnham is a borough in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,144 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Burnham is located at ....


Television

Mifflin County does not have a local television station but it is provided with local coverage from the following stations outside of the county:

Major Employers


Public School Districts

Most of the county is served by the Mifflin County School District
Mifflin County School District
The Mifflin County School District is located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The district boundaries coincide with the boundaries of Mifflin County, minus the southwestern muicipalities of Kistler and Newton Hamilton boroughs and Wayne Township, which are part of the Mount Union Area School...

, with the exception of Wayne Township and the boroughs of Newton-Hamilton and Kistler, which are part of the Mount Union Area School District
Mount Union Area School District
The Mount Union Area School District is a public school district based in Mount Union, Pennsylvania. The district encompasses approximately 151 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 9,678. The school district includes all of Mount Union borough,...

.
  • Mifflin County School District
    Mifflin County School District
    The Mifflin County School District is located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The district boundaries coincide with the boundaries of Mifflin County, minus the southwestern muicipalities of Kistler and Newton Hamilton boroughs and Wayne Township, which are part of the Mount Union Area School...

  • Mount Union Area School District
    Mount Union Area School District
    The Mount Union Area School District is a public school district based in Mount Union, Pennsylvania. The district encompasses approximately 151 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 9,678. The school district includes all of Mount Union borough,...


Head Start PreSchool Programs

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.
  • Coleman Head Start Center
  • McVeytown Head Start Center

Private Schools

  • Sacred Heart provides a private, Catholic education until fifth grade.
  • Belleville Mennonite School provides a Mennonite education from kindergarten through grade twelve.
  • Mifflin County Christian Academy located in Decatur Township provides Christian Fundamentalist education from kindergarten through grade twelve as well as day care.
  • Beth-El Christian Day School located in Belleville, PA provide a Christian Fundamentalist education from kindergarten through grade twelve.

Colleges & Universities

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.

Municipalities

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:

Boroughs

  • Burnham
    Burnham, Pennsylvania
    Burnham is a borough in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,144 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Burnham is located at ....

  • Juniata Terrace
    Juniata Terrace, Pennsylvania
    Juniata Terrace is a borough in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 502 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Juniata Terrace is located at ....

  • Kistler
    Kistler, Pennsylvania
    Kistler is a borough in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 344 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kistler is located at ....

  • Lewistown
    Lewistown, Pennsylvania
    Lewistown is a borough in and the county seat of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. It lies along the Juniata River, northwest of Harrisburg. The number of people living in the borough in 1900 was 4,451; in 1910, 8,166; and in 1940, 13,017. The population was 8,998 at the 2000 census,...

  • McVeytown
    McVeytown, Pennsylvania
    McVeytown, formerly Waynesburg, was settled in 1762, laid out in 1795 and incorporated in 1833. It is located in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 405 at the 2000 census. The "Father of Pennsylvania Forestry", Dr. Joseph Rothrock was born in McVeytown on April 9, 1839...

  • Newton Hamilton
    Newton Hamilton, Pennsylvania
    Newton Hamilton is a borough in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 272 at the 2000 census.-General information:* ZIP Code: 17075* Area Code: 814* Local Phone Exchanges: 542, 543...


  • Townships

    • Armagh Township
    • Bratton Township
    • Brown Township
      Brown Township, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania
      Brown Township is a township in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,852 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...

    • Decatur Township
      Decatur Township, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania
      Decatur Township is a township in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,021 at the 2000 census. This township is named after war hero Stephen Decatur, Jr.-Geography:...

    • Derry Township
      Derry Township, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania
      Derry Township is a township in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 7,256 at the 2000 census.It was named after the city of Derry in Northern Ireland.-Geography:...

  • Granville Township
    Granville Township, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania
    Granville Township is a township in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,895 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...

  • Menno Township
  • Oliver Township
    Oliver Township, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania
    Oliver Township is a township in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,060 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.0 square miles , of which, 34.5 square miles of it is land and...

  • Union Township
    Union Township, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania
    Union Township is a township in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,313 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 25.5 square miles , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there...

  • Wayne Township
    Wayne Township, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania
    Wayne Township is a township in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,414 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 49.8 square miles , of which, 49.1 square miles of it is land and...


  • Census-designated places

    Census-designated place
    Census-designated place
    A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...

    s are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau
    United States Census Bureau
    The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...

     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.
    • Belleville
      Belleville, Pennsylvania
      Belleville is a census-designated place in the Kishacoquillas Valley of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,386 at the 2000 census.-General information:*ZIP Code: 17004*Area Code: 717*Local Phone Exchange: 935...

    • Highland Park
      Highland Park, Pennsylvania
      Highland Park is a census-designated place in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,446 at the 2000 census.-General information:*ZIP Code: 17044*Area Code: 717*Local Phone Exchanges: 242, 247, 248...

    • Milroy
      Milroy, Pennsylvania
      Milroy is a census-designated place in the Kishacoquillas Valley of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,386 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Milroy is located at ....

  • Reedsville
    Reedsville, Pennsylvania
    Reedsville is a census-designated place in the Kishacoquillas Valley of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 858 at the 2000 census...

  • Yeagertown
    Yeagertown, Pennsylvania
    Yeagertown is a census-designated place in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,035 at the 2000 census.-General information:*ZIP Code: 17099*Area Code: 717*Local Phone Exchanges: 242, 247, 248...


  • See also


    External links

    • [ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/mifflin_GHSN.pdf Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division, "2005 General Highway Map of Juniata and Mifflin Counties".] Note: shows boroughs, townships, roads, villages, some streams. URL accessed on April 5, 2006.
    • JuniataRiverValley.org Note: Visitor Bureau
    The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
     
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